I got this in an email and thought I would forward it to you guys regarding Timberwolf and Canidae.
Subject: a few notes from CBC: Timberwolf & Canidae
TIMBERWOLF UPDATE:
We'll be out of some flavors and sizes for the next 2-4 weeks while the new plant is ramping up production. The name of the new plant will be public knowledge as soon as all the paperwork is in order. Timberwolf is working with the FDA on handling the Bison and Ocean Blue recall in the proper manner. I talked to the NCDA last week about it, and she said if the FDA doesn't publicize it, it's called a class 2 recall, which means it's under control, and doesn't pose widespread danger.
I believe we've pulled in most bags that were still on the shelves out there. We have only heard from a handful of people who have had problems that weren't solved by switching off Timberwolf. I believe 2-4 are going through the claim process with Timberwolf, but we don't get updates on that because we're not in that loop.
I have no reason to believe that this episode will affect us in the future.
CANIDAE LAMB & RICE:
Are you all aware that the Lamb and Rice formula is new and improved? If you haven't yet, read this link.
CanidaeŽ Pet Foods: All Life Stages: Dry: Lamb & Rice: FAQs
Canidae has always used only USA-sourced Uncle Ben's rice. The collapse of the rice markets in places like India and Australia, where companies like P&G and Mars have shopped for years, is causing those big guns to look at domestic product. They are bigger, they have deeper pockets, and when they come to UB and say hey, we'll give you double what Canidae is paying, well, Canidae gets screwed.
So what they've done is diversify half of the carbohydrate make-up. It's either that, or raise the price of the bag 5 or 6 more dollars.
I do like the addition of the fresh lamb. For all of you that have fed raw, you know that lamb is pretty dry. Unlike all the times we've said that fresh chicken at the top of an ingredients list doesn't mean anything because it's 70% water, this fresh addition will be a good thing.
CANIDAE PRODUCTION:
There's a lot going on with Canidae right now, but I didn't get any confirmation until Friday. Today, Monday, everyone at Canidae met in Missouri. I heard that part a few weeks ago, but now I know it's because that's where Diamond's headquarters are.
Diamond has a state of the art, fully automated new plant in Missouri that is supposed to be one of the best ever. This is where Canidae is being made effective right now. Note that this plant has never been involved in any of the recalls; I believe all of the problems in the last few years were associated with the Gaston, SC plant.
Apparently there have been a multitude of problems with Pied Piper. To my knowledge, we have never had nuts and bolts in bags, but someone has, as well as reports of the wrong product in the wrong bag. Earlier this year we were plagued with torn bags, on some shipments it was as high as 15-20%.
I wanted you to see the lamb information first, because it's already being made at Diamond. And, because the same changes are coming to the ALS and chicken formulas.
And there's still more. Canidae is trying really hard to hold prices in place, so, in addition, bag sizes are changing. There will be more common sizes than there are now. Among other changes, ALS will now come in 44#, 35#, 15#, and 5# bags.
You should be getting a mailing in the next day or so, and I guess the website will be updated about Tuesday. I'm still getting a handle on how this will impact us, since I was just given the official info on Friday, so I don't really know much more than this right now. I know that Canidae has been working on this a long time though, and didn't make any of these decisions lightly.
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