Skip to content

7,500+ pet foods rated. Your best match, free in 30 seconds.

FirstMate vs NutriSource

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods (owned by Nasta Pet Food), and NutriSource is made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc. (owned by KLN Family Brands), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, FirstMate averages 8.7 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.6 for NutriSource. NutriSource is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not.

FirstMate and NutriSource compared

FirstMate NutriSource
Manufacturer FirstMate Pet Foods Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc.
Parent company Nasta Pet Food KLN Family Brands
Founded 1989 1964
Headquarters North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Perham, Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
Products listed 56 105
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 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 .
8.7 (avg of 56) 8.6 (avg of 105)
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

Affiliate links · may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

FirstMate vs NutriSource: how they compare

Scores

FirstMate scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.6 across 105 for NutriSource. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, owned by Nasta Pet Food, based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1989. NutriSource is made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc., owned by KLN Family Brands, based in Perham, Minnesota, USA, founded in 1964.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. NutriSource is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not. KibbleLab lists 56 FirstMate foods and 105 NutriSource foods.

Not sure which is right for your pet?

Sign in free to save favorites and compare foods side by side. Add KL+ to see FirstMate and NutriSource scored for your pet's breed, age, and health focus.

Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, FirstMate or NutriSource?

FirstMate scores higher: it averages 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.6 for NutriSource. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes FirstMate and NutriSource?

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, which is owned by Nasta Pet Food. NutriSource is made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc., which is owned by KLN Family Brands.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

NutriSource has 105 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 56 for FirstMate.

Where is each brand based?

FirstMate is based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. NutriSource is based in Perham, Minnesota, USA.

Are FirstMate or NutriSource PSC Accredited?

NutriSource 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 FirstMate or NutriSource been recalled?

Neither FirstMate nor NutriSource 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: FirstMate and NutriSource .

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.