A Canadian pet-food brand is getting a much bigger retail shelf this month, and that makes it a useful moment for pet owners to review how they buy the everyday bag, can, treat and topper. Retail Insider reported on June 8 that Toronto-based Open Farm is partnering with PetSmart, with the brand’s dry food, wet food, freshly crafted meals, freeze-dried raw products, treats and supplements becoming available in nearly 1,700 PetSmart stores across the United States, Canada and online. Open Farm says the move will bring its recipes to more than 9,500 retail locations across North America. For shoppers, the story is not just another premium brand announcement. It is a reminder that pet food has become a serious household-budget line, especially for families already watching grocery, fuel and rent costs.
The first takeaway is simple: more shelf access can create better comparison shopping, but only if you compare the right numbers. A bag that looks cheaper on the front tag may not be cheaper if the feeding guide recommends more cups per day, and a premium format may stretch further if portions are smaller. Before switching brands or retailers, write down your current product size, regular price, loyalty or autoship price, and how long one package actually lasts in your home. Then compare cost per day, not just cost per bag. PetSmart’s Canadian site already has an Open Farm featured-brand page, while Open Farm also sells through its own site, so shoppers can check in-store availability, online stock, shipping thresholds and return rules before committing to a larger order.
The second shopping check is ingredient transparency. Open Farm’s own transparency page says shoppers can scan or enter a lot code to trace ingredients in a bag, and the company frames sourcing and traceability as part of its brand promise. That can be useful, but it should not replace basic label reading. Look for the pet’s life stage, protein source, feeding directions, calorie information and any notes that matter for allergies or sensitivities. If a dog or cat has a medical condition, a sensitive stomach or a prescription diet, a new retail display should not be the reason for a sudden switch. Use the wider availability to gather information, compare options and ask your veterinarian when a diet change has health implications.
The third point is to avoid letting the premium aisle turn into a cart full of extras. Retail Insider’s report lists a broad Open Farm portfolio, including treats and supplements, not only core food. That is where budgets can drift. Treats, toppers and supplements may be appealing, but they are usually easiest to overbuy because they feel smaller than the main food purchase. A practical rule is to decide the main food budget first, then set a separate monthly cap for extras. If you want to test a new treat or topper, buy the smallest useful size, keep the receipt, and check whether your pet actually eats it before stocking up. A deal is only a deal if the product fits your routine and does not expire in the cupboard.
There is also a Canadian-brand angle, but shoppers should be precise about what they are trying to support. Retail Insider describes Open Farm as Toronto-based and says the company was founded in 2014. That makes it a Canadian business story, but it does not automatically answer every question a shopper may have about where each recipe is made, where every ingredient comes from, or whether a specific product fits a “buy Canadian” goal. If country-of-origin matters to your household, check the package, the product page and the traceability tool rather than relying on a shelf sign. A reasonable approach is to support Canadian-owned or Canadian-headquartered brands when the product, price and sourcing information line up with your needs, while still keeping the pet’s diet and the household budget first.
The wider PetSmart launch could also change how people use subscriptions and loyalty programs. Autoship can be helpful for a product you already know your pet tolerates and finishes on schedule, but it can become wasteful if the order arrives faster than your pet eats or if you forget to adjust after a size change. Before enrolling, check the cancellation process, shipping timing, minimum order rules and whether the price still makes sense without a first-order promotion. For in-store shoppers, it is worth comparing the same item at your usual pet store, PetSmart, the brand’s site and any local independent retailer you want to support. Keep one backup bag or can ahead if possible, but avoid building a giant stockpile of a food your pet has not fully tested.
The bottom line for Canadian shoppers is that a bigger national retail partnership can be good news without being an automatic buy signal. Open Farm’s arrival at PetSmart gives pet owners another place to compare premium food, another way to check product information, and another reminder to treat pet supplies like the rest of the household basket: planned, measured and reviewed. Start with the food your pet already does well on, compare daily cost, use transparency tools to answer sourcing questions, and keep treats and supplements inside a set cap. The best pet-food purchase is not the newest bag on the feature display. It is the one your pet can use safely, consistently and affordably.
Source trail: - Retail Insider — “Open Farm partnering with PetSmart” — https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/06/open-farm-partnering-with-petsmart/ - PetSmart Canada — “Featured Brands Open Farm” — https://www.petsmart.ca/featured-brands/open-farm/ - Open Farm — “Dog & Cat Food Ingredients / Transparency” — https://openfarmpet.com/pages/transparency - Open Farm — “Best Ethically Sourced Dog & Cat Food” — https://openfarmpet.com/