PET Food Processing - October 2019 - 34

PROCESSOR PROFILES

BLUE
BUFFALO

A
FAST FACTS
Founded: 2003
Headquarters:
Wilton, Connecticut
Brands:
Life Protection,
Freedom, Basics,
Wilderness,
Natural Veterinary Diet,
Carnivora
Website:
ZZZEOXHEXႇDORFRP

Acquired by General Mills, Inc. in April 2018, Blue
Buffalo Pet Products is a leader in the wholesome
natural category with several brands that can now be
found anywhere in the spectrum of retail channels.
Most recently, the brand entered the Food, Drug and
Mass (FDM) space and has made huge strides gaining market share in that channel, as well as e-commerce, over the past year and a half.
Blue Buffalo has retained key leaders, including
co-founder Billy Bishop Jr., throughout the merger,
as well as it's nutritional philosophy: "Love them like
family. Feed them like family." The manufacturer
does not formulate product using chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat or soy proteins, or
artificial ingredients. Blue Buffalo's nutrition is centered around high-quality protein sources, fats and
carbohydrates, wholesome fruits and vegetables and
vitamins and minerals.
The brand's signature is its proprietary kibble inclusions, called LifeSource Bits, which are formulated with a careful blend of vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants, cold-form processed to maximize their
nutritional efficacy, and then mixed into each dog
and cat diet. LifeSource Bits promote a healthy oxidative balance, immune system health, and overall
health and wellness for specific life stages, according
to Blue Buffalo.
The Blue Buffalo Co. itself was started by the
Bishop family and inspired by their large breed
Airedale, Blue. When Blue was diagnosed with cancer, the Bishop family became increasingly interested in crafting a wholesome, natural pet food. Billy
Bishop Sr. and his two sons, Billy Jr. and Chris, consulted with animal nutritionists and holistic veterinarians to eventually develop the company's first pet
food line, Life Protection, for dogs and cats.
Blue's bouts with canine cancer are foundational

PET FOOD PROCESSING | 2019 | www.petfoodprocessing.net

and continue to be a big part of the company. Blue
Buffalo leads the Pet Cancer Awareness campaign,
which raised $2.3 million for research and treatment
during May 2019 alone. Money raised is allocated
to a variety of research initiatives and organizations
nationwide. The campaign was started in 2003. Blue
Buffalo also supports organizations such as Sierra

"We're focused on
significantly expanding Blue's
availability so that pet parents
can get the Blue products
they want anywhere they
shop for pet food."
Billy Bishop, founder and brand advisor,
Blue Buffalo

Delta Service Dogs for Veterans and the Animal
Cancer Foundation, with which it started the Canine
Cancer Genome Project for tracking and tracing canine tumor genomes.
In General Mills' latest earnings report, Blue
Buffalo sales had topped $368 million for the first
quarter of fiscal 2020 and were up 7% from yearago sales. In June 2019, the company cut the ribbon
at its newest US production facility in Richmond,
Indiana. Blue Buffalo invested $200 million into
the new 400,000-sq.-ft. facility, which is expected
to churn out one million lbs. of pet food per day
while complying with human food safety standards.
According to Blue Buffalo's website, all its pet foods
and treats are manufactured in US facilities, except
for its Chomp 'n Chew dog treats, which are comanufactured in Ireland.

https://bluebuffalo.com/ http://www.petfoodprocessing.net

PET Food Processing - October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PET Food Processing - October 2019