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Alpo vs Cesar

Alpo is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare (owned by Nestlé S.A.), and Cesar is made by Mars Petcare (owned by Mars, Incorporated), and both make food for dogs. On KibbleLab, Cesar averages 8.2 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 7.1 for Alpo. Cesar's maker dates to 1935, while Alpo's launched in 2001.

Alpo and Cesar compared

Alpo Cesar
Manufacturer Nestlé Purina PetCare Mars Petcare
Parent company Nestlé S.A. Mars, Incorporated
Founded 2001 1935
Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri, USA Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ)
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
In-house In-house
Made in United States United States
Manufacturing region Missouri Not listed
Products listed 2 48
Serves Dogs Dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$ $$$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No No
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works .
7.1 (avg of 2) 8.2 (avg of 48)
Recalls on record We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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Alpo vs Cesar: how they compare

Scores

Cesar scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.2 out of 10 across 48 scored foods, compared with 7.1 across 2 for Alpo. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Alpo is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare, owned by Nestlé S.A., based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, founded in 2001. Cesar is made by Mars Petcare, owned by Mars, Incorporated, based in Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ), founded in 1935.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 2 Alpo foods and 48 Cesar foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Alpo or Cesar?

Cesar scores higher: it averages 8.2 out of 10 across 48 scored foods, compared with 7.1 for Alpo. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Alpo and Cesar?

Alpo is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which is owned by Nestlé S.A. Cesar is made by Mars Petcare, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Cesar has 48 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 2 for Alpo.

Where is each brand based?

Alpo is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Cesar is based in Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ).

Have Alpo or Cesar been recalled?

Neither Alpo nor Cesar has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

See the full profiles: Alpo and Cesar .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.