Pet Food Brand Ownership: Who Really Makes Your Dog's Dinner?

A Duopoly You Did Not Know Existed

Americans spend over $65 billion annually on pet food, a figure that has grown every year for over a decade. The pet food aisle at your local store offers dozens of brands ranging from budget kibble to premium raw diets. It looks like a competitive marketplace with abundant consumer choice.

It is not.

Two companies, Nestle (through Purina) and Mars, Incorporated, control approximately 60% of the global pet food market. When you add General Mills (Blue Buffalo), J.M. Smucker (Meow Mix, Milk-Bone), and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science Diet), the top five companies control over 75% of what your pets eat.

The Two Giants

Nestle Purina PetCare (World's Largest)

Nestle, the Swiss food conglomerate, owns the world's largest pet food business through its Purina PetCare division. Purina generates approximately $20 billion in annual revenue, making it one of Nestle's most profitable business units.

Brands owned by Nestle Purina:

The surprise: Many consumers who carefully choose "premium" pet food do not realize that Purina ONE, Pro Plan, and Beyond (marketed as natural) are owned by the same company as Friskies and Dog Chow (budget brands). Nestle covers every price point in the category.

Mars Petcare (Close Second)

Mars, Incorporated, the privately held American candy and pet food conglomerate, operates the second-largest pet food business globally through Mars Petcare, generating approximately $20 billion in annual revenue (roughly equal to Nestle Purina).

Brands owned by Mars Petcare:

• VCA Animal Hospitals: The largest chain of animal hospitals in North America (~1,000 locations)
• Banfield Pet Hospital: In-store veterinary clinics (~1,000 locations, primarily in PetSmart stores)
• BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital: ~100 specialty/emergency locations
• AniCura: European veterinary care network

This makes Mars the most vertically integrated pet company in the world. The same company that makes your dog's food also operates the veterinary hospital where your dog gets treated. Mars controls the pet food AND the pet healthcare ecosystem.

The Rest of the Top Five

General Mills (Blue Buffalo)

General Mills (NYSE: GIS), the company behind Cheerios and Pillsbury, acquired Blue Buffalo in 2018 for $8 billion. Blue Buffalo is positioned as a premium, natural pet food brand ("True Blue Promise" of no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy).

Blue Buffalo generates approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenue, making it General Mills' most successful acquisition. The brand's premium positioning commands higher margins than most General Mills food products.

J.M. Smucker (Multiple Brands)

J.M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM), better known for Smucker's jams and Jif peanut butter, owns several pet food brands acquired through its 2015 purchase of Big Heart Pet Brands for $5.8 billion:

• Meow Mix (cat food)
• Milk-Bone (dog treats)
• Natural Balance (premium pet food)
• Rachael Ray Nutrish (celebrity-branded pet food)
• 9Lives (cat food)

Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition)

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL), the toothpaste company, owns Hill's Pet Nutrition, one of the most respected veterinary diet brands in the world:

• Hill's Science Diet (retail premium)
• Hill's Prescription Diet (veterinary therapeutic diets)

Hill's generates approximately $4 billion in annual revenue and is the dominant brand in veterinary clinic pet food sales. Veterinarians frequently recommend Hill's Prescription Diet for pets with specific health conditions.

The toothpaste and pet food connection surprises many consumers, but Colgate-Palmolive acquired Hill's in 1976 and has grown it into one of the company's most profitable divisions.

The Independent and Emerging Brands

Note: Many brands that appear independent are actually owned by or backed by the major players. Merrick, once a beloved independent brand, was acquired by Nestle Purina in 2015. Iams and Eukanuba, which many consumers still associate with P&G, were sold by P&G to Mars in 2014.

Why the Vet Recommends What They Recommend

The pet food industry has a unique dynamic: veterinarians significantly influence purchasing decisions, and the largest pet food companies invest heavily in veterinary relationships.

• Hill's (Colgate-Palmolive) donates extensively to veterinary schools and provides free food for veterinary students' pets
• Royal Canin (Mars) has strong veterinary partnerships and breed-specific formulas
• Purina Pro Plan (Nestle) sponsors veterinary conferences and research

This creates a system where the brands most frequently recommended by veterinarians are also the brands owned by the industry's largest companies. This does not mean the recommendations are wrong (these brands invest significantly in nutritional research), but consumers should be aware of the financial relationships.

Additionally: Mars owns VCA and Banfield, meaning Mars-employed veterinarians may have implicit or explicit incentives to recommend Mars pet food brands. Mars has stated that its veterinary businesses operate independently from its pet food brands, but the structural conflict of interest is worth noting.

The Premium vs. Value Illusion

When you compare "premium" and "value" pet food brands, you often find the same corporate parent:

The same company that formulates the $3/lb premium food also formulates the $1/lb budget food. The ingredients differ, but the corporate parent, manufacturing facilities, and quality control infrastructure are shared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the biggest pet food company?

Nestle Purina PetCare and Mars Petcare are roughly equal in size, each generating approximately $20 billion in annual pet food revenue. Together they control about 60% of the global market.

Does Mars own veterinary hospitals?

Yes. Mars owns VCA Animal Hospitals (~1,000 locations), Banfield Pet Hospital (~1,000 locations), and BluePearl Specialty (~100 locations), making it the largest veterinary care provider in North America.

Is Blue Buffalo independent?

No. Blue Buffalo was acquired by General Mills in 2018 for $8 billion. It operates as a division of General Mills alongside Cheerios, Pillsbury, and other food brands.

Why does a toothpaste company own pet food?

Colgate-Palmolive acquired Hill's Pet Nutrition in 1976 when pet food was a growing consumer category. Hill's has become one of Colgate's most profitable businesses, generating approximately $4 billion in annual revenue.

The Bottom Line

The pet food aisle creates an illusion of diversity, but approximately 60% of what your pet eats comes from just two companies: Nestle and Mars. Understanding this concentration helps you make informed choices about what you feed your pets and how much you are willing to pay for brands that may share the same corporate parent and manufacturing infrastructure.

Explore pet food and other brand ownership on WhoBrands or browse brands by category.

Sources

1. Euromonitor International. "Pet Food: Global Market Report." 2025. 2. Nestle Purina. Annual Report data. 2025. 3. Mars Petcare. Corporate overview. mars.com 4. General Mills. "Blue Buffalo Acquisition." Investor presentations. 5. Pet Food Industry. "Top Pet Food Companies." 2025.

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: January 24, 2026.