Inaba Ciao (Japanese: いなば CIAO, commonly styled CIAO) is a premium pet food brand owned by INABA Foods, a Japanese company with origins in seafood processing dating back to 1805. The brand is widely recognised for its cat food, wet foods, and creamy Churu treats, having evolved from a domestic Japanese label into an internationally distributed name in the premium cat food market.1

Official corporate history identifies 1989 as the establishment of the CIAO pet food business, while domestic records indicate the CIAO brand originated in 1988 and the dedicated pet food division was formed the following year.1

Origins of INABA — 1805

The history of Inaba Ciao is rooted in the longstanding operations of its parent company, INABA. In 1805, the Inaba family established Inaba Shōten in Japan, initially trading in seafood and producing katsuobushi (dried bonito). Over subsequent decades, the business expanded its distribution network across Japan and developed specialised expertise in seafood processing.1

This heritage is central to the CIAO brand, as tuna, bonito, and other seafood ingredients form the foundation of many of its pet food products.

Expansion into canned foods

In 1936, INABA opened a canning factory in Shizuoka Prefecture to produce canned seafood, including tuna and bonito, alongside other food products. Following the Second World War, the company continued to expand its manufacturing capabilities.1

INABA Foods was formally established in 1948, further consolidating the company’s expertise in canned tuna and seafood products.1

Entry into pet food — 1958

A significant milestone occurred in 1958 when INABA entered the pet food industry. The company initially manufactured pet food for export, including shipments to the United States. Its existing proficiency in seafood and canning provided a natural foundation for developing canned pet foods.1

Consequently, CIAO emerged not from a pet food startup but from a well-established Japanese food and seafood enterprise.

Development of tuna expertise

INABA’s human food business significantly influenced its pet food development. In 1971, the launch of Inaba Light Tuna helped establish the company’s reputation for tuna processing and product innovation.1 This specialisation in seafood later became a defining characteristic of the CIAO brand.

Birth of CIAO — 1988/1989

CIAO was created as INABA’s original premium pet food brand for the Japanese market. Corporate records date the domestic CIAO brand to 1988, with the dedicated CIAO pet food division established in 1989.1

The brand was founded on principles of freshness, quality, and affection for pets. Historical materials describe CIAO as a domestic original brand based on the concept of “freshness and love.”1 It subsequently built a strong reputation for premium cat foods, particularly those based on seafood.

CIAO Whaity

An early innovation was the CIAO Whaity series, introduced around 1990. This line utilised white meat and removed blood-rich dark meat from the fish, demonstrating how CIAO leveraged seafood processing techniques to differentiate its pet food offerings.1

Expansion of the pet food business

Throughout the 1990s, INABA broadened its pet food portfolio by introducing new formats, entering the dog food market, and developing retort pouch products for cats.1

In 1997, Inaba Pet Food Co., Ltd. was established to provide a dedicated corporate structure for the pet food business in Japan.1

Inaba Ciao achieved its most significant international breakthrough with CIAO Churu. Launched in 2012, Churu is a creamy, lickable cat treat packaged in individual tubes, described by the company as the world’s first stick-type creamy cat treat.1

Unlike conventional dry biscuits or crunchy treats, Churu is a high-moisture purée designed to be fed directly from the tube, squeezed onto a plate, or used as a food topper. According to product information, the standard formula contains approximately 91% moisture, is low in calories, and is made without grains, preservatives, or artificial colours.1

This distinctive format transformed Churu from a domestic product into one of INABA’s most globally recognisable offerings.

The Inaba Ciao portfolio extends well beyond the Churu line.

Cat treats

The most prominent category is creamy treats, led by Churu. Common varieties include:

• Tuna
• Tuna with chicken
• Chicken
• Tuna with scallop
• Chicken with scallop
• Tuna with salmon
• Chicken with shrimp
• Chicken with crab
• Regional and specialty formulations

Availability of specific varieties may vary by market.1

Wet cat food

CIAO produces an extensive range of wet cat foods, including:

• Tuna-based canned foods
• Chicken-based foods
• Tuna and chicken combinations
• Seafood-flavoured recipes
• Wet food pouches
• Cups and cans
• Soup-style products
• Jelly-based foods
• Side dishes and complementary foods

The brand’s Japanese culinary heritage is evident in the use of ingredients such as tuna, bonito, scallop, and other seafood flavours.1

Dry food

While primarily associated with wet food and treats, INABA’s broader portfolio also includes dry food products under the CIAO brand.1

INABA positions its products around the belief that pets deserve food made with high-quality ingredients and rigorous manufacturing standards. Marketing materials emphasise low-calorie, grain-free, and moisture-rich formulations featuring ingredients such as deep-sea tuna and farm-raised chicken. The company also states that its tuna is sourced sustainably and is dolphin-safe.1

Key themes in CIAO’s product philosophy include:

• Seafood expertise
• High palatability
• High moisture content
• Premium positioning
• Japanese food craftsmanship
• Novel product formats
• Facilitating interaction between pets and owners

Claims such as “human grade” may vary by product and market and should not be universally interpreted to mean all items are manufactured as human food.

Although Inaba Ciao has Japanese origins, its modern manufacturing network is international. INABA has established production operations in China and Thailand, with Thailand serving as a key hub for both human and pet food manufacturing.1

This infrastructure allows the company to combine Japanese product development and brand heritage with global manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

CIAO is now sold in numerous international markets beyond Japan. The brand is described as a major premium cat food label in its home country with worldwide distribution.1

While particularly visible in Asia, where Japanese pet food brands enjoy strong consumer recognition, CIAO products are also available in North America, Europe, and other regions.

The identity of Inaba Ciao is closely linked to Japanese quality, seafood expertise, and emotional connection with pets. Although “CIAO” is Italian for “hello” or “goodbye”, within this context it serves as the designation for INABA’s premium pet food line.

The company adheres to the philosophy:

“Never Imitating – Never Imitated.”

This reflects a commitment to creating distinctive products rather than replicating existing formats.1 Churu exemplifies this approach by establishing an entirely new category of lickable, tube-shaped treats rather than competing solely within traditional dry or canned segments.

Inaba Ciao has received notable industry recognition. The brand was awarded World Branding Awards – Brand of the Year in the Animal category in both 2017 and 2019.1

Additionally, INABA’s European operations cite Euromonitor research identifying INABA as the world’s leading company in cat wet treats. This statistic encompasses the CIAO, INABA, and Dashi Delights brands collectively and does not represent CIAO’s market share alone.1

It is useful to distinguish between the corporate entity and the brand:

• INABA: The Japanese food and pet food company and its corporate heritage.
• CIAO: A major premium pet food brand under INABA.
• Churu: An iconic creamy treat product line within the CIAO portfolio.

Accordingly, the company is correctly referred to as INABA Foods, while CIAO is the pet food brand, rather than treating “Inaba Ciao” as a separate corporate entity.

• 1805 — Inaba family business established in Japan; seafood and katsuobushi production begins.
• 1936 — INABA establishes a canning factory.
• 1948 — INABA Foods formally established.
• 1958 — INABA enters the pet food industry.
• 1971 — Inaba Light Tuna becomes an important product milestone.
• 1988 — CIAO brand originates as INABA’s domestic original pet food brand.
• 1989 — CIAO pet food division established.
• 1990 — CIAO Whaity series launched.
• 1993 — INABA enters the dog food market.
• 1995 — CIAO introduces cat food retort pouches.
• 1997 — Inaba Pet Food Co., Ltd. established.
• 2004 — Chinese production operation established.
• 2006 — Thai food production operation established.
• 2012 — CIAO Churu launched.
• 2017 — CIAO receives World Branding Awards Brand of the Year recognition.
• 2019 — CIAO receives the recognition again.
• 2020s — CIAO/INABA continues international expansion, with Churu becoming its most globally recognisable product line.1

1. About us – inaba-foods