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Darford vs Merrick

Darford is made by Darford International Inc., and Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care (owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare). On KibbleLab, Darford averages 8.9 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.8 for Merrick. Darford makes food for dogs, while Merrick covers cats and dogs.

Darford and Merrick compared

Darford Merrick
Manufacturer Darford International Inc. Merrick Pet Care
Parent company Independent Nestlé Purina PetCare
Founded 1987 1988
Headquarters Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Amarillo, Texas, USA
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 Canada United States
Manufacturing region British Columbia Texas
Products listed 17 118
Serves 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. How scoring works .
8.9 (avg of 17) 8.8 (avg of 118)
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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Darford vs Merrick: how they compare

Scores

Darford scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.9 out of 10 across 17 scored foods, compared with 8.8 across 118 for Merrick. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Darford is made by Darford International Inc., an independent maker, based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1987. 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 17 Darford foods and 118 Merrick foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Darford or Merrick?

Darford scores higher: it averages 8.9 out of 10 across 17 scored foods, compared with 8.8 for Merrick. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Darford and Merrick?

Darford is made by Darford International Inc. 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 17 for Darford.

Where is each brand based?

Darford is based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Merrick is based in Amarillo, Texas, USA.

Have Darford or Merrick been recalled?

Neither Darford nor Merrick 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: Darford 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 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.