Tired of pet food that is mass-produced by faceless corporations with low-quality ingredients? So are we. We take care to stock our stores with healthy pet food from small companies who really care about their products. The following 6 pet food brands are owned by families of animal lovers who take the time to source only the freshest natural local ingredients for the pet food they sell.
1. Fromm Family Pet Foods
After years of working with dogs, cats, and even foxes, Fromm Family Pet Foods sold their first bag of dog food in 1949. Since then, this Mequon, Wisconsin business has been passed down through multiple generations and has expanded to include a full product line being produced at several plants across the United States.
Their many pet food products are made with mostly local ingredients, including Wisconsin’s famous cheese and beef. All the others are sourced from ethical suppliers the family trusts. The company has also pledged never to use ingredients sourced from China.
2. Farmina Pet Foods
This company goes all the way back to 1965, the year in which Italian owner Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company. This pet food brand operated successfully in Italy until 1999 when it partnered with Farmina (at the time a research company). With more scientific insights to back them up, Russo Mangimi (now known as Farmina Pet Foods) grew into a global presence. It is still owned and run by Dr. Angelo Russo, the son of the founder, today.
Farmina produces their pet food using as many local ingredients as possible. All of their chicken and eggs, a significant component of their food, comes from free-range Italian chickens. They also use wild Italian boar in some of their formulas. Some of their other ingredients include lamb from New Zealand and cod and herring from the North Sea.
3. Horizon Pet Food
This company is headed by three Saskatchewan family members who take pride in personally overseeing 100% of the work required to run this business.
Nearly all of their meats and vegetables are sourced from Canada, and the bulk of those come directly from Saskatchewan farmers. Most of the rest comes from the United States; the lamb, lamb meal, and some of the added vitamins and minerals come from New Zealand instead.
4. K9 Choice Foods
This company started nearly 20 years ago when a family in Tofield, Alberta learned that one of their dogs was diagnosed with a malignant tumour. They discovered that raw food could help boost his health at this critical time, and this sparked an interest in creating high-quality raw dog food that could help keep other people’s dogs healthy too.
This company is so picky about what goes into their product that they raise their own cattle and llamas. They procure the chicken, buffalo, and rabbit meat from other local farms. The kangaroo meat is, of course, sourced from Australia.
5. Honest Kitchen
This San Diego company began in 2002 when Lucy Postins attempted to make some raw food that would help her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Mosi, with his ear and skin conditions.
Currently, around two-thirds of their ingredients come from trusted North American suppliers. The remaining third is sourced from international suppliers with a proven record of ethical practices. Some of their suppliers have been working with them since the very beginning, which is a sure sign of lasting quality.
6. ZiwiPeak Air-Dried Pet Foods
ZiwiPeak is a family-owned business that makes all their food in their own kitchens, overseeing the production process from start to finish.
This New Zealand company sources all of their meats and seafood from local suppliers who operate under New Zealand’s Freedom Principles. The animals are raised sustainably without growth hormones or antibiotics, guaranteeing a high level of quality for the final product.
Only the Best for Your Fur Kids
Quality pet food can make a big difference in your pet’s longevity and quality of life. When it’s so easy to find food made with local ingredients by family-owned companies, why would you ever buy the mass-produced stuff? Treat your fur kids to some food from one of these leading brands today and you’ll soon see the difference yourself.
