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Primal vs Zesty Paws

Primal is made by Primal Pet Foods, Inc. (owned by Pure Treats, 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, Primal averages 8.6 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws. Primal is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Zesty Paws is not.

Primal and Zesty Paws compared

Primal Zesty Paws
Manufacturer Primal Pet Foods, Inc. Zesty Paws
Parent company Pure Treats, Inc. Health & Happiness (H&H) Group
Founded 2001 2014
Headquarters Abilene, Texas, USA Orlando, Florida, 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 Contract manufacturer
Made in United States United States
Manufacturing region Texas Florida
Products listed 37 71
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.
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 .
8.6 (avg of 37) 8.1 (avg of 71)
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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Primal vs Zesty Paws: how they compare

Scores

Primal scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.6 out of 10 across 37 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

Primal is made by Primal Pet Foods, Inc., owned by Pure Treats, Inc., based in Abilene, Texas, USA, founded in 2001. 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. Primal is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Zesty Paws is not. KibbleLab lists 37 Primal foods and 71 Zesty Paws foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Primal or Zesty Paws?

Primal scores higher: it averages 8.6 out of 10 across 37 scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Primal and Zesty Paws?

Primal is made by Primal Pet Foods, Inc., which is owned by Pure Treats, 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 37 for Primal.

Where is each brand based?

Primal is based in Abilene, Texas, USA. Zesty Paws is based in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Are Primal or Zesty Paws PSC Accredited?

Primal 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 Primal or Zesty Paws been recalled?

Neither Primal 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: Primal and Zesty Paws .

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.