
Ol' Roy is owned by Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), the publicly traded American retail corporation headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart launched Ol' Roy in 1981 as its private label dog food brand, named after founder Sam Walton's bird dog. The food is manufactured by Mars Petcare under contract. Ol' Roy was historically the best-selling dog food brand in the United States, sold exclusively at Walmart stores.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ol' Roy | Walmart Inc. | Wholly owned |
Walmart introduced Ol' Roy in 1981 as its private label dog food brand. Sam Walton named the brand after his bird dog, Roy. According to Drayton McLane, a former Walmart executive and hunting companion of Walton, there were actually multiple dogs named Roy over the years. "He had several dogs named Ol' Roy. When one Ol' Roy would die, he'd name another dog Ol' Roy," McLane told the Dallas Morning News in 2011.
Walton saw an opportunity to create a Walmart-exclusive dog food that matched the quality of national brands at a lower price. He commissioned Doane Pet Care Company, based in Joplin, Missouri, to manufacture the product. The strategy was simple: no marketing budget, no television commercials, no print advertising. Walmart passed those savings directly to consumers through lower prices.
The brand launched at a time when private label products were gaining consumer acceptance. Between 1997 and 2002, shoppers increased their purchases of store brands by 38%, according to market research cited in the book "Walmart: Key Insights and Practical Lessons From the World's Largest Retailer." Ol' Roy benefited from this trend, as many customers did not realize it was a private label brand.
By the 2000s, Ol' Roy had surpassed Purina to become the best-selling dog food brand in the United States. The brand outsold competitors by approximately 20%, achieving this without any advertising spend. Walmart's scale and store footprint provided the distribution. The company marketed Ol' Roy through prominent in-store displays, creating visual pyramids of bagged dog food that attracted shoppers' attention without additional marketing cost.
In 2006, Mars Inc. acquired Doane Pet Care's US business. Mars Petcare, which already owned Pedigree and other pet food brands, became the contract manufacturer for Ol' Roy. The acquisition did not change the brand ownership structure. Walmart continued to own the Ol' Roy brand and set product specifications, while Mars manufactured the food under contract.
Ol' Roy expanded its product range over the decades to include dry dog food in multiple formulas, canned wet food, dog treats, and specialized variants for puppies, senior dogs, and different breed sizes. The brand's core product, Complete Nutrition dry dog food in a 50-pound bag, has been a staple in Walmart stores for decades, typically priced at approximately $13.99, or roughly $0.28 per pound.
The brand has faced quality and safety challenges throughout its history. Multiple recalls in the 1990s and 2000s, including a 1998 aflatoxin contamination and the 2007 melamine crisis, affected Ol' Roy along with many other brands. The most serious incident was a 2018 recall of canned dog food contaminated with pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug. Walmart removed the affected products from 4,700 stores nationwide.
As of June 2026, no new FDA or manufacturer recalls have been reported for Ol' Roy, according to Petful's recall tracking database. The brand continues to be sold exclusively at Walmart stores and on Walmart.com.
What does Walmart own?
Walmart Inc. owns Walmart Supercenters, discount stores, and Neighborhood Markets in the US; Sam's Club warehouse clubs; approximately an 81% stake in Flipkart (India's leading e-commerce platform); Walmart Mexico (Walmex), the largest retailer in Mexico; Walmart Canada; and operations in Central America, Chile, China, and other countries. Private-label brands include Great Value, Equate, Onn., Mainstays, and Bettergoods. Walmart also owns Walmart Connect, its advertising network, and operates Walmart+, a paid membership service.
Is Walmart publicly traded?
Yes. Walmart Inc. has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker WMT since October 1970. Despite being a public company, the Walton family retains effective control through approximately 46% of shares held through Walton Enterprises LLC and other family entities. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors including Vanguard and BlackRock, and by public shareholders.
Who founded Walmart?
Sam Walton founded Walmart, opening the first store in Rogers, Arkansas on July 2, 1962. Walton had previously operated Ben Franklin franchise stores in Arkansas, where he developed the low-cost, high-volume retail philosophy that became Walmart's foundation. He died on April 5, 1992, at age 74. His family continues to hold the controlling stake in the company.
Where is Walmart headquartered?
Walmart is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA, where Sam Walton established the company's roots in the 1950s. The company's global headquarters, principal executive offices, and main distribution and technology infrastructure are concentrated in northwest Arkansas. Walmart operates in more than 20 countries, with its largest store concentration in the United States.
How many brands does Walmart own?
Walmart operates approximately 20 private-label and exclusive consumer brands, including Great Value (grocery), Equate (health and beauty), Onn. (electronics), Mainstays (home), and Bettergoods (premium food, launched 2024). These brands represent a smaller portion of Walmart's total merchandise revenue than at some competitors; most of what Walmart sells is national branded products from manufacturers.
Who owns Walmart?
Walmart Inc. is a public company with shares traded on the NYSE. The largest shareholder group is the Walton family, which collectively holds approximately 46% of outstanding shares through Walton Enterprises LLC and related entities. The Walton family is consistently ranked among the wealthiest families in the world as a result of this stake, with a combined net worth estimated in excess of $200 billion. Institutional investors including Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street collectively hold a significant portion of the remaining shares.
Is Sam's Club owned by Walmart?
Yes. Sam's Club is a wholly-owned division of Walmart Inc. It operates as a separate business segment within Walmart's financial reporting but is not a publicly traded entity on its own. Sam's Club was founded by Sam Walton in 1983, named in his honor, and operates approximately 600 warehouse club locations in the United States.
1998 Aflatoxin Contamination: In November 1998, approximately 1.4 million bags of dry dog food were recalled due to aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin is a toxic byproduct of mold that grows on corn under certain storage conditions. The recall affected 17 brands manufactured by Doane Pet Care at its Temple, Texas facility, including Ol' Roy. Approximately 25 dog deaths were linked to the contamination. Doane Pet Care incurred $3 million in recall expenses. The incident led to increased industry scrutiny of corn storage practices in pet food manufacturing.
2007 Melamine Contamination: In March 2007, Ol' Roy was among the many brands affected by the Menu Foods melamine recall, one of the largest pet food safety incidents in history. Melamine, an industrial chemical used to artificially inflate protein readings in testing, was linked to kidney failure and deaths in pets across North America. Various Ol' Roy dry foods, canned foods, and treats manufactured between 2006 and 2007 were recalled. The incident led to widespread regulatory reforms in pet food safety standards.
2007-2008 Salmonella Recalls: Ol' Roy experienced multiple salmonella-related recalls in 2007 and 2008. In June 2007, a lot of Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition dry dog food was recalled for potential salmonella contamination. Additional recalls in September and October 2008 involved various Ol' Roy dry dog food products manufactured at Mars Petcare facilities in Pennsylvania.
2018 Pentobarbital Contamination: In February 2018, the J.M. Smucker Company announced a recall of Ol' Roy canned dog food products due to potential pentobarbital contamination. Pentobarbital is a euthanasia drug. The FDA confirmed its presence in samples detected through investigative testing by a television news team. The contamination suggested that rendered animal tissue from euthanized animals may have entered the pet food supply chain. Walmart removed the affected products from 4,700 stores nationwide. The FDA stated that detected levels were unlikely to cause adverse health effects in pets, but the recall raised serious concerns about ingredient sourcing in budget pet food.
Current Status: As of June 2026, no new recalls have been reported for Ol' Roy, per Petful's recall tracking database. Walmart has implemented enhanced quality control protocols for private label pet foods following these incidents, including more rigorous supplier screening and increased testing frequency.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | USA | 2012 | Premium mass-market | United states | All Genders | |
| Walmart | USA | 2017 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Walmart | USA | 2024 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Walmart | USA | 1999 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Walmart | USA | 2010 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Walmart | USA | 1993 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Pet CareOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's private label natural pet food brand for dogs and cats, launched in 2012 and manufactured by Post Holdings under contract. Features real meat as the first ingredient with no artificial additives.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's private label personal care brand offering affordable everyday essentials including health, beauty, and wellness products.
Food BeverageOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's elevated private label food brand launched in 2024, offering chef-inspired, trend-forward gourmet products at affordable prices.
Consumer ElectronicsOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's private label electronics brand launched in 1999, offering budget TVs, audio equipment, DVD players, and accessories. Largely supplanted by Walmart's onn. brand in recent years.
Food BeverageOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's fresh produce and perishable foods private label brand offering quality fruits, vegetables, salads, and fresh prepared items.
Food BeverageOwned by Walmart Inc.
Walmart's flagship private label brand offering affordable groceries and household products across approximately 10,000 items.
Market Positioning: Ol' Roy competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Walmart Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Pet CareOwned by Mars, Incorporated
Mass-market dog food brand offering dry kibble, wet food, and treats, owned by Mars Petcare (Mars Incorporated).
Pedigree is privately owned, unlike Ol' Roy which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Pet CareOwned by Mars, Incorporated
American pet food brand known for premium dog and cat food formulations, owned by Mars Petcare since 2014.
Iams is privately owned, unlike Ol' Roy which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Pet CareOwned by Mars, Incorporated
Global brand of cat food products including wet food, dry food, and treats, produced by Mars Petcare, a division of Mars, Incorporated.
Whiskas is privately owned, unlike Ol' Roy which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Pet CareOwned by Nestlé S.A.
Premium pet food brand known for science-based nutrition formulas and specialized dietary solutions for dogs and cats, with over 140 targeted formulas.
Pro Plan is owned by Nestlé S.A., offering a different ownership alternative.
Discover popular brands and companies in the Pet Care category and related searches from other users.

American pet food brand known for premium dog and cat food formulations, owned by Mars Petcare since 2014.

Mass-market dog food brand offering dry kibble, wet food, and treats, owned by Mars Petcare (Mars Incorporated).

Premium pet food brand known for science-based nutrition formulas and specialized dietary solutions for dogs and cats, with over 140 targeted formulas.