
Hill's Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog food marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The company was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operations as Hill Rendering Works, providing rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas. In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, and the company became the licensed producer of this food. In 1968, the food line was rebranded and made available as Hill's Science Diet. Today, Hill's Pet Nutrition is a leader in pet nutrition across the globe, partnering with organizations like NBCUniversal Local and sponsoring pet adoption campaigns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Hill's Science Diet |
| Company | Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. |
| Parent Company | Colgate-Palmolive |
| Founder | Burton Hill |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Headquarters | Topeka, Kansas |
| Speciality | Dog and Cat Food |
| Key People | Mark L. Morris Jr., Mark Morris Sr. |
| Notable Products | Prescription Diet, Science Diet, Ideal Balance, Healthy Advantage |
| Recent Developments | Participation in Clear The Shelters campaign, focus on science-led nutrition and sustainability, emphasis on safety standards |
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What You'll Learn

Hill's Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive
In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease. The Hill Packing Company became the licensed producer of Canine k/d. In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The line continued to expand and now includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and Science Diet brand pet foods.
In 1968, the Hill Packing Company was sold to Riviana Foods, and in 1976, Colgate-Palmolive merged with Riviana Foods. Hill's Science Diet is marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., which is a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Hill's Pet Nutrition was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works, providing rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas. Over time, the company expanded and began producing dog food and horse meat for human consumption.
Today, Hill's Science Diet is a trusted brand of cat and dog food, known for its science-backed innovation and commitment to pet nutrition. The brand has a range of products, including puppy food formulated with natural omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins to support the healthy development of young dogs. Hill's Science Diet also sponsors pet adoption campaigns and has helped millions of pets find new homes.
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Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. trades as Hill's
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., trading as Hill's, is an American pet food company that produces cat and dog food. It was founded in the spring of 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works. Hill Rendering Works provided rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas, and had a contract with Topeka, Kansas, to dispose of dead and lame animals. The company produced tallow, hides, tankage, meat scraps, and farm animal feed, including hogs and chicken feed.
By the 1930s, the name had changed to Hill Packing Company, which included a milling division, Hill Milling Company. In addition to farm animal feed, the company produced dog food and horse meat for human consumption, processing 500 heads of horse per week. The meat was shipped to markets in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease.
In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The line continued to expand and includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods (prescription foods for cats and dogs with specific diseases, only available through a vet or pet pharmacy) and Science Diet brand pet foods (sold through veterinarians and pet specialty stores). The Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brands gained market share, peaking in 2008 at 10.7% of dog food sales.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. In 1968, Hill Packing Company was sold to Riviana Foods, and in 1976, Colgate-Palmolive merged with Riviana Foods. Hill's Pet Nutrition's safety standards are modelled after human food manufacturers, and the company has helped more than 15 million pets find new homes through its Food, Shelter and Love program.
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The company was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., trading as Hill's, is an American pet food company that produces dog and cat food. It was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operations as Hill Rendering Works. The company provided rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas, and had a contract with Topeka, Kansas, to dispose of dead and lame animals. In addition to rendering services, Hill Rendering Works produced various animal-derived products, such as tallow, hides, tankage, meat scraps, and farm animal feed.
By the 1930s, the company evolved and changed its name to Hill Packing Company, which included a milling division known as the Hill Milling Company. During this time, they expanded their product offerings to include farm animal feed, dog food, and even horse meat for human consumption. The horse meat was exported to markets in Northern European countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands.
In 1948, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. took on a new direction when Mark L. Morris contacted the company, then known as the Hill Packing Company, to produce Canine k/d. This marked the beginning of their venture into specialised pet food formulas. Dr. Mark Morris Jr., the son of veterinarian Dr. Mark Morris Sr., who pioneered veterinary clinical nutrition, collaborated with Burton Hill to can the food and license the production of his pet food formulas. This led to the creation of Prescription Diet k/d, the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease.
The company continued to innovate and, in 1968, introduced Hill's Science Diet, making the food line available through veterinarians and pet professionals. The Science Diet brand was developed by Dr. Mark Morris Jr., building on his father's work in veterinary clinical nutrition. The Hill's Science Diet brand gained popularity and market share, reaching its peak in 2008 with 10.7% of dog food sales. However, by 2011, there was a slight decline to 9.4% as consumer preferences shifted towards pet foods marketed as "natural".
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Dr. Mark Morris Jr. developed Science Diet in the 1960s
Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog food marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Hill's Pet Nutrition was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works, providing rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas. In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease.
Science Diet was introduced in 1968, when it became available through veterinarians and pet professionals. The brand includes a range of Science Diet pet foods sold through veterinarians and pet specialty stores. Dr. Mark Morris Jr. is considered the father of small animal wellness nutrition, and he co-authored the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Textbook, which is still used in veterinary colleges.
The Hill's Science Diet brand gained market share over the years, peaking in 2008 at 10.7% of dog food sales. However, by 2011, there was a shift in consumer preferences towards pet foods marketed as "natural", which led to a slight decline in market share for Hill's Science Diet. Despite this, Hill's Pet Nutrition remains a leader in pet nutrition, with a forward-thinking approach driven by science-led innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to animal welfare.
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Hill's Pet Nutrition is a leader in global pet nutrition
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., trading as Hill's, is an American pet food company that produces cat and dog food. It was founded in the spring of 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works. Hill Rendering Works provided rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas, and had a contract with Topeka, Kansas, to dispose of dead and lame animals. By the 1930s, the name had changed to Hill Packing Company, which included a milling division, Hill Milling Company.
In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease. In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The line continued to expand and includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods (prescription foods for cats and dogs with specific diseases, only available through a vet or pet pharmacy) and Science Diet brand pet foods (sold through veterinarians and pet specialty stores).
Hill's Pet Nutrition is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, which acquired the company through its merger with Riviana Foods in 1976. Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brands gained market share, peaking in 2008 at 10.7% of dog food sales. However, by 2011, this had dropped to 9.4% as consumer preferences shifted towards pet foods marketed as "natural".
Hill's Pet Nutrition has a strong commitment to science-led nutrition, sustainability, and animal welfare. They have sponsored one of the largest pet adoption campaigns, Clear The Shelters, and their Food, Shelter and Love program has helped more than 15 million pets find new homes. Hill's has provided over $300 million in science-led nutrition to pets in need. Their forward-thinking approach is driven by a team of vets, nutritionists, and food scientists who develop nutrition tailored to pets' needs.
With its heritage dating back to 1928 and a focus on science-backed innovation, Hill's Pet Nutrition has established itself as a leader in global pet nutrition.
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Frequently asked questions
Hill's Science Diet is made by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operations as Hill Rendering Works.
Hill's Science Diet was developed in the 1960s by Mark L. Morris Jr. PhD DVM, the son of veterinarian Dr. Mark Morris Sr. DVM, who pioneered the field of veterinary clinical nutrition.











































