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Merrick vs NutriSource

Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care (owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare), 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, Merrick averages 8.8 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.6 for NutriSource. NutriSource is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Merrick is not.

Merrick and NutriSource compared

Merrick NutriSource
Manufacturer Merrick Pet Care Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc.
Parent company Nestlé Purina PetCare KLN Family Brands
Founded 1988 1964
Headquarters Amarillo, Texas, USA 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 United States United States
Manufacturing region Texas Minnesota
Products listed 118 105
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 .
8.8 (avg of 118) 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
Amazon
Amazon

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Merrick vs NutriSource: how they compare

Scores

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

Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care, owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare, based in Amarillo, Texas, USA, founded in 1988. 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; Merrick is not. KibbleLab lists 118 Merrick foods and 105 NutriSource foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Merrick or NutriSource?

Merrick scores higher: it averages 8.8 out of 10 across 118 scored foods, compared with 8.6 for NutriSource. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Merrick and NutriSource?

Merrick is made by Merrick Pet Care, which is owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare. NutriSource is made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, Inc., which is owned by KLN Family Brands.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Merrick has 118 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 105 for NutriSource.

Where is each brand based?

Merrick is based in Amarillo, Texas, USA. NutriSource is based in Perham, Minnesota, USA.

Are Merrick 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 Merrick or NutriSource been recalled?

Neither Merrick 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: Merrick and NutriSource .

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.