What's up with Authority Brand?

We free feed three types of dry - Merrick's chicken, the Tractor Supply 4Health and the Authority chicken.  We started with the Authority years ago when we changed from Iams (after I realized how much corn was in it).

We started to diversify because we had a lot of vomiting (with six cats, it is impossible to know who it was).  So we figured we'd try a few new ones.  We've been using this combo for about three months and things are going well.

However, last time I went to PetSmart, all the bags of Authority were "priced to move" according to a sign on the display.  I bought a bag thinking I'd keep the ingrediants list in case they changed the formula.

Today when I went, the display was about half the size, moved to an obscure corner and honestly, it looked like they were the same bags that were there three weeks ago.  So, anyone hear anything?  I didn't buy any - the cats will have to make do with Merrick's and 4Health (poor things; they're so deprived) 

Yeah, my Petsmart was selling the old bags on clearance, too. I think they have new bags and were trying to get rid of the old ones. And they have a lots of new brands (Wellness, Innova, etc.), so that's probably why they rearranged the display. If the bags look fresher next time you're there, I'm sure it would be fine to buy.

I see Grreat Choice online so thinking that is the replacement as it's never been in my local stores.

I asked when I was there and the cashier said she didn't know; but guessed they were coming out with a new design or something like that.  Like you; when I was there this weekend for more it was a smaller section.  I'm tempted to e-mail and ask so I can be prepared if they are doing anything major.

catsallaround said:

I see Grreat Choice online so thinking that is the replacement as it's never been in my local stores.

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Grreat Choice is the new name for Sophistacat. Authority is still Authority, I think :dk:.

Oops.   Sophistacat :S  Haven't looked at buying it in so long I forgot.  Odd it's all over petsmart.com.  Now I really can't wait to go back in a few days.  Will probably be hitting 2 petsmarts and will ask.

Grreat Choice is the new Sophistacat.  The Petsmart here changed it...maybe 2 months ago?  I haven't been there for a couple of months, but last time I was there they had Grreat Choice instead.  I never look at the dry food, so I don't know about that.  They did have Authority cans "priced to clear" though.

I'm not sure but I thought Authority stopped making certain kinds of canned cat food. They had been making chunks in gravy (or something like that) but back in November their website only had loaf/pate on there. Now Petsmart has the chunks in gravy on clearance sale. I assume that now they (Authority) are focusing just on the loaf/pate food for some reason. Maybe it's the same thing for the dry food.

Chunks are higher carb and back with the recalls the chunks were recalled(more?  or only?  Cant remember-I have a cat who thrives on Liver and chicken and anothers diabetic so thats my main cats to please

I am buying Great Choice in the large-size cans (around 13 oz), beef chunks in gravy. I feed it to my stray/dumped/feral cat colony.  They love it, though to be honest, they're not picky.  It's cheap, relatively speaking, around 80 cents a can NOT on sale where I live.

Authority use to get good reviews because it didn't have any artifical coloring, not sure how it ranks now.  (I feed Ritz raw.)

Ondine said:

We free feed three types of dry - Merrick's chicken, the Tractor Supply 4Health and the Authority chicken.  We started with the Authority years ago when we changed from Iams (after I realized how much corn was in it).

We started to diversify because we had a lot of vomiting (with six cats, it is impossible to know who it was).  So we figured we'd try a few new ones.  We've been using this combo for about three months and things are going well.

However, last time I went to PetSmart, all the bags of Authority were "priced to move" according to a sign on the display.  I bought a bag thinking I'd keep the ingrediants list in case they changed the formula.

Today when I went, the display was about half the size, moved to an obscure corner and honestly, it looked like they were the same bags that were there three weeks ago.  So, anyone hear anything?  I didn't buy any - the cats will have to make do with Merrick's and 4Health (poor things; they're so deprived) 

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I believe they are moving out the old packaging.  A new package (same formula) is coming into Petsmart.  Authority is Petsmart's brand so they will most likely not be discontinuing it but just going through a repackaging process.  If I used Authority I'd be snapping up the bags for the sale price myself.  If the expiration date was agreeable that is A lot of times at this time of year some of the pet food companies will begin to repackage their products.  The pet stores will then reduce the prices to move out the old packaged products to make room for the new.  They will also probably discontinue slow sellers at the same time.  Nothing wrong with the food at all, so buy it at the sale price!  Just be sure to check expiration dates.