Why cheap is expensive when it comes to dog and cat food

Nowadays, there are incredibly many different brands of dog and cat food available. From cheap kibble to more expensive options, there is something suitable for every budget. But what exactly causes the price difference, what should good food meet, and of course the most important question: is cheap food actually cheaper? We are happy to tell you more about this in the blog below.

Supermarket versus pet specialty store

Dog and cat food from the supermarket is often cheaper than the food available in (online) pet specialty stores. The reason for this becomes clear when you compare the ingredient lists of supermarket food with those of dog and cat food sold in pet specialty stores. Supermarket kibble often consists mostly of animal (by)products and grains or another carbohydrate source. It is not clearly stated what these animal byproducts actually are, so you never know exactly what you are feeding your dog or cat. Animal byproducts often consist of leftover parts from animals slaughtered for human consumption. These can just as well be ground bones, feathers, and carcasses. Grain products added as a carbohydrate source (for example wheat, rice, oats, and corn) are often used as cheap fillers. Besides being cheap fillers, grains in large amounts are also not healthy for your pet. Dogs and cats have a higher risk of various health problems in the long term (for example skin and coat problems, poor stool, or digestive issues) when they receive low-quality food. When health problems arise and you have to visit a veterinarian with your four-legged friend, cheaper food is ultimately no longer so cheap.

More expensive food often contains a higher percentage of high-quality meat. Attention is paid to the ingredients and raw materials, which are more expensive than cheap fillers. Additionally, producing high-quality food costs more money, time, and expertise. A balanced meal rich in quality meat is therefore often more expensive but also healthier for your four-legged friend.

Fillers

In the above paragraph, we briefly mentioned that cheaper dog and cat food often contains a high percentage of grain products, which in large amounts are not healthy for your pet. Dogs and cats are not able to digest large amounts of grain products. This means they will have more stool because the body cannot absorb and digest all nutrients from the grains. Additionally, grain products have a lower nutritional value than, for example, meat, so pets need to eat more of this food to get all the necessary nutrients. Dog and cat food largely filled with grain products may seem cheaper to buy, but because pets have to eat more of it and the fact that this food is less healthy for your pet, it is ultimately not as cheap and is more expensive than people think. There is nothing wrong with kibble that contains a small percentage of grain products as a supplement to the food, because grains also contain many fibers and thus promote optimal intestinal function, but make sure that grain products are not one of the main ingredients in the food.

For dogs and cats that have an intolerance to grains and/or gluten, fortunately, there are also grain-free foods on the market. In these foods, a carbohydrate source other than a grain product is used. Examples include (sweet) potatoes, lentils, peas, and fava beans. Here too, this carbohydrate source should not be the main ingredient in the food.

Both the dog and cat foods from Riverwood contain around 50-55% meat from three unique protein sources; meat is therefore the first ingredient in the composition, and the food has a high digestibility partly due to the meat content. Additionally, Riverwood contains no grains or potatoes. Instead, we have chosen yellow peas because of their low glycemic index. These carbohydrates are broken down slowly, which is better for a healthy and stable blood sugar level. Besides the high meat percentage as the main ingredient and the yellow peas as the carbohydrate source, Riverwood is completed with a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, and a rich blend of powerful herbs. When you compare the nutrition table of Riverwood with any brand available in the supermarket, you will see that your dog or cat needs much less Riverwood daily than supermarket foods. Besides the high digestibility, you can see exactly what you are feeding your dog or cat in the composition, so you can be sure your four-legged friend is only served the very best.

As a supplement to the above points, we have made a feeding calculation of the Riverwood Adult Scottish Salmon 12kg variant for dogs compared to a B-brand. For this feeding calculation, we assume an adult dog of 25 kilograms with an average activity level.

1Riverwood: 12,000/250 | B-brand: 14,000/325

2Riverwood: 365/48 | B-brand: 365/43

3Riverwood: 8x€71.95 | B-brand: 9x€47.95


The difference per year between Riverwood and any B-brand is €144.05. This is a difference of (€144.05 / 365) €0.39 per day. From this, we can conclude that for just €0.39 more per day, you can serve your dog an ultra-premium food.

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