Evolve vs Zesty Paws
Evolve is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc., and Zesty Paws is branded by Zesty Paws (owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group) and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Evolve averages 8.6 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws. Evolve's maker dates to 1947, while Zesty Paws's launched in 2014.
Evolve and Zesty Paws compared
| Attribute |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sunshine Mills, Inc. | Zesty Paws |
| Parent company | Independent | Health & Happiness (H&H) Group |
| Founded | 1947 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Red Bay, Alabama, USA | Orlando, Florida, USA |
ManufacturingWhether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer. |
In-house | Contract manufacturer |
| Made in | United States | United States |
| Manufacturing region | Alabama | Florida |
| Products listed | 46 | 71 |
| Serves | Cats & 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 | No |
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 . |
8.6 (avg of 46) | 8.1 (avg of 71) |
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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Evolve vs Zesty Paws: how they compare
Scores
Evolve scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.6 out of 10 across 46 scored foods, compared with 8.1 across 71 for Zesty Paws. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.
Who makes them
Evolve is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc., an independent maker, based in Red Bay, Alabama, USA, founded in 1947. Zesty Paws is a brand of Zesty Paws, owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group, based in Orlando, Florida, USA, founded in 2014. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Standards and range
Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 46 Evolve foods and 71 Zesty Paws foods.
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Common Questions
Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Evolve or Zesty Paws?
Evolve scores higher: it averages 8.6 out of 10 across 46 scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws. Scores reflect published veterinary science.
Who makes Evolve and Zesty Paws?
Evolve is made by Sunshine Mills, Inc. Zesty Paws is a brand of Zesty Paws, which is owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
Zesty Paws has 71 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 46 for Evolve.
Where is each brand based?
Evolve is based in Red Bay, Alabama, USA. Zesty Paws is based in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Have Evolve or Zesty Paws been recalled?
Neither Evolve nor Zesty Paws 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: Evolve and Zesty Paws .
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.