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Iams

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Iams
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryPet food
Founded1946; 78 years ago (1946) (as The Iams Company)
FounderPaul Iams
Headquarters8700 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsDog food, cat food, animal health products
OwnerMars, Incorporated (worldwide except Europe)
Spectrum Brands (Europe)
Websitewww.iams.com

Iams (/ˈəmz/) is a popular brand name for dog food and cat food manufactured by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Inc worldwide. The company sells pet food for cats and dogs formulated for puppy/kitten, adult and mature. Its products are developed by nutritionists and veterinarians and can be found in three main formulas: ProActive Health, Healthy Naturals and Premium Protection. Veterinary formulas for pets with special dietary requirements are also available.[1]

History

During the 1940s, because pet food was not available in stores, animals were predominantly fed homemade food, usually table scraps.[2] Paul Iams, an animal nutritionist who graduated from Ohio State University in 1937, founded The Iams Company in 1946 in a small feed mill near Dayton.[3] In 1950, he developed the world’s first animal-based protein, dry dog food and called it Iams 999.[1][4] In 1969, Paul Iams formulated a new dog food and named it Eukanuba. Prior to founding Iams and Eukanuba, he worked for a number of companies including his father’s feed business in Dayton, Ohio.

In 1973 during the Arab oil embargo, the costs for meat and bone meal tripled, but sale prices in the US were frozen by a nationwide wage and price control issued by then-President Richard Nixon.[5] Iams did not change the product formula during the price freeze mandate and the company nearly went broke.[2] Clay Mathile, who joined Iams in 1970, purchased half of the company in 1975.[6] By 1982, he became the sole owner and president.[7] After expanding the company from $100,000 revenue in 1970 to $900 million in 1999, Mathile sold it to P&G in September 1999.[3][8] In July 2006, P&G reorganized the Pet Health & Nutrition division into P&G Pet Care (consisting of the Iams and Eukanuba brands).

In its largest divestiture in five years, Procter & Gamble announced in April 2014 that it would sell its Iams, Eukanuba and Natura pet food brands in all markets except Europe to Mars, Incorporated for $2.9 billion in cash. P&G said the deal would allow it to lose a slow performer and generate cash to grow core businesses.[9] The deal for P&G Pet Care's operations in North America and Latin America was completed in August 2014. Mars, Inc also exercised options to acquire P&G’s pet food business in some parts of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, including Australia, Japan and Singapore.[10][11] P&G sold its European pet care business to Spectrum Brands in December 2014.[12]

Iams Home 4 the Holidays

In 1999, Helen Woodward Animal Center and Iams established Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH), a holiday pet adoption drive. The drive started with 14 animal rescue organizations in San Diego and has expanded its network to more than 3,500 in 21 different countries. Since it began in 1999, the adoption program has helped place more than 4.6 million pets into homes.[13]

In 2008 and 2009, actresses and pet adoption advocates Felicity Huffman and Hilary Swank served as the celebrity ambassadors for the IH4TH program, respectively.[14] In 2010, five million meals were donated to network animal shelters through the IH4TH Bags 4 Bowls program.[15][16]

Controversy

In 2002, a film by animal rights organizations PETA criticized Iams for the way the company conducted animal research at external laboratories. Iams ended its relationship with the Sinclair Research Center in 2003, stating that the filmed activity was contrary to the company's strict long-standing animal studies policies.[17] According to Iams, since 2006, studies have been conducted in pet owners' homes, P&G Pet Care's Pet Health & Nutrition Center, and locations where dogs and cats are already living such as assistance dog organizations. This center and these studies are subjected to unannounced examinations by the ASPCA.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "History". Juggle". Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  2. ^ a b "Iams History". Coupon for Dog[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b Bayot, Jennifer (2004-11-03). "Paul F. Iams, 89, Developer of a Line of Premium Pet Foods, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  4. ^ "Iams Cat Food Coupons Jun 2020". Pet Food Talk. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  5. ^ "The History of Iams". Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  6. ^ "History of Iams Company – FundingUniverse". Funding Universe. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. ^ Dirr, Jacob (2 June 2008). "Former Iams owner Clay Mathile says loyalty can be nemesis". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  8. ^ "sold to P&G ". All Voices". Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  9. ^ Wahba, Phil (April 9, 2014). "P&G selling pet food brands to Mars for $2.9 billion". Reuters. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  10. ^ "P&G sells Iams, others for $2.9B". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  11. ^ "Mars Closes Acquisition Of Procter & Gamble's Pet Food Business In Major Markets". RTTNews. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  12. ^ "Spectrum Brands Holdings Completes Acquisition of the European IAMS and Eukanuba Pet Food Business". Business Wire. December 31, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Home For the Holidays: let's make some magic!". Pawcurious: With Veterinarian and Author Dr. V. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  14. ^ ""Iams Home 4 the Holidays Celebrity Ambassadors". Dogtipper". Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  15. ^ "The heart of Mike Arms – and the brains behind Iams Home 4 the Holidays". Dogtime. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  16. ^ "Iams Home 4 the Holidays Report | 4 The Love of Animals". Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  17. ^ "The Iams Company Animal Study Policy". Archived from the original on 11 July 2010.
  18. ^ Holden, John (6 July 2007). "Research and Development Changes Keep Welfare Top of Agenda". Archived from the original on 10 July 2010.