Alpo (pet food)
Encyclopedia
Alpo is an American brand of dog food
marketed and manufactured by the Nestlé Purina Petcare
subsidiary of Nestlé
. The brand is offered as a canned or packaged soft food, as well as in dry kibble
s.
and in 1986 Grand Metropolitan
sold the Liggett Group
but kept Alpo Petfoods, Inc.. In 1995, Nestlé SA
acquired Alpo Petfoods, Inc. from Grand Metropolitan
. In January 2001, Nestlé SA
announced the merger of Nestlé Friskies
with Ralston Purina to form Nestlé Purina Petcare Company
.
ed after gluten
supplied to Purina was linked to being the same variety and from the same supplier as the brands affected by the Menu Foods Pet Food Recall.
, who created the concept of eating one's own dog food by claiming that Alpo is so good he feeds it to his own dogs. Ed McMahon
also had a long association with the product on television, and Garfield
was a "spokescat" for the brand in the 1990s. Alpo was the sponsor of the debut broadcast of the long-running television news magazine 60 Minutes
, on September 24, 1968.
Alpo is also known for its marketing campaigns that target the owners of "real dogs," making light of consumers who pamper their dogs. The campaign's tagline is "Real Dogs Eat Meat."
Dog food
Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat...
marketed and manufactured by the Nestlé Purina Petcare
Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is the pet food division of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., following its acquisition of the American Ralston Purina Company on December 12, 2001 and subsequent merger with Nestlé's Friskies PetCare Company. As a wholly owned subsidiary, it is headquartered at the General...
subsidiary of Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
. The brand is offered as a canned or packaged soft food, as well as in dry kibble
Kibble
Kibble is the act of coarsely grinding something such as grain.Kibble may also refer to: adam kibble.* Kibble, a component of dog food or cat food, as in Kibbles 'n Bits* Chris Kibble , British jazz musician...
s.
History
Alpo, an abbreviation of Allen Products, was founded in 1936 by Robert F. Hunsicker in Allentown, PA. In 1964, the Allen Products Company was acquired by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. In 1980, the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company was acquired by Grand MetropolitanGrand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
and in 1986 Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
sold the Liggett Group
Liggett Group
Liggett Group , formerly known as Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, is the fourth largest tobacco company in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Durham, North Carolina, though its manufacturing facility is 30 miles to the west in Mebane, North Carolina...
but kept Alpo Petfoods, Inc.. In 1995, Nestlé SA
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
acquired Alpo Petfoods, Inc. from Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
. In January 2001, Nestlé SA
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
announced the merger of Nestlé Friskies
Friskies
Friskies is a brand of cat food. It is owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, a subsidiary of Nestlé. This brand is offered as a canned soft/wet food, as well as dry food . Flavors include poultry, beef and seafood.-History:...
with Ralston Purina to form Nestlé Purina Petcare Company
Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is the pet food division of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., following its acquisition of the American Ralston Purina Company on December 12, 2001 and subsequent merger with Nestlé's Friskies PetCare Company. As a wholly owned subsidiary, it is headquartered at the General...
.
Recall
On March 30, 2007, the brand's Prime Cuts & Gravy wet variety of dog food was recallProduct recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
ed after gluten
Gluten
Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye...
supplied to Purina was linked to being the same variety and from the same supplier as the brands affected by the Menu Foods Pet Food Recall.
Marketing
For many years, the brand's main television commercial spokesman was Lorne GreeneLorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
, who created the concept of eating one's own dog food by claiming that Alpo is so good he feeds it to his own dogs. Ed McMahon
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
also had a long association with the product on television, and Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
was a "spokescat" for the brand in the 1990s. Alpo was the sponsor of the debut broadcast of the long-running television news magazine 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, on September 24, 1968.
Alpo is also known for its marketing campaigns that target the owners of "real dogs," making light of consumers who pamper their dogs. The campaign's tagline is "Real Dogs Eat Meat."