When shopping for your pup’s food, it might seem like you're choosing from a wide variety of brands. But in reality, many of the most popular dog food brands are owned by just a handful of major corporations—and one of the biggest players is Mars Inc.
Yes, that Mars—the same company behind M&M’s and Snickers—is also a global powerhouse in the pet food industry.
🏢 Who Is Mars Petcare?
Mars Petcare is a division of Mars Inc. and one of the largest pet food companies in the world. Beyond candy and snacks, they’ve built a massive portfolio of pet brands, veterinary clinics, and even DNA testing services for pets. Their mission? “A Better World for Pets.” But pet parents should be informed about what that really means when it comes to the food in your dog’s bowl.
🐾 Dog Food Brands Owned by Mars
Here are some of the most well-known dog food brands under the Mars Petcare umbrella:
1. Royal Canin
Known for its breed-specific and prescription diets, Royal Canin is marketed heavily through veterinarians. While some of its formulas serve medical purposes, many pet owners question the high use of fillers like corn and by-products in the ingredient list, especially considering the premium price tag.
2. Pedigree
One of the most widely recognized dog food brands on the shelf. Pedigree is very affordable but is often criticized for its use of low-quality ingredients, artificial colors, and heavy reliance on corn and animal by-products.
3. Cesar
Cesar specializes in small breed dog food, especially wet meals. Like Pedigree, it’s positioned as affordable but has similar concerns regarding ingredient quality and nutritional value.
4. Eukanuba
Eukanuba was previously owned by Procter & Gamble but is now under Mars. It's aimed at active dogs and performance diets, but again, many formulas rely on grains and animal by-products that don’t meet the standards of many modern pet parents.
5. IAMS (outside North America)
Although IAMS is now owned by Spectrum Brands in the U.S. and Canada, Mars still owns the brand internationally.
🤔 Why Does This Matter?
When choosing food for your dog, understanding who makes it can be just as important as what’s in it. Large corporations like Mars often manufacture multiple brands in the same facilities, and formulas can be driven more by profit margins than pet health.
Some pet owners are uncomfortable with companies whose core business isn't pet care controlling such a large portion of the market. Others prefer smaller, independent companies with transparent sourcing and limited ingredient lists.
🐶 What Can You Do?
Read labels carefully – Just because it's sold in a vet clinic or says "premium" doesn’t mean it's the best.
Research brand ownership – It helps you make more informed choices.
Try trusted independent brands – Many smaller companies focus on quality ingredients, limited processing, and transparency.
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Final Thoughts:
Mars Inc. plays a huge role in what ends up in your dog’s bowl, often behind brand names that don’t reveal their corporate connection. Knowing who’s really behind the bag of kibble can help you choose better for your best friend.
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