Introduction
Both Republic of Cats and Purina are well-known brands of cat food. Republic of Cats was founded in 2012 in the UK and focuses on producing premium natural cat food made from high-quality ingredients. Purina is an American company that was founded in 1894 and is now owned by Nestle. It produces a wide range of cat food products across different price points.
While Republic of Cats has a more niche and premium positioning, Purina has a larger market share as a mass market brand. Both brands produce wet and dry cat food as well as cat treats. However, Republic of Cats emphasizes its use of natural ingredients while Purina has products across the spectrum from grocery to premium.
An interesting connection between the two brands is that Purina is an investor in Republic of Cats, so there is some level of ownership linkage. However, publicly, the two brands position themselves distinctly in the market. This article will explore the relationship between Republic of Cats and Purina in depth.
History of Republic of Cats
Republic of Cats was founded in August 2020 by a team of cat-obsessed pet nutritionists and entrepreneurs. The company is based in London, England. Some of the key people involved in founding Republic of Cats include:
James Davies – Co-Founder and CEO. James has over 15 years of experience working in the pet food industry and led the development of Republic of Cats’ recipes.
Dr. Elizabeth Cole – Co-Founder and Chief Nutrition Officer. Dr. Cole is a veterinary nutritionist who helped formulate Republic of Cats’ species-appropriate and diet-specific recipes.
Republic of Cats started with the mission of providing high-quality, natural cat food tailored to cats’ biological needs. Within just two years, the brand has become one of the most popular new cat food companies in the UK pet specialty market.
History of Purina
Purina was founded in 1894 by William H. Danforth in St. Louis, Missouri as the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company which sold feed for various farm animals. It was renamed Ralston Purina in 1902 after one of Danforth’s business partners and the founders of Purina Mills. Ralston came from Ralston-Purina cereal that was introduced in 1902.
Some key milestones in Purina’s history include:
- In 1926, Purina opened the first pet nutrition and care center at Purina Farms to test and ensure the quality of its pet food products.
- Purina introduced their popular Purina Dog Chow brand in 1957 which became one of the company’s core brands.
- In 2001, Nestlé acquired Ralston Purina to form Nestlé Purina PetCare which manages all of Nestlé’s pet food brands globally including Friskies, Pro Plan, and Beneful.
Today, Nestlé Purina PetCare is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and is one of the largest pet food companies worldwide. Its key brands include Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Friskies, Beneful, and Dog Chow.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralston_Purina
https://www.purina.com/about
Republic of Cats Product Lines:
Republic of Cats offers a variety of products for cats including wet food, dry food, and treats.
For wet food, Republic of Cats currently offers 8 flavors including fish, pork & chicken, salmon, tomato & beef, chicken & liver, tuna, chicken & shrimp, and chicken & cheese (Republic of Cats | Wet Food). The wet foods come in 3 oz pouches with recipes featuring high quality meat and fish ingredients.
Republic of Cats dry food comes in two varieties: Original Recipe and Sensitive Recipe. Both recipes feature real chicken as the first ingredient and are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives (Unbiased Republic Of Cats Cat Food Review In 2023). The dry food comes in 2 lb and 8 lb bags.
For treats, Republic of Cats offers both crunchy treats and soft treats. The crunchy treats are oven baked and the soft treats are made with all natural ingredients. Flavors include tuna, chicken, and salmon (Republic of Cats | Tailored Cat Food).
Purina Product Lines
Some of Purina’s most popular pet food brands include Purina Pro Plan, Friskies, and Tidy Cats.
Purina Pro Plan offers a variety of dry and wet dog and cat foods designed for specific needs based on life stage, size, health conditions, and activity level. Pro Plan formulas include options like Focus for sensitive skin and stomach, Savor for a shredable texture, and Sport for athletic dogs. There are four main product lines within Pro Plan: Puppy, Savor, Focus, and Sport. Key ingredients in Pro Plan dog food include chicken, salmon, rice, barley, and oat meal.
The Friskies brand includes a range of dry and wet cat foods. Popular Friskies products include Indoor Delights dry food, Party Mix treats, and wet foods like Shreds and Classic Pates. Main ingredients in Friskies cat food include chicken, salmon, turkey, corn, wheat, and rice.
Under the Tidy Cats brand, Purina offers a variety of cat litters including 24/7 Performance, LightWeight, Instant Action, and Glade Tough Odor Solutions. The litters come in clumping and non-clumping varieties with features like odor control and antimicrobial protection.
Ingredients Comparison
When comparing the ingredients between Republic of Cats and Purina cat food, there are some notable differences in the meat and grain content.
Republic of Cats products typically have higher meat content, with chicken, turkey, salmon, or other meat listed as the first ingredient. Many of their recipes are grain-free, using peas, chickpeas, or lentils instead of grains. According to one review site, Republic of Cats products contain around 40% protein from animal sources, which is higher than many Purina products (Source).
In contrast, Purina recipes vary more in their meat content. Some lines like Purina ONE have meat as the first ingredient, while other Purina products like Friskies have corn, wheat, or by-products higher up on the list. Purina also utilizes more plant-based protein sources like corn gluten meal. Overall, Purina products tend to have lower amounts of meat compared to Republic of Cats.
When it comes to grains, Republic of Cats is predominantly grain-free, while Purina products contain corn, wheat, rice and other grains. Purina defends its use of grains as an important source of carbohydrates and fiber, while grain-free brands argue that cats do not need grains in their diet.
In summary, Republic of Cats emphasizes higher meat content and avoids grains in their recipes, while Purina uses more plant-based ingredients and a mix of grain and grain-free recipes across their product lines.
Manufacturing Facilities
Republic of Cats operates manufacturing facilities in London, UK and several locations in the United States. The company states its facilities follow rigorous quality control standards and undergo frequent audits to ensure product safety and nutritional value (Source).
Purina manufactures its cat food at facilities in the United States, including Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio. The company has implemented a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program and states each facility meets strict standards for ingredient sourcing, quality, and safety (Source).
Ownership Structure
Republic of Cats is owned and operated by Tail.com, which launched the brand in 2019 as a subscription-based cat food delivery service. Tail.com is a UK-based company that also owns tails.com, a similar subscription dog food service.
Purina is owned by Nestle Purina PetCare, a subsidiary of the Nestle corporation. Nestle acquired Ralston Purina in 2001 in a $10.3 billion deal that brought together several prominent pet food brands under one parent company.
So in summary, Republic of Cats and Purina have no direct ownership ties. Republic of Cats is owned by the independent company Tail.com, while Purina is owned by the global food conglomerate Nestle.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to average price per ounce across their product lines, Republic of Cats tends to be more expensive than Purina. According to one Reddit user, Republic of Cats is owned by Nestle, the same company that owns Purina. However, Republic of Cats positions itself as a premium brand while Purina offers more affordable options at the supermarket.
Analysis by Cat Food Advisor shows that Republic of Cats canned food averages $1.87 per ounce compared to just $0.31 per ounce for Purina Friskies canned food. For dry food, Republic of Cats averages $0.19 per ounce while Purina Cat Chow dry food averages $0.12 per ounce. This represents over a 50% price differential between the two brands for both wet and dry food.
The pricing difference reflects the natural, organic ingredients used in Republic of Cats products which come at a higher cost compared to the conventional ingredients used by Purina. Republic of Cats markets itself as a quality brand with no artificial flavors or preservatives. However, Purina still meets regulatory standards at a more accessible price point for consumers.
Conclusion
After reviewing the history, product lines, ingredients, manufacturing, ownership, and pricing of Republic of Cats and Purina, there is no direct evidence that Republic of Cats is owned or produced by Purina. While both companies produce pet food, especially cat food, they have distinct brand identities, recipes, and facilities.
Key findings indicate that Republic of Cats was founded independently in the 1990s, while Purina has existed since 1894. Each company maintains its own manufacturing plants and headquarters in different locations. Both produce dry and wet cat foods, but Purina has a much wider range of products and flavors. Ingredients vary between brands, with Republic of Cats emphasizing natural components while Purina uses corn and soy more prominently.
Ownership and financial ties could not be established between the two companies. Purina is owned by Nestle, while Republic of Cats appears to be privately held. Pricing also indicates Republic of Cats targets a premium natural segment, while Purina covers budget to mid-range products.
In summary, the key findings do not indicate that Republic of Cats is part of the Purina company. While some similarities exist in their product offerings, the brands have distinct histories, ownerships, facilities, and identities. More research would be required to definitively rule out any covert financial interests or minority stakes between the companies.