Brenda Khan
Hill's Pet Nutrition, trading as Hill's, is an American pet food company and subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. Iams is an American brand of dog and cat food manufactured by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Incorporated worldwide excluding Europe. Purina is a pet food brand owned by Nestlé. Royal Canin is a French manufacturer and global supplier of cat and dog food and a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hills Diet | Trading as Hill's, it is an American pet food company that produces dog and cat food. It is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. |
| Purina | Purina is a pet food brand of Nestlé. |
| Royal Canin | Royal Canin is a French manufacturer and global supplier of cat and dog food. It is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. |
| Iams | Iams is an American brand of dog and cat food manufactured by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Incorporated worldwide excluding Europe. |
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What You'll Learn
Hills Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive, along with other consumer packaged goods companies like Nestle (Purina) and Mars (Royal Canin), sponsor vet classes, nutrition centres, sales reps visiting vets, and advertisements. These companies influence AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officers) and WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) on pet food requirements to adhere to their standards.
A Facebook group called Feline Nutrition & Cat Food Discussion only recommends Royal Canin, Hill's, Eukanuba, IAMS, and Purina because they follow the WSAVA guidelines. However, some people have expressed concerns about feeding their pets these brands, including Hills Science Diet, due to the influence of big consumer goods companies on veterinary schools and publications.
Despite the concerns, Hills Science Diet has been well-received by many pet owners. One pet owner commented that their dog loves Hills Science Diet for weight loss and that it is her favourite dry food. Another pet owner mentioned that their dog has been on Hills since 2005, indicating long-term satisfaction with the brand. Overall, Hills Science Diet, owned by Colgate-Palmolive, is a popular and trusted brand for dog food, especially for dogs with specific health and dietary needs.
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Iams is owned by Mars, Incorporated
Iams is an American brand of dog and cat food. It was founded in 1946 by Paul F. Iams in Ohio, USA. Iams was the first to consider dogs and cats primarily as carnivores, a perception that revolutionized the pet food industry.
In 1999, the company was acquired by Procter & Gamble (P&G). In 2006, P&G reorganized the Pet Health & Nutrition division into P&G Pet Care, consisting of the Iams and Eukanuba brands. In 2014, Procter & Gamble sold its Iams, Eukanuba, and Natura pet food brands in all markets except Europe to Mars, Incorporated for $2.9 billion. Mars Petcare is one of the world's leading pet food and veterinary care providers, employing more than 35,000 associates across 50 countries.
In 2015, Procter & Gamble sold its European pet care business, including the Iams brand in Europe, to Spectrum Brands Inc. Therefore, Iams is currently owned by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Incorporated worldwide.
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Purina is owned by Nestle
Nestle Purina PetCare has been involved in several controversies. In 2012, the company was sued by a consumer whose pet died after eating Waggin' Train treats. The Food and Drug Administration received over 900 reports from pet owners alleging that the treats were causing illness or death in their pets due to chicken products sourced from China. The FDA had issued warnings regarding these ingredients, but lab tests repeatedly confirmed there were no contaminants. The following year, Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek dog treats were voluntarily taken off the market temporarily after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets identified trace amounts of antibiotic residue, which is not approved in the US.
In August 2013, Purina recalled some of its Purina ONE Beyond dog food after a bag was found to contain salmonella. Despite these controversies, Purina has been a fast-growing division for Nestle, with the company acquiring other pet food brands and expanding its manufacturing operations globally. Nestle Purina PetCare has also sponsored various pet-related websites, introduced advertising campaigns, and produced television advertisements targeting pets directly.
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Royal Canin is also owned by Mars, Incorporated
Royal Canin is a pet food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated. It is considered one of the top 5 food brands for pets, alongside Purina Pro Plan, Eukanuba, Iams, and Hills Science Diet. Royal Canin is known for its breed-specific formulas and tailored nutrition, making it a great option for specific health needs. The brand is often recommended for dogs with sensitive stomachs and gastrointestinal issues.
Mars, Incorporated is a large consumer packaged goods company that also owns brands such as Whiskas, Pedigree, and Nutro. As a public company, Mars is subject to the requirement of growing profit margins. This can result in cutting costs in certain areas, such as ingredients and product quality.
The company has been known to influence veterinary schools and organizations through sponsorship and advertising. For example, they sponsor vet classes and build nutrition centres in universities to gain credibility and influence veterinarians' recommendations. This influence can impact the information that pet owners receive about the best food options for their pets.
Royal Canin's products include both dry and wet food options, tailored to different breeds and health needs. While the brand is known for its breed-specific formulas, it has also been criticized for using low-quality ingredients, such as wheat gluten, corn, and chicken by-product meal.
Overall, Royal Canin is a popular choice for pet owners seeking tailored nutrition for their dogs, particularly those with specific health concerns. However, it is important for pet owners to be aware of the potential influence of large pet food companies like Mars, Incorporated, on the information and recommendations they receive from veterinary sources.
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Royal Canin was founded by a French veterinary surgeon
Royal Canin is a French manufacturer and global supplier of cat and dog food. It was founded by French veterinary surgeon Jean Cathary in 1968. Cathary had a veterinary practice in a village in the Gard region of France. He noticed that many pets were being presented with health problems, especially skin and coat conditions. Convinced that the cause was dietary, Cathary formulated a cereal-based recipe, which he prepared in an oven in his garage. The diet successfully treated the health problems of the pets, so in 1968, Cathary registered the food with the trademark "Royal Canin".
Cathary closed his veterinary practice to focus on manufacturing and distributing pet feed. He imported an extruder from the United States, and Royal Canin became the first manufacturer of dry pet food in France and the first European company to use an extruder. The company's target market was primarily breeders and German Shepherd associations, and television advertising was used to promote the product.
Royal Canin bases the production of its feeds on scientific research. It set up its first research centre in St-Nolff in 1973 and subsequently established additional research centres in Missouri and Brazil. The company also produces encyclopedias about dog and cat breeds, which have been translated into fifteen languages. In addition, Royal Canin published the scientific quarterly FOCUS, which was circulated to over seventy thousand veterinarians worldwide in eleven different languages.
In 1972, Cathary sold Royal Canin to the Guyomarc'h Group, a much larger, family-run animal feed business founded by Jean Guyomarc’h in 1954, which specialised in livestock feed. Under the new ownership, the company underwent a period of expansion, particularly in research and development. A second factory was inaugurated in 1975 in Cambrai, France. In 2002, Mars acquired 40% of Royal Canin's stakes, and in 2004, Royal Canin acquired the US and Canadian veterinary-grade food brands IVD, Medi-Cal, and Techni-Cal from Del Monte Foods for $82.5 million.
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Frequently asked questions
Iams is an American brand of dog and cat food. It was founded by animal nutritionist Paul Iams in 1946. Procter & Gamble sold the brand worldwide in 2014. Iams is currently manufactured by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Incorporated worldwide excluding Europe.
Hills Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog food marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
Purina and Royal Canin are both pet food brands owned by Nestlé and Mars, Incorporated, respectively.
