Champ's Pet Kitchen lands in 165 Stater Bros. stores across Southern California

Champ's Pet Kitchen has launched in Stater Bros. Markets, putting its high-protein dog treats in 165 Southern California grocery locations. The expansion extends the California brand’s retail push to more than 1,200 grocery stores nationwide as shoppers demand clearer pet food labels.

Why it matters: - Champ's Pet Kitchen is broadening access to its dog treats through a major Southern California grocery chain. - The launch strengthens the brand’s reach in California and adds momentum to its national retail expansion. - The move also taps into rising demand for pet products with clearer ingredient information and functional health claims.

What happened: - Champ's Pet Kitchen announced its launch in Stater Bros. Markets on October 22, 2026. - The brand’s treats are now on shelves at 165 Stater Bros. locations across Southern California. - Champ's Pet Kitchen says the launch builds on growth since its 2025 debut. - The brand is now available in more than 1,200 grocery stores nationwide.

The details: - Champ's Pet Kitchen says each recipe is made in the USA. - Every recipe contains a minimum of 26% real animal protein. - Every recipe has less than 3% fat. - The treats contain no corn, wheat, soy or meat by-products. - The soft-chew treats are formulated with ingredients that support digestive health, joint mobility, skin and coat health, heart health, immune support and overall wellness. - Champ's Pet Kitchen is one of the first pet treat brands to use a human-style Nutrition Facts panel across its full product line. - That label format is meant to help pet parents understand what is in each bag and make more informed decisions about dog nutrition. - Stater Bros. Markets operates nearly 170 stores and employs about 18,000 people. - Stater Bros. says its stores are built around fresh, affordable, community-first grocery shopping. - Stater Bros. Charities is the company’s nonprofit arm. - Champ's Pet Kitchen’s grocery partners include Safeway, Save Mart, Lucky, Ingles Markets, Lowes Foods, Raley's, Longs Drugs, Times Market, Tamura's Market, Don Quijote, Don Don Donki, Holiday Market and Sav Mor. - The brand also sells through other regional grocery retailers across the continental United States and Hawaiʻi. - The company’s website is champspetkitchen.com. - Stater Bros. Markets’ website is staterbros.com.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects how grocery retailers are becoming a key channel for premium pet food and treat brands. - The company cited a recent Kerry survey showing 90% of pet owners say reading ingredient labels matters before buying pet food or treats. - That survey result points to a broader consumer shift toward transparency in the pet aisle. - Champ's Pet Kitchen is positioning its packaging and ingredient list to meet that expectation.

What's next: - Champ's Pet Kitchen is likely to keep leaning on grocery distribution as it expands beyond its 2025 launch. - The brand’s wider retail network gives it more visibility with shoppers making routine grocery trips. - Further store additions would deepen its presence in California and other regional markets.

The bottom line: - Champ's Pet Kitchen is using Stater Bros. to push further into mainstream grocery, while betting that protein, function and label transparency will keep pet shoppers interested.