Pet Food Processing clocked 32 new dog and cat food launches in the back half of 2023, demonstrating several trends fueling innovation in the pet food market. Flip through this slideshow to see new pet food products launched from July to December 2023, including several cat-focused formulations, functional focuses, freeze-dried proliferations and much more.

Pure Cravings expanded its mercury-tested cat food line with the introduction of several wet formulas under its Minced Tuna line. The expansion includes five formulas — Tuna and Tuna Loin, Tuna and Salmon, Tuna and Mackerel, Tuna and Sardines, and Tuna and Chicken — all featuring human-grade fish tested for safe mercury levels.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition bolstered its Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin line for dogs and cats with the addition of several formulas featuring wild-caught, MSC-certified Alaskan Pollock and insect protein. According to the company, the addition of alternative proteins into the line affirms its commitment to science-backed innovation and sustainability.

ORIJEN, a brand by Champion Petfoods, introduced new wet formulas for cats in mid-July. These pâté-style diets are formulated with 95% animal-based ingredients, including muscle meat, organs and bones, as well as bone broth and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids from salmon and tuna. The line includes five recipes: Original Entrée, Regional Red® Entrée, Duck & Chicken Entrée, and Tuna, Salmon & Beef Entrée for adult cats, and Chicken & Salmon Entrée for kittens.

Ultimate Pet Nutrition launched its latest complete-and-balanced cat food formula, Nutra Complete, to serve as a high-protein, freeze-dried option for supporting feline health. The formula includes chicken, fruits, vegetables, and essential vitamins targeting digestion and immune function support.

Following an expansion of ORIJEN’s wet cat food portfolio, Champion Petfoods announced late July the official launch of a wet cat food line under its ACANA brand. The line features six recipes: Chicken and Fish Recipe; Beef, Chicken and Tuna Recipe; Lamb and Lamb Liver Recipe; Salmon and Chicken Recipe; Tuna and Chicken Recipe; and a Chicken and Tuna Recipe for kittens. According to the company, one 5.5-oz can of this wet food can provide a cat with half of its daily water requirement.

Petcurean added three new dog foods to its Go! Solutions line in early August — Go! Solutions Sensitivities Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Insect Recipe for Dogs, and Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Large Breed Puppy and Adult Salmon Recipes with Grains. The Insect Recipe includes black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which is hypoallergenic, sustainable and highly digestible, according to the company, and designed for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities. The Large Breed Salmon Recipes for puppies and adult dogs are formulated with a single source of animal protein (salmon) and specific mineral ratios to help support bone health in large breeds, as well as offer a large kibble shape for bigger mouths.

English raw dog food brand ProDog Raw added two new novel proteins to its Exotics Range in early August. The new recipes feature goat and goose proteins and are suitable for dogs with sensitivities to traditional proteins, according to the company. Novel proteins are paired with superfoods, green vegetables and hemp seed oil in each formula.

HelloFresh took its meal kit concept to the dog bowl in August with The Pets Table, a subscription-based service for human-grade fresh and air-dried meals for canine companions. The Pets Table will offer four customizable dog food plans to dog owners, leveraging HelloFresh’s manufacturing capabilities, technological infrastructure and extensive operational network to create and deliver its products.

Scrumbles, a pet food brand with a hyper-focus on natural, gut-friendly nutrition, launched its first line of wet cat food products earlier this year. The line features three formats — pâtés, jellies, and shreds in broth — each packaged in single-serve portions as high-meat formulas. Scrumbles wet cat foods are also available in multipacks.

Stewart, a brand owned by BrightPet Nutrition Group, exhibited its inaugural kibble product at SUPERZOO 2023: Stewart Raw Coated Kibble. The product “marries the nutritional benefits of natural kibble with the irresistible flavor of freeze-dried coating,” according to the company. The new kibble is available in three formulas: Chicken & Vegetable Recipe, Lamb & Vegetable Recipe, and Salmon & Vegetable Recipe.

BrightPet Nutrition Group also unveiled reformulations and new package designs for its Bravo! Homestyle Complete Line of pet food for dogs. The freeze-dried diets now feature 45% protein and a guarantee that all poultry used in the formulas adhere to No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) standards. Homestyle Complete diets can be served as a complete-and-balanced meal or as a meal topper.

Pet Nutrition Meals, LLC introduced its flagship brand, NAAVI, at SUPERZOO 2023. NAAVI offers an alternative pet food format designed to optimize dog nutrition and convenience for pet owners. The brand’s diets include slow-roasted proteins, air-dried fruits and vegetables, ancient grains, and air-puffed probiotic crisps that deliver four probiotic strains. They can be fed dry, rehydrated, mixed into a regular diet, as a treat, or as a part of a rotational feeding regimen.

Shepherd Boy Farms debuted its Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food line, featuring four farm-to-bowl recipes that are free from synthetic supplements, grain, gluten, additives or preservatives. The formulas are made in-house with raw ingredients sourced from farms in the United States. The line includes Chicken, Beef, Bison and Fish Medley varieties, with each comprised of premium protein and organic whole produce.

Dr. Marty Pets announced a new freeze-dried raw formula designed for dogs with dry skin and dull coats. The formula, Nature’s Blend Radiant Select, features ingredients rich in Omega 3 fatty acids including pollock, beef heart, tuna, salmon and beef liver. These fatty acids are essential for maintaining healthy skin and a shiny coat, according to the company. The diet also includes superfoods like flaxseed, apples, blueberries, cranberries and ginger, which are important for dogs’ overall health.

Primal Pet Foods expanded its Pronto line with a Raw Frozen Pronto Puppy recipe formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs of growing pups. According to the company, the raw diet for puppies features high-quality ingredients and Certified Organic produce. The format aims to provide pet owners with the convenience of commercial food with the nutritional benefits of a raw diet.

In early September, Chef José Andrés co-founded a new brand of dog food inspired by traditional Mediterranean meals. The brand, REÁL MESA, offers diets that include real chicken, wild-caught salmon, brown rice, chickpeas, carrots, figs, kale, and a proprietary blend of herbs and spices. Recipes include complete-and-balanced diets — Mediterranean Chicken & Rice Entrée, Wild Caught Salmon Feast and Lamb & Tomato Stew for adult dogs, and Chicken & Vegetable Asado for puppies — as well as treats and toppers.

THE PACK introduced its first dry dog food formula, taking its plant-based nutritional philosophy from the wet pet food market to the kibble arena. The company’s Oven Baked Crunchy Feast is slowly baked using low temperatures to help preserve ingredients, flavor and nutritional value. Plant-based ingredients in the diet include dried sweet potato, pumpkin, apple, green peas, spinach, tomato, beetroot, dried cranberry and blueberry, botanicals and herbs, peanut butter, oats and olive oil.

Cargill announced a relaunch of its PINGO dog food brand in Mexico, aiming to meet evolving nutritional needs of pet owners across the country. According to the company, the relaunch includes PINGO for puppies and adults, which are intended to provide solid nutrition at an affordable price.

New wet diets for cats and dogs have graced Fromm Family Foods’ Gold and Frommbo Gumbo portfolios. For cats, Fromm has introduced new pâté-style canned formulas to complement kibble offerings under its Fromm Gold line. The company also expanded its canned dog food offerings under Frommbo Gumbo™ to include stew formats that can be served on their own or in combination with other Fromm wet or dry formulas.

In September, VAFO Group unleashed an expansion of its Brit Veterinary Diet line, including new wet and dry formulas targeting weight management, lipid absorption, food allergies and intolerances, and other specific health concerns. New formulas include Gastrointestinal, Low-Fat, which is designed for obese dogs and cats; Sterilized, targeting weight management in spayed and neutered dogs and cats; Ultra-Hypoallergenic, which features insect protein to address food sensitivities; and Veg High-Fiber, which supports optimal weight in dogs experiencing colitis and diarrhea.

Yummers Pet Supply Co., a brand founded in 2022 by Rebecca Frechette Rudisch, chief executive officer, and Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness, stars of the TV series “Queer Eye,” entered the freeze-dried dog food category in mid-September. The company’s first freeze-dried formulas were designed to be “flavor-forward” and nutrient rich, featuring high-quality proteins and superfoods to achieve this. The range is available in three varieties: Chicken & Beef Recipe, Salmon & Beef Recipe, and Salmon & Lamb Recipe.

Following the launch of its high-protein puppy food, Bully Max struck again with its new Small Breed Dog Food in October. According to the company, small breed dogs are prone to certain health issues unique to their sizes and breeds. Bully Max’s Small Breed Dog Food formula is designed to address these needs, including skin and coat health and digestion support. The diet also features TruMune, a postbiotic by Diamond V.

Across the pond, Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe announced its first carbon-reduced cat food — Purina ONE DualNature — in late October. The new line features two formulas, one with chicken and cranberry and another with salmon and spirulina. Thanks to reevaluated manufacturing, formulation, logistics and packaging operations, Purina ONE DualNature boasts a 15.7% reduction in carbon footprint compared to Purina’s 2019 baseline, according to the company.

Freshpet’s new Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe is formulated with natural chicken, which is gently steam-cooked, as well as oats, carrots and spinach. The diet features “fresh, never frozen” ingredients, according to the company. It is available in a 1.5-oz chub roll and designed to provide essential nutrition for dogs.

In November, VAFO Group introduced a new brand of sustainable dog and cat food formulations: Planet Pet Society. According to the company, the diets feature upcycled ingredients, achieve climate neutrality through production and packaging, and a percentage of sales will benefit seagrass restoration projects in the Baltic Sea.

In late August, Bully Max® released its dehydrated 26/12 High Protein Wet Puppy Food. The product is sold dehydrated, meaning pet owners can simply add warm water to turn it into a wet food formulation. The product doesn’t require refrigeration or freezing and there’s no waste from disposing of the cans, according to the company.

Dr. Marty Pets introduced a slew of new nutritional products for dogs in November. Additions include Sensitivity Select, which is free from common allergens and designed for dogs with food sensitivities; Active Vitality, which targets senior dogs and supports digestion, immune support, mobility and energy; Healthy Growth, which includes goat milk and seaweed to support muscle and brain development in puppies; Small Breed, a freeze-dried, bite-sized formula for smaller dogs; and Essential Wellness Premium Origin, a formula combining New Zealand lamb and venison, grass-fed beef, and wild-caught mackerel with superfoods to deliver antioxidants that benefit several areas of health and wellness.

Bully Max found another way to support nutrition for growing dogs in 2023 with the launch of its 24/14 High Protein & Growth Puppy Food. The new puppy food is formulated with real protein including lamb and pork as the primary proteins, essential vitamins and nutrients including vitamin A, B12, C, D, E and K, and Diamond V’s proprietary postbiotic ingredient, TruMune.

An Australian pet food company unleashed an entovegan, flexitarian dog food brand — Planet A Pet Food — in late November. Planet A Pet Food is formulated with upcycled vegetables, insect protein from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), and a human-grade, plant-based meat analog. Together, these ingredients aim to create a meat-free mealtime experience for canine companions.

“The future of kibble” will hit store shelves in January 2024, according to Primal Pet Foods. The company teased the launch of its latest dog food innovation — Kibble in the Raw — in December, fusing the ease of kibble with the nutritional benefits of raw. The diets feature premium proteins, cold-pressed fish oils and air-dried organic produce, all freeze-dried to lock in freshness and nutrition. Kibble in the Raw will include five complete-and-balanced formulas: Chicken, Beef, Fish & Pork, Puppy, and Small Breed.

Ultimate Pet Nutrition closed out 2023 with the launch of its latest health-focused dog food portfolio, Nutra Complete Infusions. The new freeze-dried formula, Duck with Organic Chicken Bone Broth Recipe, touts the power of bone broth in supporting many common need states in canine, including immune support, skin and coat health, joint strength and digestive health, among others.