As the only dry pet food producer in Cyprus, Champion Pet Food plays a dominant role in the island’s market. The business makes a wide range of dog and cat food, continues to add new products to its portfolio, and is increasing its reliance on solar energy, according to senior company representatives.
Georgios Tsappis, founder and managing director of George Tsappis Isorropimene Zootrophe Ltd, the brand’s owner, started the business in 1975. He initially produced feed for his own livestock before expanding to supply other farmers and eventually launching pet food production. The factory is based in Dasaki Akhnas, a village Tsappis moved to after his nearby hometown, Akhnas, was captured by the Turkish military in 1974 and placed under occupation. For the past half-century, the island has remained divided between ethnic Greeks and Turks.
“I started the business after the war. As our feed became very popular among farmers, I began expanding the factory to produce pet food. I have always had dogs, such as the five-year-old Messi you see here, and I wanted to feed them quality food that incorporated Cypriot ingredients and flavors,” he said, pointing to a Jack Russell Terrier sitting in his office.
“After visiting the United States, I bought an extruder from a company in Kansas City, and in 1992, we started producing pet food. Up until today, my company is the only one in Cyprus doing that,” he added.
To support further growth, Champion Pet Food plans to expand its storage capacities.Jaroslaw AdamowskiPet food made with ‘Mediterranean gold’
The company’s commitment to sustainable production includes using carob, a widely popular tree fruit in the Mediterranean region. Carob is sweet, protein-rich, and can serve as a chocolate substitute.
“Carob enhances taste and brings various digestive health benefits,” Tsappis said. “For this reason, it’s known as the ‘gold of the Mediterranean.’ Cypriots recognize carob as a powerful and beneficial ingredient. It’s also highly palatable, so by including it in our pet food, we promote both taste and health.”
To support further growth, Champion Pet Food plans to expand its storage capacities. A new warehouse spanning approximately 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet) will be constructed next to the existing storage facility. The entire complex in Dasaki Akhnas occupies around 5,000 square meters.
Investments in production and capacity
The company sells dog and cat food products under its own brand, Champion Pet Food, but also supplies its output under private label arrangements.Champion Pet FoodSophia Tsappis, the founder’s daughter and current manager of the family business, said the company sells dog and cat food under its own brand, Champion Pet Food, while also supplying private-label products.
“We partner with local pet food distributors and supermarket chains and own two stores in major Cypriot cities, the capital Nicosia and Larnaca,” she said. “Our manufacturing capacity is around 5,000 tons per year, and we continue investing in new machinery to expand our production and packaging capabilities.”
The company’s first product, Adult Ex maintenance dry dog food, remains its bestseller and contains chicken. Other dog food products include:
- Adult Superior (fish and carob)
- Small Breed (chicken and carob)
- Energy+ (chicken, salmon, and carob)
- Puppy (chicken, carob, and organic minerals)
- Ocean Blue (salmon)
For cats, the company offers:
- Classic (chicken)
- Salmon Catch (salmon)
- Super Cat (chicken and fish)
Champion Pet Food is considering adding treats to its portfolio, either by manufacturing them in-house or importing them for sale under its brand.
“We are also looking for a partner abroad to produce wet pet food under the Champion Pet Food brand,” Sophia said. “Our plans for 2025 include launching two new products: food for sterilized cats and an economy-segment product designed for supermarket chains.”
Expanding export markets
With Cyprus’ population at approximately 1.3 million, Champion Pet Food sees future growth opportunities in export markets, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
“Israel is one of our largest foreign markets, and it continues to experience impressive growth,” Sophia said. “Other key export destinations include Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. A few years ago, we made significant investments in new machinery to produce high-quality pet food. We are also committed to sustainability, which is why our facility is partially powered by solar energy. We plan to expand this by installing more panels on the plant’s roof.”
Cyprus benefits from over 300 days of sunshine per year, making solar power a viable renewable energy source for the facility. The company’s production facility is ISO 9001- and ISO 22000-certified.
“I have always had dogs, such as the five-year-old Messi you can see here, and I wanted to feed them with quality food that would also incorporate Cypriot ingredients and tastes.” — Georgios Tsappis
Deep roots in the community
Champion Pet Food remains a family-owned business with strong ties to the local community.
“We are celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2025,” Sophia said. “We have 56 employees, and about 57% of them have been with us for more than 25 years.
“We work together to deliver high-quality food to pets, and after work, we often attend matches of our local soccer team, Ethnikos Achna, whose stadium is nearby, to support our club,” she added. “My father was one of the team’s founders, played soccer for many years, and at one point was its president. We are proud to be part of our community. This commitment reflects in our efforts to create premium pet food for animals in Cyprus and beyond.”