Pedigree Petfoods facts for kids
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| Industry | Animal food manufacturing |
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| Founded | 1957 (as Chappy) Leicestershire, England, U.K. |
| Headquarters | , |
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Number of employees
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1,200 (estimated) |
| Parent | Mars Inc. |
Pedigree Petfoods is a company that makes food for pets. It is part of a bigger American company called Mars Inc.. Pedigree has factories in England, in places like Melton Mowbray and Birstall, Leeds. They also have offices in McLean, Virginia, in the United States.
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How Pedigree Petfoods Started
The story of Pedigree Petfoods began a long time ago. In 1934, a company called Mars Limited bought another company named Chappel Brothers. Chappel Brothers was in Manchester, England. They made dog food from meat and sold it under the name "Chappie."
During the 1950s, Mars introduced new dog food brands. These were called Pal and Lassie.
Becoming Pedigree
In 1968, Mars bought Kal Kan Foods. This company was based in Los Angeles, USA.
Later, in 1988, Kal Kan Foods changed the name of its dog food. It became "Pedigree." This was the same name Mars used for its dog food outside the United States. The next year, Mars also changed the name of its cat food to Whiskas around the world.
By 1998, Kal Kan was a very popular dog food brand. In the United States, their "Pedigree Select" brand changed its name to Cesar. This name was already used for pet food in Europe and Asia.
Helping Dogs: The Pedigree Foundation
In the United States, there is a special group called The Pedigree Foundation. This group helps dogs in shelters find new homes. A shelter is a place where animals live until they are adopted.
The foundation started in 2008. It gives money to dog shelters and groups that rescue specific dog breeds. They also help people adopt dogs, volunteer their time, or donate money.
Since it began, The Pedigree Foundation has raised a lot of money. They have given millions of dollars to help shelters. This money helps shelters improve their facilities or pay for vet care for the dogs.
See Also
