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Crave vs Merrick

Crave is made by Mars Petcare (owned by Mars, Incorporated), and Merrick by Merrick Pet Care (owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Crave and Merrick both average 8.0 out of 10. Crave's maker dates to 1935, while Merrick's launched in 1988.

Crave and Merrick compared

Crave Merrick
Manufacturer Mars Petcare Merrick Pet Care
Parent company Mars, Incorporated Nestlé Purina PetCare
Founded 1935 1988
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ) Amarillo, Texas, USA
Products listed 8 118
Serves Cats & dogs Cats & 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, and no one can pay for a higher score. How scoring works .
8.0 (avg of 8) 8.0 (avg of 118)
Recalls on record KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.
None None
Where to buy Amazon Amazon

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Crave vs Merrick: how they compare

Scores

Crave and Merrick average the same KibbleLab score, 8.0 out of 10, across 8 and 118 scored foods. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score.

Who makes them

Crave 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. Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care, owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare, based in Amarillo, Texas, USA, founded in 1988.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 8 Crave foods and 118 Merrick foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Crave or Merrick?

Crave and Merrick average the same KibbleLab score, 8.0 out of 10.

Who makes Crave and Merrick?

Crave is made by Mars Petcare, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated. Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care, which is owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Merrick has 118 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 8 for Crave.

Where is each brand based?

Crave is based in Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ). Merrick is based in Amarillo, Texas, USA.

Have Crave or Merrick been recalled?

Neither Crave nor Merrick has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

See the full profiles: Crave and Merrick .

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 and manufacturer notices, and a notice may name the parent company rather than the brand. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

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.