Who Owns The Farmer's Dog?
The Farmer's Dog is owned by The Farmer's Dog, Inc., a privately held American pet food company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 2014 by Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev, the company remains independent and venture-backed, with secondary market estimates valuing it around $4.2 billion as of mid-2026. The brand surpassed $1.2 billion in annualized net revenue and delivers fresh, human-grade dog food by subscription across the contiguous United States.
Who Owns The Farmer's Dog?
- Parent Company: The Farmer's Dog, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Farmer's Dog | The Farmer's Dog, Inc. | Wholly owned |
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History of The Farmer's Dog
- Founded: 2014
- Founders: Brett Podolsky, Jonathan Regev
Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev founded The Farmer's Dog in 2014 after struggling to find commercial food that resolved their own dogs' health problems. Fresh, home-cooked diets improved their dogs' conditions dramatically, and they built a business around making that approach scalable.
The early company operated through the New York startup ecosystem, graduating from the Grand Central Tech accelerator and raising an $8.1 million Series A in 2017 followed by a $39 million Series B in 2019. The model was direct: veterinarian-formulated fresh recipes, pre-portioned for each dog, frozen and shipped on subscription schedules ranging from weekly to every two months.
Growth accelerated through the pandemic pet boom. Revenue expanded as millions of households added dogs and existing owners traded up to premium food. By 2023 the company was generating an estimated $800 million in annualized revenue, and by early 2024 it had passed $1.2 billion, with monthly profits exceeding $10 million after years of losses, according to PitchBook reporting.
Marketing became a growth engine of its own. The brand's emotionally driven television spots, including the 2023 Super Bowl ad "Forever," ranked among the most-watched pet industry commercials ever and produced measurable subscriber spikes.
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In 2026, the company announced a two-year partnership with The Oprah Podcast, including a Winfrey-narrated mini-series, one of the largest podcast sponsorship deals in the category. The company remains private and has not confirmed IPO plans, though its financial profile routinely places it on lists of likely public offerings.
About The Farmer's Dog, Inc.
Is The Farmer's Dog, Inc. publicly traded?
No. The Farmer's Dog remains private as of November 2026. Secondary market data values it near $4.2 billion, and it is often listed as a potential IPO candidate, but no listing has occurred.
When was The Farmer's Dog founded?
Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev founded the company in 2014 in New York City.
Who owns The Farmer's Dog, Inc.?
Ownership is split between co-founders Podolsky and Regev and venture investors including CAVU Consumer Partners and Insight Partners. No single holder has majority control.
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What was The Farmer's Dog's most recent annual revenue?
The company surpassed $1.2 billion in annualized net revenue by early 2024 and has continued growing. It does not publish audited figures, so revenue numbers are estimates from industry reporting.
Where is The Farmer's Dog headquartered?
The Farmer's Dog, Inc. is headquartered in New York City, New York. Food production runs through company-operated kitchens in the United States.
Does The Farmer's Dog own other brands?
No. The company operates a single flagship brand and has not acquired competitors or launched adjacent pet food labels.
- Founded: 2014
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Over $1.2 billion annualized (estimated, 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 1,000
Where Is The Farmer's Dog Made / Based?
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
The Farmer's Dog Categories & Tags
The Farmer's Dog Sustainability & Ethics
The brand markets human-grade ingredients and Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist-formulated recipes as its core quality claims. It holds no B Corp certification or independent sustainability credentials. Packaging is insulated single-use material required for frozen shipping, and the company has discussed ongoing work on recyclability, though no third-party certifications cover its packaging or sourcing claims.
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Awards & Recognition
The brand's 2023 Super Bowl commercial "Forever" ranked among the most-watched and highest-rated ads of that broadcast per USA Today Ad Meter and industry tracking. The Farmer's Dog has appeared on lists of top fresh pet food services from Wirecutter, Dogster, and veterinary-adjacent publications, typically ranking first or second among subscription options. Inc. and Crain's have recognized it among the fastest-growing private companies in New York.
The Farmer's Dog Recalls & Controversies
The Farmer's Dog has no major recall history on record. The fresh pet food category broadly has faced FDA scrutiny over raw and lightly cooked diets regarding bacterial contamination risk; The Farmer's Dog cooks its food, which distinguishes it from raw-feeding competitors that have faced more frequent recalls.
Some veterinarians and consumer advocates have questioned marketing language suggesting fresh diets are categorically healthier than kibble, noting the limited long-term clinical evidence. The company funds internal feeding research but its health claims rest partly on customer-reported outcomes rather than controlled trials.
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The Farmer's Dog Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Founder-led independent company with no conglomerate parent dictating strategy
- +Venture backing provides capital for growth without public market pressure
- +Direct customer relationship gives full control of data, pricing, and product experience
- +Proven path to profitability rare among direct-to-consumer subscription companies
Considerations
- -Concentrated reliance on a single product category and single channel
- -Fresh food logistics require expensive cold-chain shipping on every order
- -Premium pricing exposes the brand to consumer trade-down in weak economies
- -No retail presence leaves potential volume untouched while competitors own shelf space
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to The Farmer's Dog
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bark | USA | 2011 | Premium | United states | All-ages | |
| Quip | USA | 2015 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Chewy | USA | 2017 | Premium | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Pet CareBARK
Owned by BARK, Inc.
Dog products company behind BarkBox subscriptions, publicly traded on NYSE, selling toys, treats, and BARK Air flights.
dogssubscriptionbarkbox
Beauty Personal Carequip
Owned by quip NYC Inc.
Brooklyn DTC oral care brand behind the slim quip electric toothbrush and refill subscription, founded in 2015.
oral-careelectric-toothbrushsubscription
Pet CareTylee's
Owned by Chewy, Inc.
Chewy's proprietary human-grade pet food brand, launched in 2017, selling freeze-dried meals and treats made in a US facility.
pet-foodprivate-labelhuman-grade
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: The Farmer's Dog competes with 3 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.
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Independent Alternatives to The Farmer's Dog
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Farmer's Dog, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Pet CareBARK
Owned by BARK, Inc.
Dog products company behind BarkBox subscriptions, publicly traded on NYSE, selling toys, treats, and BARK Air flights.
dogssubscriptionbarkbox
Publicly Traded
BARK operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Pet CareBlue Buffalo
Owned by General Mills, Inc.
Premium natural pet food brand owned by General Mills, founded in 2002 and acquired in 2018 for approximately $8 billion, covering BLUE Wilderness, Basics, and True Solutions lines.
pet-fooddog-foodcat-food
Publicly Traded
Blue Buffalo is owned by General Mills, Inc., a public company, a different structure than The Farmer's Dog's parent.
Pet CareHill's Pet Nutrition
Owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company
Pet food company founded in 1907 and owner of Science Diet and Prescription Diet, a wholly owned subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976.
pet-fooddog-foodcat-food
Publicly Traded
Hill's Pet Nutrition is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, a public company, a different structure than The Farmer's Dog's parent.
Pet CareScience Diet
Owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company
Hill's Pet Nutrition's flagship retail pet food line, launched 1968 and sold through Colgate-Palmolive's pet nutrition subsidiary.
pet-fooddog-foodcat-food
Publicly Traded
Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, a public company, a different structure than The Farmer's Dog's parent.
Pet CarePro Plan
Owned 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.
premium-pet-fooddog-nutritioncat-nutrition
Publicly Traded
Pro Plan is owned by Nestlé S.A., a public company, a different structure than The Farmer's Dog's parent.
Pet CareTylee's
Owned by Chewy, Inc.
Chewy's proprietary human-grade pet food brand, launched in 2017, selling freeze-dried meals and treats made in a US facility.
pet-foodprivate-labelhuman-grade
Publicly Traded
Tylee's is owned by Chewy, Inc., a public company, a different structure than The Farmer's Dog's parent.
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