A pet food producer isn’t all the time a make-or-break concern for pet dad and mom. Nonetheless, some homeowners like buying meals made by tiny boutique producers, whereas others want shopping for from the most important corporations within the pet-food enterprise. 

Every strategy has professionals and cons, and there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. 

However for many who’d want shopping for from greater corporations, we’ll share among the largest pet meals producers within the U.S. beneath. 

The 21 Largest Pet Meals Producers within the U.S.

We’ve rounded up the highest pet meals producers within the U.S. from market info collected by Petfoodindustry.com. This consists of worldwide figures for every producer’s complete portfolio of pet meals manufacturers, not simply dog-focused merchandise.

1) Mars Petcare Inc: $19,000,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Falling beneath the Mars, Integrated umbrella, Mars Petcare Inc is behind over 50 pet manufacturers like the favored pet food picks Pedigree®, Iams™, Eukanuba™, Nom Nom, and Nutro. Cat-focused manufacturers embody Crave™, Whiskas®, Sheba®, and Temptations™. 

Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars Petcare Inc was based method again in 1883, however right now, it’s the present king of the pet meals enterprise with a staggering $19 billion in annual income worldwide.  

2) Nestle Purina PetCare: $16,500,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Coming in second is Purina, an American-based pet meals department of the Swiss Nestlé company that was based in 1894. Purina has a number of widespread canine-focused manufacturers, together with the budget-friendly canine meals Alpo®, Bakers®, and Beneful®, in addition to people who price a little bit extra, like Merrick®, Purina ONE®, Past®, and Professional Plan® Veterinary Diets. Feline-centered manufacturers beneath Purina embody Friskies® and Fancy Feast®. 

Based mostly in St. Louis, Missouri, Nestle Purina PetCare  takes in over $16.5 billion worldwide yearly.

3) Hill’s Pet Diet: $3,311,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Hill’s Pet Diet brings in additional than $3 billion yearly worldwide. A subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, this 1907-founded firm is predicated in Topeka, Kansas and manufactures mutt merchandise beneath the Science Eating regimen™, Wholesome Benefit®, and Bioactive Recipe labels. 

Hill’s Pet Diet is best-known for specialty diets geared towards particular well being wants, similar to low-glycemic meals for diabetic canine, limited-ingredient recipes for delicate programs, and meals for canine with kidney points.

4) J.M. Smucker: $2,694,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

With a strong $2.6 billion in annual gross sales worldwide, J.M Smucker may be a shocking face on this checklist, as they’re most frequently related to peanut butter, jellies, and jams. Consider it or not, this meals juggernaut headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, makes numerous canine merchandise beneath manufacturers like Milk-Bone®, Pup-Peroni®, Nature’s Recipe®, and Rachael Ray™ Nutrish®. 

Based in 1897, J.M. Snucker additionally makes cat-tastic gadgets via the Meow Combine® and 9Lives® labels.

5) Normal Mills: $1,732,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Normal Mills makes greater than your favourite breakfast cereal, as this Minneapolis, Minnesota-based firm based in 1928 takes in over $1.7 billion a 12 months in income from its BLUE™ Buffalo label. 

This consists of a variety of merchandise bought beneath many sub-brands for canine and cats, together with the single-protein, limited-ingredient line Fundamentals™, Wilderness™, Life Safety System®, and extra.

6) Diamond Pet Meals $1,500,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Recognized for its reasonably priced choices, Diamond Pet Meals brings in $1.5 billion in income from its many manufacturers, together with Diamond®, Diamond Naturals®, and Diamond CARE®. Diamond Pet Meals is owned by Schell & Kampeter Inc, a non-public firm that additionally owns Style of the Wild®. 

Diamond Pet Meals headquarters is situated in Meta, Missouri, and was based in 1970.

7) Simmons Pet Meals: $1,000,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

With a whopping $1 billion in annual income, Simmons Pet Meals is a big-time producer of moist pet meals in the US. It produces personal label manufacturers like Twin Pet® and works on a contract foundation to make moist meals for different manufacturers. 

Based mostly in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, it began in 1949 and makes a speciality of manufacturing poultry-based merchandise.

8) Alphia, Inc: $875,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Alphia, Inc is a pet meals producer with a headquarters in Ogden, Utah, which has a formidable annual income of $875 million. Like Simmons, this firm, based in 2020, works with pet meals corporations on a contract foundation to make their merchandise at their amenities, together with kibbles, jerky, and treats. 

Alphia, Inc additionally gives analysis and growth capabilities for corporations seeking to create new pet vitamin provides.

9) Wellness Pet Firm: $700,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Wellness Pet Firm calls Tewksbury, Massachusetts dwelling and rakes in a cool $700 million of income with their strains of pet meals, together with Wellness®, WHIMZEES®, Previous Mom Hubbard®, Good Canine®, Holistic Choose®, Sojos®, and Eagle Pack®. 

The corporate, based in 1926, has choices that embody among the greatest dry pet food choices containing belly-boosting probiotics and joint-supportive glucosamine. 

10) Spectrum Manufacturers: $664,190,000 in Annual Gross sales

The Middleton, Wisconsin-based Spectrum Manufacturers brings in about $664 million with their pet-aligned manufacturers behind bones and treats, like DreamBone®, SmartBones®, Dingo®, and Good’n Enjoyable™. 

The corporate that bought its begin in 1906 can be behind Nature’s Miracle®, Good Coat®, and the beloved maker of brushes and shampoos for heavy shedders, FURminator®.

11) Central Backyard & Pet: $570,900,000 in Annual Gross sales

Central Backyard & Pet isn’t a family title like a couple of on this checklist, however this bustling enterprise has a number of well-known animal-focused manufacturers in its portfolio that deliver in additional than $570 million yearly. Since its starting in 1980, Central Backyard & Pet has marketed merchandise for  canine, cats, horses, and extra. 

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Central Backyard & Pet manufacturers embody Nylabone®, Cadet®, and 4 Paws®.

12) Freshpet®: $425,490,000 in Annual Gross sales

Freshpet® is a Secaucus, New Jersey-based producer of recent pet meals based in 2006 with an annual income of $425 million. 

They provide many dietary choices for cats and canine, together with meals beneath the Freshpet Choose®, Very important®, Nature’s Contemporary®, and Deli Contemporary® labels, in addition to Canine Nation® and Canine Pleasure® recent canine treats.

13) ADM Animal Diet: $400,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

With $400 million in yearly income, ADM Animal Diet is a peak performer in pet and livestock feed with a historical past relationship again to 1902. It’s a subsidiary of The Archer-Daniels-Midland Firm, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. 

ADM Animal Diet’s dog- and cat-based model is Proud Paws®, and it additionally gives a slew of horse and livestock labels, together with Candy Distinctive™, GROSTRONG®, and Pen Friends®.

14) Sunshine Mills, Inc: $350,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Crimson Bay, Alabama is the headquarters of this firm bringing in $350 million of annual income. Sunshine Mills, Inc was began in 1949 and produces a number of well-known pet manufacturers, together with Evolve®, Triumph®, Veterinary Choose®, and Sportsman’s Pleasure®. 

In addition they make treats like Pup Corn® Plus, Crunchin’ Bones®, and Meaty Treats®.

15) Tuffy’s Pet Meals: $308,500,000 in Annual Gross sales

Tuffy’s Pet Meals is a canine and cat product producer based in 1964 and based mostly in Perham, Minnesota. The producer is behind quite a lot of manufacturers, together with NutriSource®, NutriSource PureVita®, Pure Planet Organics™, and Come-pooch-a™. In whole, they produce merchandise starting from pet food to cat meals to meal toppers and extra. 

Their annual income tops greater than $308 million yearly after beginning their line of canine and cat meals again in 1964.

16) Pure Steadiness Pet Meals: $264,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Sunny Los Angeles, California, is dwelling to Pure Steadiness Pet Meals, a pet meals producer bringing in $264 million yearly. 

Based by actor Dick Van Patten in 1989, the corporate has a large roster of manufacturers, together with Pure Steadiness®, Pure Steadiness® Restricted Ingredient Eating regimen, Fats Canines®, Fats Cats®, and Extremely™.

17) Nature’s Selection: $200,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Based in 2005, Nature’s Selection is predicated in St Louis, Missouri and earns $200 million in annual income with their strains of canine and cat meals, which embody frozen uncooked meals, freeze-dried uncooked, moist meals, and uncooked plus kibble combos. 

Nature’s Selection produces Intuition model meals, which embody a number of product strains, together with Intuition Uncooked®, Intuition Uncooked Increase®, Intuition Uncooked Longevity®, and extra. 

18) Whitebridge Pet Manufacturers $150,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri, Whitebridge Pet Meals makes $150 million in annual income and was based in 1999. 

The corporate was acquired by Belgian agency NXMH in 2021 however nonetheless performs enterprise as regular with its stacked roster of pet manufacturers, together with Dogswell®, Completely satisfied Hips®, Tiki Pets®, Grizzly®, and Cloud Star®.

19) Mid America Pet Meals: $115,070,000 in Annual Gross sales

Mid America Pet Meals brings in $115 million yearly in income. 

Based in 2007, its headquarters sits in Mount Nice, Texas, and its assortment of manufacturers consists of VICTOR® Tremendous Premium Pet Meals, Eagle Mountain Pet Meals®, Wayne Feeds™, and Nature’s Logic®.

20) Nulo Pet Meals: $108,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Nulo Pet Meals’s headquarters is in Austin, Texas, they usually clear a cool $108 million in annual income with canine and cat merchandise. 

Product strains beneath Nulo’s umbrella embody Freestyle™, FrontRunner, Challenger, and Hydrate™, with gadgets starting from dry meals to water enhancers to bone broth.

21) Midwestern Pet Meals: $80,000,000 in Annual Gross sales

Rounding out the highest 21 is Midwestern Pet Meals, an organization that earns $80 million in yearly income with its portfolio of pet meals merchandise. 

Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, its collection of manufacturers consists of Earthborn Holistic®, UNREFINED™, VENTURE™, Sportmix®, Ultimates, Wholesomes®, and Canine X™.   

Ought to You Purchase Your Canine’s Meals from a Massive or Small Firm?

With so many manufacturers, it may be overwhelming to seek for new pet food. 

Do you purchase an enormous title with a protracted historical past within the enterprise, or do you go for a newcomer providing progressive meals? Is it wiser to belief a model with identified remembers, or do you buy from a brand new firm and not using a lengthy manufacturing historical past? 

As you may see, the reply isn’t all the time minimize and dry, however there are methods to weed golden eggs from bitter ones when you know the way to decide on the fitting pet food.

When looking the pet food aisle, ignore manufacturers at first in favor of three core necessities in a meals: 

• Meets the AAFCO nutrient profile to your canine’s life stage
• Addresses any underlying situations your canine has 
• Aligns with nutrient selections mentioned along with your vet

If a meals checks all three containers, you’re in good condition and sure have a strong, well-rounded meals to your pup. 

From right here, you may slender issues down additional by digging into every model.

Secondary necessities to search for embody: 

• Did an animal nutritionist formulate the meals? The very best pet meals producers have accredited animal nutritionists on workers to create recipes that meet or exceed AAFCO requirements and are biologically acceptable slightly than fashionable. Some manufacturers use a “vet-approved” label right here, however this isn’t the identical as somebody with a Ph. D. in animal vitamin.
• Does the corporate carry out common security checks? Meals contamination could make pups critically sick, so common checks for mould, micro organism, and different particles are important for producers, together with testing to make sure correct nutrient ranges. Federal and native legal guidelines set minimal security necessities for all producers to comply with, however one of the best manufacturers carry out frequent inspections in-house and thru third-party amenities.
• Are components correctly cooked or handled to remove dangerous pathogens? Improperly processed meats and different components can sicken doggy diners, so persist with those that comply with fundamental meals security by heating proteins to temperatures excessive sufficient to kill micro organism. Uncooked pet food is a classy selection in the meanwhile, however the checklist of professionals and cons of feeding uncooked leans damaging, and most vets agree the dangers of your canine getting sick from consuming uncooked meat outweigh any potential perks. 
• Is the meals made within the western world? Pet meals manufacturing is strictly regulated in the US, however this isn’t the case all over the place, permitting harmful pathogens to slide into meals that may make canine sick. If a meals isn’t made within the USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or a nation within the European Union, it’s greatest to steer clear.
• Does the producer supply components from the western world? Much like the earlier level, you need an organization that buys one of the best components from locations that apply strict high quality requirements surrounding meals. This ensures the meals comprises secure components freed from harmful chemical substances, spoilage, and micro organism.
• Does the model personal their kitchens? Whereas many manufacturers produce their meals in-house, others contract manufacturing out to a different social gathering, giving them much less management over security. This isn’t to say that the apply is all the time dangerous (many contract producers are top-notch), but it surely’s vital to notice, as you could assume your canine’s meals is made by a U.S. model, solely to learn the label and study it’s made abroad.

As soon as these questions are answered, you normally have a brief checklist of contenders remaining and may transfer on to ingredient considerations that may type out which recipe works greatest to your pup.

Some ingredient-related considerations to discover are:

• Is a complete protein on the high of the ingredient checklist? Excessive-quality meat as the primary ingredient is an effective signal of a meals’s total high quality. A labeled meat meal similar to “salmon meal” isn’t inherently dangerous, however the meals wants further scrutiny of different components. Unlabeled meat meals or by-products aren’t superb sources of protein.
• Are meat meals and by-products labeled? As talked about above, all included meat meals and by-products needs to be recognized with no thriller meat similar to “animal meal” or “meat by-products” to be seen. An instance could be “hen meal” or “beef by-products.”
• Does the meals embody any questionable components? Whereas most trendy pet food is made with components deemed secure for canines, some gadgets floating round in recipes have garnered deserved scrutiny, like garlic, carrageenan, synthetic colours, BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin.
• Does the meals characteristic useful extras? Some canine meals embody components above and past on a regular basis vitamin, similar to glucosamine and chondroitin for joint well being, probiotics for digestive assist, and omega fatty acids for nourishing your canine’s pores and skin and coat. These aren’t must-have components, however they’re a pleasant perk that may be a deciding issue in case your choice comes down to 2 meals.
• Is the meals grain inclusive? Carbohydrates are an vital supply of vitamins and vitality in canine, and opposite to social media scientists, most canine course of grains effective. So, for many homeowners, grain-inclusive pet food simply makes probably the most sense. Solely these with a vet-diagnosed grain allergy ought to persist with grain-free pet food, because the FDA is investigating a hyperlink between grain-free choices and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM.)
• Does the meals embody a variety of nutrient-rich components? Vegetables and fruit are a significant a part of an omnivore’s weight loss plan, and sure, doggos fall into this class. Produce is wealthy in important nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to snout-to-tail well being, plus these like pumpkin are glorious sources of fiber to assist digestion. Wholesome fat from flaxseed and salmon oil are additionally superb for lowering irritation, supporting mind and eye growth in puppies, and retaining coats in tip-top form.

With these questions requested and answered by every contender, it is best to have a strong selection in meals to your canine, whether or not from a big-name model or a boutique providing that prides itself in security. What’s left to do is strive it out along with your pup. 

Keep in mind that each canine is exclusive, and what could also be “greatest” on paper could not work out to your woof. Pickier pups might have further engaging from moist meals to mix-ins, whereas these with delicate programs could require a limited-ingredient weight loss plan. The vital factor is to finish up with nourishing meals that agrees along with your canine’s tummy and style buds.

FAQ: The Largest Pet Meals Producers within the U.S.  

The pet meals business is booming with choices, and you should still have lingering questions. Let’s leap into probably the most generally requested questions surrounding the most important U.S. pet meals producers to set the document straight.