Alpo vs Royal Canin
Alpo is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare (owned by Nestlé S.A.), and Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin (owned by Mars, Incorporated). On KibbleLab, Royal Canin averages 9.0 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 7.1 for Alpo. Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer, while Alpo does not.
Alpo and Royal Canin compared
| Attribute |
|
Royal Canin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nestlé Purina PetCare | Royal Canin |
| Parent company | Nestlé S.A. | Mars, Incorporated |
| Founded | 2001 | 1968 |
| Headquarters | St. Louis, Missouri, USA | Aimargues, Gard, France |
ManufacturingWhether 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 | France |
| Manufacturing region | Missouri | Gard |
| Products listed | 2 | 269 |
| Serves | Dogs | Cats & dogs |
Price tierA relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost. |
$$ | $$$$ |
WSAVA guidelinesThe 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 | Yes |
PSC accreditedThe 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 |
ScoreThe 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) | 9.0 (avg of 160) |
Recalls on recordWe 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 |
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Alpo vs Royal Canin: how they compare
Scores
Royal Canin scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.0 out of 10 across 160 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. Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin, owned by Mars, Incorporated, based in Aimargues, Gard, France, founded in 1968.
Standards and range
Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria, while Alpo does not. KibbleLab lists 2 Alpo foods and 269 Royal Canin foods.
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Common Questions
Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Alpo or Royal Canin?
Royal Canin scores higher: it averages 9.0 out of 10 across 160 scored foods, compared with 7.1 for Alpo. Scores reflect published veterinary science.
Who makes Alpo and Royal Canin?
Alpo is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which is owned by Nestlé S.A. Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
Royal Canin has 269 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 2 for Alpo.
Where is each brand based?
Alpo is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Royal Canin is based in Aimargues, Gard, France.
Do Alpo and Royal Canin meet WSAVA criteria?
Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer; Alpo does not, based on public information. WSAVA publishes criteria; it does not certify or endorse brands.
Have Alpo or Royal Canin been recalled?
Neither Alpo nor Royal Canin 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 Royal Canin .
More comparisons
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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.