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Essence vs K9 Natural

Essence is branded by Pets Global, Inc. and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited (owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group)). On KibbleLab, Essence averages 8.5 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Essence is not.

Essence and K9 Natural compared

Essence K9 Natural
Manufacturer Pets Global, Inc. K9 Natural Foods Limited
Parent company Independent KKR (Natural Pet Food Group)
Founded 2010 2006
Headquarters Valencia, California, USA Christchurch, New Zealand
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
Contract manufacturer In-house
Made in United States New Zealand
Manufacturing region South Dakota Canterbury
Products listed 13 13
Serves Cats & 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 Yes
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 .
8.5 (avg of 13) 8.3 (avg of 13)
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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Essence vs K9 Natural: how they compare

Scores

Essence scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.5 out of 10 across 13 scored foods, compared with 8.3 across 13 for K9 Natural. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Essence is a brand of Pets Global, Inc., based in Valencia, California, USA, founded in 2010. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States. K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group), based in Christchurch, New Zealand, founded in 2006.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Essence is not. KibbleLab lists 13 Essence foods and 13 K9 Natural foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Essence or K9 Natural?

Essence scores higher: it averages 8.5 out of 10 across 13 scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Essence and K9 Natural?

Essence is a brand of Pets Global, Inc.. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States. K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, which is owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group).

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Essence and K9 Natural each have 13 products in the KibbleLab database.

Where is each brand based?

Essence is based in Valencia, California, USA. K9 Natural is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Are Essence or K9 Natural PSC Accredited?

K9 Natural is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.

Have Essence or K9 Natural been recalled?

Neither Essence nor K9 Natural 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: Essence and K9 Natural .

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.