Brand Comparison
Acana vs Orijen
Acana and Orijen are sister brands from the same company (Champion Petfoods, acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022), produced at the same DogStar Kitchens in Alberta and Kentucky. Orijen is the biologically-appropriate flagship with 80-90% animal ingredients (typically 1/3 fresh or raw by weight); Acana sits a tier below with 60-70% animal inclusion. Both were named in FDA DCM investigation case reports 2018-2022 — 93% of the 1,382 reported DCM cases contained peas or lentils, and both brands rely heavily on pulses in their grain-free lines. Acana Wholesome Grains and Orijen Amazing Grains were added as grain-inclusive options in response. For DCM-predisposed breeds (Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes), the grain-inclusive variants of either brand are worth considering over the grain-free flagships.
Acana
Champion Petfoods (Mars Petcare, acquired 2022)
Sister brand to Orijen, both produced at Champion's DogStar Kitchens. Acana is positioned as the biologically appropriate line at a slightly lower inclusion of fresh meat than Orijen. Acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022.
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Orijen
Champion Petfoods (Mars Petcare, acquired 2022)
Sister brand to Acana, both produced at Champion's DogStar Kitchens. Orijen is positioned as the "biologically appropriate" top-tier line, typically containing 80-90% animal ingredients with 1/3 fresh or raw by weight. Acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022.
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How they compare
| Attribute | Acana | Orijen |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Champion Petfoods (Mars Petcare, acquired 2022) | Champion Petfoods (Mars Petcare, acquired 2022) |
| Founded | 1985 | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| AAFCO method | Formulated to AAFCO profiles | Formulated to AAFCO profiles |
| Made in | Canada, USA | Canada, USA |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
| Pet types | Dogs, Cats | Dogs, Cats |
| Documented recalls | 0 on record | 0 on record |
| Product lines | 5 lines | 5 lines |
Pick Acana if
- You want premium ingredients at a slightly lower price than Orijen
- You prefer the Regionals recipes with regional-protein sourcing
- You need wider retail availability
Pick Orijen if
- You want maximum animal-ingredient inclusion (80-90%)
- Your dog thrives on high-fat, high-protein formulations
- You're willing to pay the premium for the flagship tier
Ingredient overlap
Both brands commonly use
Only in Acana
Only in Orijen
Scan either food against your pet's allergens
Brand-level comparison doesn't catch formula-level differences. Scan the specific bag you're considering to see the actual ingredient list checked against your pet's profile.
Scan a label →Factual comparison based on AAFCO definitions, FDA enforcement archive, and corporate disclosures. Not medical advice. Not an endorsement of either brand.