Today’s new pet food formulas encapsulate a variety of trends, from humanization with doggy ice cream to sustainability with the use of alternative proteins.

PawCo Foods rang in the new year with the launch of these two innovative products, developed using Artificial Intelligence. InstaBites is a shelf-stable dog food designed to offer the convenience and affordability of kibble with the quality of fresh nutrition. LuxBites is a premium, functional fresh dog food formulated with postbiotics and fermented protein to support gut health, immunity and nutrient absorption.
 

Hill’s Pet Nutrition introduced a sleuth of innovations to its Prescription Diet line, including z/d Low Fat Hydrolyzed Soy Canine, c/d Multicare Low Fat Canine, Gastrointestinal Biome Stress Felines, and new wet flavors of c/d Multicare Stress Feline. All the formulas are designed to support specific health concerns in dogs and cats. 

This diet by sustainable startup Globe Buddy seeks to help dog parents address their pet’s environmental impact. The dog food contains protein from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which has been shown to support overall health and wellbeing in canines.

This new pet food line represents Fromm Family Foods’ first foray into the frozen category. Bonnihill Farms offers gently cooked, fresh/frozen dog food formulas produced in small batches and formulated with locally sourced ingredients from the Midwest. The line includes three recipes: CHICKiBOWLS, BEEFiBOWLS and TURKiBOWLS. 

Post Holdings’ Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food brand unveiled three new products, all supporting pet health: Chunks in Gravy Real Turkey, Brown Rice, Peas & Carrots Recipe; Chunks in Gravy Gentle Digestion Real Lamb, Pumpkin & Chicken Recipe; and a Gentle Digestion 12 Count Variety Pack.

The Butcher’s Pup, a brand by Leone Fine Foods, launched this “first-to-market” product in February. The Sausages are complete-and-balanced to meet all a dog’s dietary needs, and can also be used as a meal enhancer. They are available in three, single-source protein varieties: beef, chicken and pork. 

This new dog food by Animals Like Us aims to bridge the gap between premium kibble and even more premium freeze-dried and fresh diets. RawMix50 combines high-protein kibble with whole chunks of freeze-dried meat and organs to create a “granola for dogs.” Freeze-dried inclusions account for 50% of the diet, whereas the other 50% is comprised of high-protein kibble. It is available in three recipes: Cage-Free Chicken, Grass-Fed Beef and Grass-Fed Lamb.

Burns Pet Nutrition’s new First Steps Chicken & Rice diet is specifically tailored to weaning puppies. The diet is formulated with fresh chicken and is free from wheat and artificial colors. The diet can be fed either dry or rehydrated with water.

Dr. Pol made an appearance at Global Pet Expo 2024 this past March, debuting its new Limited Ingredient and Incredi-Pol Favorites wet dog and cat foods. The canned wet foods are designed and developed using Dr. Pol’s 50-plus years of veterinary experience to support overall health in pets.

Petcurean’s Go! Solutions Sensitivities Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon Recipe for Cats is a premium, single-sourced salmon protein recipe. It also contains prebiotic fiber from chicory root to support digestive health. The cat food touts a limited ingredient panel to avoid common feline allergens. 

Mars Pet Nutrition’s CESAR Canine Cuisine brand added a new wet dog food formula to its portfolio. The new product, CESAR Filets in Gravy Wet Dog Food Mini-Pouch, is designed to serve up the brand’s trusted nutrition in a convenient format. The Mini-Pouch products are available in three varieties: Filet Mignon, Rotisserie Chicken, and Wood-Grilled Chicken.

Open Farm’s new Goodbowl line is a premium offering that touts sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients and nutritious formulations for dogs and cats in oven-baked kibble formats. The line includes three recipes for dogs and two for cats, all of which are cooked in small batches. 

This new pet food format by Nulo Pet Foods is a minimally processed format that uses a raw ingredient chilling system specifically designed to lock in nutrient integrity, preserving higher levels of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The Cold-Pressed line is available in four meat-based recipes: beef, salmon, chicken and turkey.

Mars Petcare’s GREENIES™ brand debuted its first-ever complete-and-balanced dog food offering and meal complements. GREENIES SMART ESSENTIALS is dry dog food formulated to support six vital areas of canine health: digestion, teeth, skin and coat, immune system, bones and joints, and muscles. GREENIES SMART TOPPER Meal Complement is a wet topper that can be used as a mix-in or dog snack. 

To create this cultivated canned cat food, dubbed the “first cans of pet food to use cultivated chicken,” Omni partnered with cultivated meat company Meatly. The wet cat food is formulated with Meatly’s cruelty-free, cultivated chicken ingredient, which offers nutritional and sustainability benefits. 

Fresh dog food brand, Top Shelf Dog, added a new-and-improved chicken recipe and a brand-new beef formula to its portfolio. The products are formulated with chicken or beef, carrots, green beans and quinoa, and fortified with vitamins and minerals to support overall health and wellness in dogs. Both products can be served as a complete-and-balanced meal, topper or treat.

ROYAL CANIN® US’s new Veterinary Gastrointestinal (GI) diets include three for dogs — Low Fat + Hydrolyzed Protein Canine, Low Fat Small Dog, and High Fiber Loaf in Sauce Canine — and two for cats — Hydrolyzed Protein Feline and Fiber Response Thin Slices in Gravy. All the GI diets are specifically formulated to support pets’ microbiomes by leveraging highly digestible proteins and a “robust” fiber blend.

This new cat food by RAWZ Natural Pet Food is a freeze-dried, raw-coated kibble made with a single protein, rabbit. The diet is designed for cats with food sensitivities and also includes algae-derived oil. It is free from eggs, potato, corn, rendered fat, dairy, wheat, soy and canola oil. 

Adding to its offerings for cats, Petcurean introduced its Go! Solutions Hairball Control + Urinary Care Chicken Recipe with Grains, targeting two major health issues in felines. The dry kibble diet discourages the formation of urinary struvite crystals, which can form stones in the urinary tract; and contains fiber-rich miscanthus grass and psyllium husk to support the passage of swallowed fur through the digestive system.

During Global Pet Expo 2024, ZIWI showcased its latest innovation: Steam & Dried. The dry pet food uses a proprietary process, called Z-MicroSteam™, which exposes blended ingredients to a small amount of steam before they head to a two-stage drying step. This process creates a uniquely textured product that delivers meat, organs and produce in a shelf-stable format. The Steam & Dried line includes three formulas for dogs and three for cats. 

Founded by celebrities and entrepreneurs Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Kismet offers premium dog foods and treats, in addition to other pet merchandise. The brand’s two dry complete-and-balanced diets combine dry kibble with freeze-dried pieces. They are formulated with real animal proteins, superfoods, essential vitamins and minerals, and pre- and probiotics to support gut and digestive health among other bodily systems in dogs. Kismet also offers two treats: Slow Cooked Beef and Slow Cooked Salmon. Each treat is available in two shapes — sticks and squares — which are slow-cooked and made with limited ingredients.
 

Rhodes Pet Science’s Goodlands specializes in hyper-traceable pet food products. Leveraging Smart Trace Technology™, all ingredients in each Goodlands formula can be completely traced to their original source. The Goodlands line includes three dry cat food diets including one for kittens; and three dry dog food diets including one for puppies.

During National Pet Month in May, The Kroger Co. launched new formulas for its Abound pet food brand, which aims to offer premium formulas at an accessible price point. New formulas include four for dogs and two for cats, as well as offerings that specifically target special needs states including weight management, skin and coat health, small breed nutrition, gut health and hairball prevention. Each product contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, botanical and probiotics. 

This dog food line speaks to the continued trend of minimal processing throughout the industry. Performatrin Culinary by retailer Pet Valu includes Gently Cooked varieties and Frozen Raw varieties all of which offer high-quality nutrition that is convenient to serve for consumers.   

Champion Petfoods’ new pet food line under its ACANA™ brand focuses in on “classic,” nutrient-rich ingredients consumers recognize. The ACANA Classics line offers three dry dog food formulas: Chicken and Barley Recipe, Salmon and Barley Recipe, and Beef and Barley Recipe. Each pairs pearled barley with chicken, salmon or beef proteins, as well as peas, oats and lentils.