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K9 Natural vs Merrick

K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited (owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group)), and Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care (owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare). On KibbleLab, Merrick averages 8.8 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Merrick is not.

K9 Natural and Merrick compared

K9 Natural Merrick
Manufacturer K9 Natural Foods Limited Merrick Pet Care
Parent company KKR (Natural Pet Food Group) Nestlé Purina PetCare
Founded 2006 1988
Headquarters Christchurch, New Zealand 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 New Zealand United States
Manufacturing region Canterbury Texas
Products listed 13 118
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.
Yes 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 .
8.3 (avg of 13) 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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K9 Natural vs Merrick: how they compare

Scores

Merrick scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.8 out of 10 across 118 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

K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group), based in Christchurch, New Zealand, founded in 2006. 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. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Merrick is not. KibbleLab lists 13 K9 Natural foods and 118 Merrick foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, K9 Natural or Merrick?

Merrick scores higher: it averages 8.8 out of 10 across 118 scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes K9 Natural and Merrick?

K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, which is owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group). 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 13 for K9 Natural.

Where is each brand based?

K9 Natural is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Merrick is based in Amarillo, Texas, USA.

Are K9 Natural or Merrick 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 K9 Natural or Merrick been recalled?

Neither K9 Natural 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: K9 Natural 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.