Top 10 Pet Food Companies Dominating the Global Market

The global pet food industry is led by companies with extensive brand portfolios, international distribution networks, and significant investments in nutritional research. Mars Petcare and Nestlé Purina are among the largest participants, while Hill’s Pet Nutrition, General Mills, Diamond Pet Foods, and other manufacturers hold important positions in premium, veterinary, private-label, and specialist categories.

This article compares ten prominent pet food companies based on their brand portfolios, geographic reach, product coverage, manufacturing presence, and recent business activity. The list includes manufacturers of dog and cat food, veterinary diets, treats, wet food, dry food, and private-label products.

Top Pet Food Companies at a Glance

How the Companies Were Selected

The companies were selected using publicly available information about brand breadth, international presence, manufacturing capabilities, product-category coverage, recent business activity, and relevance to the global pet food industry. The order should not be interpreted as a definitive ranking by revenue because comparable audited pet food revenue is not publicly available for every company.

Pet food supports the health and well-being of companion animals while responding to changing nutritional requirements and consumer preferences. The companies in this industry offer products ranging from affordable everyday food to premium formulations, therapeutic diets, and functional supplements. Their operations cover complex supply chains, nutritional research, manufacturing, and distribution. Product development increasingly includes microbiome-supporting probiotics, grain-free alternatives, alternative proteins, and more sustainable packaging.

The global pet food industry includes large multinational corporations as well as regional companies specializing in private-label, organic, and other niche products. Manufacturers distribute their products through supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, veterinary clinics, and specialty retailers. Many companies are also investing in research and development, supply-chain traceability, acquisitions, and technologies that support animal health and product innovation.

• Mars Petcare Inc.

• Nestlé Purina PetCare

• Colgate-Palmolive Company (Hill’s Pet Nutrition)

• The J.M. Smucker Company

• General Mills, Inc. (Blue Buffalo)

• Diamond Pet Foods

• Heristo AG

• Tiernahrung Deuerer GmbH

• Wellness Pet Company

• Post Holdings, Inc.

Let’s explore each company in more detail.

Mars Petcare Inc.

Mars Petcare is part of privately held Mars, Incorporated and is a major participant in the global pet food market. Mars states that its pet care business has approximately 100,000 associates and more than 50 brands. Its portfolio includes Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Iams, Sheba, and Cesar, as well as veterinary and pet-care services. The company produces wet and dry dog and cat food, treats, and specialized nutritional products. In 2025, Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures operated the Next Generation Pet Food Program with AAK, Bühler, and Givaudan. The program selected three startups developing alternative proteins, microalgae-derived nutrients, and upcycled ingredients for pet food.

Nestlé Purina PetCare

Nestlé Purina PetCare is the pet care business of Nestlé S.A. Its portfolio includes Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Dog Chow, Friskies, Beneful, and Fancy Feast. The company produces dry and wet food, treats, litter, and specialized nutritional products for dogs and cats. Nestlé reports that Purina’s global research team includes approximately 500 scientists, veterinarians, nutritionists, behaviorists, and other pet-care experts. Purina combines nutritional research with a broad manufacturing and distribution network and continues to invest in pet food production capacity in multiple markets.

Colgate-Palmolive Company (Hill’s Pet Nutrition)

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive and specializes in science-based nutrition for dogs and cats. Its principal brands are Science Diet and Prescription Diet. Science Diet products are sold through veterinary clinics and pet retailers, while Prescription Diet products are formulated to support the management of specific health conditions and are generally used under veterinary guidance. Hill’s operates internationally and invests in nutritional research, product development, and manufacturing capacity. Colgate-Palmolive completed its acquisition of Australia-based Prime100 in 2025, expanding Hill’s presence in fresh pet food. The company also uses its ActivBiome+ ingredient technology in selected products designed to support digestive and other health needs.

The J.M. Smucker Company

The J.M. Smucker Company, headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, continues to operate in U.S. pet food through brands including Milk-Bone and Meow Mix. In 2023, Smucker sold several pet food brands including Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train to Post Holdings. Its remaining pet portfolio focuses primarily on dog snacks and cat food. Milk-Bone offers biscuits and soft treats in a variety of sizes and formulations, while Meow Mix offers dry and wet cat food. Smucker reports the performance of these businesses in its U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment.

General Mills, Inc. (Blue Buffalo)

General Mills entered the pet food category through its acquisition of Blue Buffalo in 2018. The transaction had an enterprise value of approximately US$8 billion. Blue Buffalo offers dry food, wet food, and treats for dogs and cats across product ranges such as BLUE Life Protection Formula, BLUE Wilderness, BLUE Basics, and BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet. The brand emphasizes meat-first recipes and offers products for different life stages and dietary needs. General Mills has subsequently expanded its pet portfolio through additional acquisitions, including the North American premium cat-feeding and pet-treating business of Whitebridge Pet Brands in 2024.

Diamond Pet Foods

Diamond Pet Foods is a family-owned U.S. company founded in 1970. The company states that it operates seven manufacturing facilities in the United States and produces dog and cat food using ingredients sourced in the United States and internationally. Its portfolio includes Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Diamond CARE, Diamond Pro89, and Taste of the Wild. The company offers formulas for different life stages, sizes, activity levels, and dietary requirements. Diamond Naturals dry dog food formulas include K9 Strain Probiotics, which the company says are intended to support digestive and immune health.

Heristo AG

Heristo AG is a German family-owned group with pet food operations that include Saturn Petcare and Animonda. Animonda, founded in 1991, offers dog and cat food through specialist retailers, online channels, food retailers, breeders, and veterinary practices. Saturn Petcare manufactures branded and private-label wet food, dry food, snacks, and other pet food products. Heristo’s pet food operations include production sites in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, and the group also participates in pet food research and product development.

Tiernahrung Deuerer GmbH

Tiernahrung Deuerer GmbH is a family-owned German manufacturer of dog and cat food. The company developed from a meat-processing business and began producing pet food in the late 1980s. It specializes in private-label products and supplies retailers in Germany and other European markets. Its range includes wet food, snacks, pâtés, meat sticks, creamy snacks, and other products for dogs and cats. The company operates production facilities in Germany and France.

Wellness Pet Company

Wellness Pet Company, formerly known as WellPet, manufactures food and treats for dogs and cats. The Wellness brand was launched in 1997, although parts of the company’s broader brand heritage extend further back. Its major ranges include Wellness CORE, Complete Health, and Simple. These ranges cover dry food, wet food, treats, grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes, and limited-ingredient formulas for pets with particular dietary needs. The company markets its products in North America and international markets.

Post Holdings, Inc.

Post Holdings expanded into branded pet food in 2023 by acquiring several pet food brands from The J.M. Smucker Company for approximately US$1.2 billion. The transaction included Rachael Ray Nutrish, Nature’s Recipe, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, and Gravy Train, as well as manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania and Kansas. Post later acquired Perfection Pet Foods, adding private-label and co-manufacturing capabilities and production facilities in California. Its portfolio therefore covers branded, value-oriented, premium, and private-label food for dogs and cats.

Major Market Participants with Pet Food Products

Source: Company websites and company filings

• Dog Food Market

• Pet Wearables Market

• Pet Herbal Supplements Market

• Pet Food Ingredients Market