Skip to content

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

Nutro vs PawCo

Nutro is made by Mars Petcare (owned by Mars, Incorporated), and PawCo is made by PawCo Foods (owned by Independent). On KibbleLab, PawCo averages 9.0 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.8 for Nutro. PawCo is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Nutro is not.

Nutro and PawCo compared

Nutro PawCo
Manufacturer Mars Petcare PawCo Foods
Parent company Mars, Incorporated Independent
Founded 1935 2021
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ) San Francisco, California, 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 Tennessee and other Mars Petcare facilities California
Products listed 92 14
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 .
8.8 (avg of 92) 9.0 (avg of 14)
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

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

Nutro vs PawCo: how they compare

Scores

PawCo scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.0 out of 10 across 14 scored foods, compared with 8.8 across 92 for Nutro. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Nutro is made by Mars Petcare, owned by Mars, Incorporated, based in Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ), founded in 1935. PawCo is made by PawCo Foods, owned by Independent, based in San Francisco, California, USA, founded in 2021.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. PawCo is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Nutro is not. KibbleLab lists 92 Nutro foods and 14 PawCo 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 Nutro and PawCo scored for your pet's breed, age, and health focus.

Example foods

Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Nutro or PawCo?

PawCo scores higher: it averages 9.0 out of 10 across 14 scored foods, compared with 8.8 for Nutro. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Nutro and PawCo?

Nutro is made by Mars Petcare, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated. PawCo is made by PawCo Foods, which is owned by Independent.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Nutro has 92 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 14 for PawCo.

Where is each brand based?

Nutro is based in Brussels, Belgium (global Petcare division); McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars, Incorporated global HQ). PawCo is based in San Francisco, California, USA.

Are Nutro or PawCo PSC Accredited?

PawCo 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 Nutro or PawCo been recalled?

Neither Nutro nor PawCo 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: Nutro and PawCo .

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.