GOOD, BETTER, BEST options in pet foods
- Posted on
- By Kelvin Stanke, Co-owner Critter Jungle Carling & Orleans
GOOD, BETTER, and BEST lines in pet foods can help fill the needs of both pet owners and their pets offering budget oriented foods without scrimping on quality.
GOOD, BETTER, BEST
Understanding Your Pet Food Options
During these challenging economic times, I wanted to share some insight into the strategies pet food manufacturers use to create different product options for consumers, as well as the many factors pet owners consider when choosing a food for their pets.
Price is certainly a concern for many pet owners these days. However, ingredient quality, how a food is manufactured and processed, palatability, and specific dietary concerns such as food and ingredient sensitivities are equally important considerations.
In this article, I want to focus specifically on the concept of GOOD, BETTER, and BEST in pet food manufacturing. Understanding this approach can help pet owners make informed choices that balance their budgets with the nutritional needs of their pets.
Understanding GOOD, BETTER, and BEST
Most pet food manufacturers offer GOOD, BETTER, and BEST options within their product lines, and the brands we carry are no different.
Generally speaking, GOOD options are designed to provide quality nutrition at a more affordable price for budget-conscious consumers. BETTER options typically offer more ingredients and variety, while BEST options generally provide the greatest ingredient diversity and additional formula choices.
While more ingredients don't automatically make a food better, the variety and quality of those ingredients can contribute to a broader nutritional profile and offer additional choices for pets with specific dietary needs.
At Critter Jungle, quality has always been a priority. That doesn't mean we can't offer GOOD options that deliver excellent nutrition and performance. In fact, some of our GOOD options outperform many of the mass-market grocery and warehouse brands.
Fromm Family Pet Foods: A Great Example
One of the best examples of the GOOD, BETTER, and BEST approach is Fromm Family Pet Foods, which offers its three levels through the Classic, Gold, and Four-Star product lines.
Classic is particularly special to us because it closely resembles the original version of Fromm that our west-end store began carrying 35 years ago. We were the first store in Canada to carry Fromm, and our decision to bring them on board was an easy one after studying their white paper, which explained in considerable detail why their food was superior to the brands we were carrying at the time.
More than 35 years later, we still believe in the quality of their products.
Fromm has been producing premium pet foods for generations and continues to emphasize its traditional manufacturing standards, including quality ingredients, small-batch production, and careful cooking processes.
Their approach to manufacturing is particularly interesting. Production involves hands-on operators who monitor the process, make adjustments, and inspect the kibble along the way. They smell it, break it apart, examine it, and even taste it. It's somewhat reminiscent of how we prepare meals in our own kitchens, tasting and making adjustments along the way to ensure the finished product meets our expectations.
So, What's the Difference Between Classic, Gold, and Four-Star?
One of the interesting things about Fromm is that the quality of the core ingredients is maintained throughout its product lines. For example, the chicken used in Classic is the same quality of chicken used in the more expensive Gold and Four-Star formulas.
The primary distinction between these lines is the number and variety of ingredients used in their recipes.
To put the price difference into perspective, think about going grocery shopping. The more items you put in your shopping cart, the higher your grocery bill becomes. The same general principle applies here.
- GOOD – Fromm Classic: Generally features approximately 12 food ingredients.
- BETTER – Fromm Gold: Generally features approximately 20 food ingredients.
- BEST – Fromm Four-Star: Generally features approximately 25 food ingredients.
The Four-Star line offers the greatest variety of ingredients, providing additional nutritional diversity and choices for pet owners.
Four-Star takes things a step further by offering a dozen different formulas designed to be rotated from bag to bag or even meal to meal, provided your pet tolerates dietary changes well.
The variety also means there are formulas that may be better suited to certain dietary considerations, including sensitivities to particular ingredients such as chicken or grains.
Here's something else worth remembering: If you or someone you know is currently feeding a grocery-store or warehouse-club brand, Fromm Classic is an excellent step up. It offers quality ingredients and a manufacturing approach that we believe provides an impressive improvement over many mass-market alternatives.
Over time, customers often report improvements in areas such as shedding, coat condition, ear issues, and overall vitality. Of course, every pet is different, but we've seen many positive experiences from customers who have made the switch.
Another point worth mentioning is that Fromm manufactures its own products and sources approximately 40% of its ingredients from Canada. That commitment to manufacturing and ingredient sourcing is another reason we have supported this family-owned company for so many years.
A Great Canadian Alternative: Horizon Pet Foods
A similar GOOD, BETTER, and BEST approach can be found with one of our Canadian brands, Horizon Pet Nutrition.
Horizon offers three product lines that follow this concept:
- GOOD – Taiga
- BETTER – Pulsar
- BEST – Legacy
Like Fromm, Horizon offers different levels of product choices, allowing consumers to select a food that best meets their budget and their pet's nutritional needs.
Horizon manufactures its foods at its facility in rural Saskatchewan and has established itself as a competitive Canadian pet food manufacturer.
We've had very good experiences with Horizon and have seen its products perform exceptionally well for many of our customers and their pets.
It's another example of how you don't necessarily have to spend the most money to feed a quality food.
What About Our Cats?
I certainly don't want to forget about our feline friends!
Most pet food manufacturers offer different product lines for cats, although the GOOD, BETTER, and BEST distinctions aren't always as pronounced as they are with dog foods.
Cats tend to be much more particular about what they eat, so palatability often plays a bigger role in how manufacturers develop their formulas.
Another consideration is consumption. A 10-pound cat simply doesn't eat nearly as much as a 100-pound dog, so the difference in food costs between product lines may not be as significant for cat owners.
Instead, cat food choices often focus on life stages, such as kitten, adult, and mature formulas, as well as products designed to meet the nutritional needs of cats at all life stages.
As always, finding a food your cat enjoys while providing appropriate nutrition is the goal.
A Little Something Extra: Our Frequent Buyer Program
One more thing worth mentioning: Both Fromm and Horizon participate in our frequent buyer program.
When you purchase 12 bags, you receive the 13th bag FREE!
Our Astro Frequent Buyer system keeps track of your purchases automatically, so you don't have to worry about keeping receipts or remembering how many bags you've purchased.
It's just another way we try to provide value to our customers.
The Bottom Line
You don't have to compromise quality and performance when choosing a GOOD pet food option. We believe our GOOD selections offer excellent nutrition and value, while our BETTER and BEST options provide additional ingredient variety and choices for those who want to explore what's available.
Ultimately, there is no single food that is perfect for every pet. Your budget, your pet's preferences, nutritional requirements, and any dietary sensitivities all play a role in making the right choice.
At Critter Jungle, we've spent more than 40 years helping pet owners navigate the ever-changing world of pet food. We're here to answer your questions, share what we've learned, and help you find the food that best matches both your pet's needs and your budget.
Because feeding your pet well shouldn't have to mean spending more than you need to.
Until next time,
Kelvin Stanke
Critter Jungle – Carling
Critter Jungle – Orleans