SAN DIEGO — Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. announced June 3 it has added Jiminy’s insect-based dog food and treat products to approximately 800 of its stores across the United States, as well as on its e-commerce platform, Petco.com.

This announcement comes shortly after the pet retailer’s commitment to make at least 50% of its product assortment representative of sustainable products by the end of 2025. Insect protein is an emerging novel ingredient in this space, offering nutritional and sustainable benefits for dogs.

"Pet ownership's carbon pawprint is massive,” said Anne Carlson, founder and chief executive officer at Jiminy’s. "Jiminy's use of insect-based protein powders challenges pet owners to rethink their dogs' diet and make a healthy choice for pets and the planet. We are excited to now be offering our full product line in stores and online at Petco, allowing more dog owners the opportunity to make the switch to alternative proteins for their pets."

The move also supports Petco’s overall sustainability platform, which includes reducing waste, fostering responsible manufacturing and operations, and supporting animal welfare, as well as sourcing more sustainable products. The company released its first-ever Sustainability Report on May 28, highlighting its priorities and progress in 2020.

"As pet parents seek new ways to support the health and wellness of their pets and their own values as consumers, we continue to see increased interest in alternative, novel proteins that have a reduced impact on the environment," said Shari White, vice president of merchandising at Petco. "We're thrilled to bring Jiminy's sustainable, unique-to-market food and treats to even more pets nationwide, which is both good for our beloved four-legged friends and good for the planet."

The retailer’s sustainability platform includes five major tenets: responsible manufacturing, sustainably sourced materials, sustainably sourced ingredients, responsible packaging and animal welfare.

"We know how important it is to our customers that we team up with brands that are environmentally-conscious, and we're continuing to drive positive change within the pet space by making sustainable brands more readily available to pet parents,” added Francesca Mahoney, head of sustainability at Petco.

Jiminy’s insect-protein pet products are formulated with powdered cricket proteins rather than traditional protein sources such as beef or poultry. The production of insect protein uses less land and water than the production of traditional animal-based proteins, according to Carlson.

The pet food and treat company offers two formulas of oven-baked dog kibbles — Good Grub and Cricket Crave — that include plant-based ingredients including oats, sweet potato, quinoa and flaxseed to complement the alternative protein.

The company’s flagship dog treat products are available in several formulas, including Original, Pumpkin & Carrot, Sweet Potato & Peas, and Peanut Butter & Blueberry. These treats include cricket powder, oats or lentils and molasses, and are sold in 5- and 6-oz packages.

Jiminy’s sources all-natural ingredients from the United States.

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