The Pets Table
Human-grade Fresh and minimally processed Air-Dried dog food, developed with board-certified vet nutritionists to support gut and immune health, a shiny coat, and an overall active lifestyle
- Human-grade Fresh and affordable Air-Dried Meals
- 90% of our dog parents on Trustpilot recommend us
- Over 10 million meals delivered to happy pups
- Uses real ingredients, superfoods, and vitamin A for health.
- Fiber and postbiotics for gut health.
- Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients.
- More expensive than traditional kibble.
- Requires freezer and refrigerator space for fresh food.
We Feed Raw
PhD-formulated, complete-and-balanced raw meals made from USDA human-grade meats, safety-validated with HPP, and shipped frozen in ready-to-serve patties
- PhD-Formulated Raw Nutrition
- USDA human-grade meats
- Validated HPP safety step
- Biologically appropriate diet that mimics what dogs would eat in the wild.
- High in protein and healthy fats, low in carbohydrates.
- Minimally processed, preserving natural enzymes and nutrients.
- Higher cost compared to kibble and even some fresh food options.
- Requires careful handling and storage to prevent bacterial contamination.
- Some veterinarians express concerns about the potential for nutritional imbalances in raw diets if not formulated correctly.
Spot & Tango
Fresh, human-grade dog food delivered to your door.
- Human-grade ingredients
- Vet-developed recipes
- Fresh & UnKibble options
- High-Quality Ingredients: Uses 100% whole, human-grade ingredients with no artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives.
- Customization: Recipes are tailored based on a dog's specific age, weight, and activity level.
- Improved Health: Many users reported improved energy, better coats, and better digestion, with 87% noticing improvements in 30 days.
- High Cost: Considered expensive compared to many other brands, especially for larger dogs.
- Storage Requirements: Fresh meals require significant freezer and fridge space.
A Pup Above
A Pup Above offers nutrient-dense, human-grade fresh and air-dried dog food that is cooked using a sous-vide method to preserve flavor and vitamins, featuring transparent "farm-to-bowl" sourcing for every ingredient.
- Proprietary "sous-vide" cooking method creates a defensible "higher protein"
- High-Conversion Transparency: "Farm-to-bowl" ingredient tracking
- Dual-Market Appeal: Captures both fresh-food loyalists
- Superior Nutrient Retention: They use a unique sous-vide cooking method (slow-cooked at low temperatures), which preserves more vitamins and flavor compared to the high-heat processing used by many competitors.
- High Protein Content: The recipes are notably protein-dense (often citing ~72% more protein than similar brands), utilizing 100% human-grade, non-GMO ingredients without meat meals.
- Extreme Transparency: They offer a "farm-to-bowl" tracking system where you can enter the lot number on your bag to see exactly where every single ingredient was sourced.
- Premium Price Point: It is one of the more expensive options on the market, costing significantly more than kibble and often exceeding the price of other fresh food delivery services.
- Freezer Space & Thawing: The fresh patties are large (1 lb each) and require significant freezer space, plus you must remember to defrost them in the fridge 24 hours before serving.
- Limited Variety for Special Diets: They have a smaller selection of recipes compared to larger brands (e.g., no fish options), and the high-protein/calorie-dense formulas may not be suitable for all senior dogs or puppies without modification.
Just Food For Dogs
Just Food For Dogs
Just Food For Dogs offers scientifically backed, human-grade fresh dog food (available in both frozen and shelf-stable formats) prepared in open-to-the-public kitchens and is distinguished by its extensive line of veterinarian-prescribed therapeutic diets.
- Veterinary Channel Moat: By producing legitimate prescription diets, they have secured a unique entry point into veterinary clinics
- Retail-Ready "Pantry Fresh" Line: Their shelf-stable Tetra Pak line allows for easy distribution in major physical retail
- "Open Kitchen" Experiential Marketing: Their physical kitchen locations act as high-visibility billboards and showrooms
- Unique Therapeutic Options: Unlike most fresh food startups, they offer a robust line of veterinary-prescribed diets for specific health issues (e.g., Renal Support, Hepatic Support), making fresh food accessible to sick pets.
- Flexible Storage Formats: They sell both "Fresh Frozen" and "Pantry Fresh" (shelf-stable Tetra Paks) versions, solving the common "travel and freezer space" headaches associated with fresh feeding.
- Proven Science: They are one of the few fresh food brands to conduct transparent, multi-year feeding trials and publish peer-reviewed research, offering a higher level of nutritional assurance than many competitors.
- Portioning Inconvenience: The food typically comes in large 18oz or 72oz bricks/pouches rather than pre-portioned meal packs, requiring you to weigh and scoop the food yourself at every meal.
- Texture Variability: The consistency is often described as a soft mash or stew (resembling human leftovers), which can be messy to handle and texture-averse dogs may sometimes reject it.
- High Cost: It is a premium product that is significantly more expensive than kibble, and for large dogs, the daily cost can become prohibitive quickly.
Dr. Marty
Dr. Marty
Dr. Marty offers premium freeze-dried raw dog food (Nature’s Blend) formulated by integrative veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein, designed to provide the nutritional benefits of a raw diet with the shelf-stable convenience of dry food.
- Authority-Driven Trust: The brand leverages the persona of Dr. Marty Goldstein—a famous "maverick" veterinarian
- Guru-Led Branding: Built entirely around a celebrity veterinarian's authority to drive high-trust conversions.
- Topper-First Adoption: High price point naturally positions it as a "mixer," widening the addressable market beyond just wealthy raw-feeders.
- Convenient Raw Format: The freeze-drying process locks in the nutrients of raw meat and organs without requiring the freezer space, thawing time, or mess associated with traditional fresh or raw diets.
- Extreme Palatability: The high concentration of real freeze-dried meat and organs makes it incredibly appealing to dogs, often working effectively for extremely picky eaters who refuse standard kibble.
- Clean Ingredient Profile: Formulas are free from grains, fillers, and artificial preservatives, focusing strictly on high-quality proteins and superfoods (like flaxseed and sweet potato) for maximum nutrient density.
- Prohibitive Cost: It is one of the most expensive foods on the market (often exceeding $30/lb), making it financially unrealistic for most owners to feed as a complete diet for anything larger than a toy breed.
- Texture & Crumbing: The freeze-dried nuggets are brittle and can easily crush during shipping, often resulting in bags that contain a frustrating amount of "dust" or powder rather than whole pieces.
- Aggressive Sales Tactics: The brand relies heavily on high-pressure direct-response marketing (long video sales letters, upsells, and "scare tactics" about other foods), which can feel manipulative to some consumers.
Raw Wild
Raw Wild
Raw Wild is an ultra-premium frozen raw dog food made exclusively from 99.4% wild-caught elk and deer sourced from the Rocky Mountains, positioned as the purest "ancestral" diet available.
- Free shipping on orders over $50
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Subscribe and save 15%
- True Wild Sourcing: Unlike "pasture-raised" claims (which can still be commercial farms), this meat comes from genuinely wild animals that lived free-range, ensuring zero exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones, or commercial feedlot grain.
- Hypoallergenic Novel Proteins: The exclusive use of elk and venison makes it an exceptional option for dogs with severe allergies to common proteins like chicken, beef, or turkey, as these game meats are rarely associated with intolerances.
- Minimalist Formulation: The recipe is 99.4% meat and bone with a simple vitamin premix, avoiding all fillers, legumes, starches, and vegetable matter that can cause digestive issues in sensitive dogs.
- Extreme Cost: It is widely considered one of the most expensive dog foods on the market (often exceeding $10–$15 per pound), making it financially out of reach for most owners of medium-to-large dogs.
- Strict Frozen Logistics: It arrives frozen and must be stored in the freezer and thawed daily, which consumes significant freezer space and makes travel or boarding difficult.
- Limited Variety: They essentially offer one product (the elk/deer blend), so if your dog tires of the flavor or needs a different protein profile, there are no alternative recipes within the brand to switch to.
Nextrition
Nextrition
Nextrition offers premium "cold-pressed" dry dog food that uses a low-temperature manufacturing process to preserve natural nutrients and prevent the stomach bloat associated with traditional high-heat extruded kibble.
- Cold-Pressed Tech: Low-heat process locks in nutrients that high-heat extrusion destroys.
- Anti-Bloat Formulation: Breaks down instantly in the gut instead of swelling, increasing safety.
- Concentrated Value: High nutrient density means smaller serving sizes compared to standard kibble.
- Superior Digestibility: Unlike kibble which swells in the stomach, cold-pressed pellets break down almost immediately, significantly reducing the risk of bloat and making it easier for sensitive dogs to digest.
- Nutrient Retention: The low-temperature pressing process (under 140°F typically) protects heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes, and oils that are often destroyed during the high-heat cooking of standard commercial foods.
- Cost-Efficiency by Volume: Because the food is more nutrient-dense than airy kibble, you typically feed about 30% less by volume, which helps offset the higher price per pound.
- Texture Issues (Dust): Cold-pressed pellets are naturally brittle and lack the binders of kibble, meaning bags often arrive with a significant amount of powdery "dust" at the bottom that some owners find wasteful or messy.
- Sticker Shock: The upfront cost per bag is significantly higher than premium kibble, requiring customers to trust the "you feed less" math to see the value.
- Limited Palatability for Some: The hard, dense pellets don't have the sprayed-on fats and strong aromas of some commercial kibbles, which can make it less instantly appealing to dogs addicted to "junk food" brands.
Sundays for dogs
Sundays for Dogs
Sundays offers air-dried, human-grade dog food that markets itself as "healthier than kibble, easier than fresh," using a jerky-style texture to appeal to picky eaters without requiring refrigeration.
- Zero-Prep Fresh: Delivers human-grade nutrition without the "thaw and scoop" mess of frozen brands.
- Social-First Aesthetic: Packaging and "jerky" visuals are designed specifically for Instagram/TikTok virality.
- Premium Price Barrier: Extremely high cost limits the Total Addressable Market (TAM) to only the wealthiest demographic or small-dog owners.
- Ultimate Convenience: It solves the biggest pain point of fresh food—refrigeration and mess—by offering a shelf-stable, "pour-and-serve" product that requires zero prep or freezer space.
- Clean Ingredient Deck: The recipes are strictly human-grade with no meat meals or synthetic additives, relying on whole foods (like organ meat and turmeric) to meet nutritional standards naturally.
- High Palatability: The air-dried "jerky" texture is distinct from traditional kibble, often acting as a high-value treat that creates immediate interest for notoriously picky dogs.
- Astronomical Cost: It is widely cited as one of the most expensive foods per calorie on the market (often $80+ for a small box), making it financially unsustainable for most owners to use as anything other than a "topper" or treat.
- Crumbling & Dust Issues: Because the food is brittle and lacks heavy binders, bags frequently arrive with a significant amount of the product crushed into expensive "dust" or powder that is messy to serve and feels like wasted money.
- Logistical Inconsistency: Customer reviews frequently cite issues with their subscription algorithm sending food too early or too late, leading to stressful gaps in feeding or overstocked pantries that are difficult to return.
Fresh pet
Freshpet
Freshpet is the "gateway drug" of fresh dog food—a refrigerated, mass-market roll found in grocery aisles that bridges the gap between kibble and fresh, though it relies on feed-grade standards rather than the human-grade purity of subscription brands.
- Feed-Grade "Fresh": Masquerades as premium human-grade food but falls short of actual safety standards.
- Spoilage Risk: Retail supply chains often break the cold chain, leading to frequent "mold in the bag" complaints.
- Retail Fortress: Their physical ownership of grocery store floor space is their actual business moat, not the food quality.
- Massive Accessibility: You don't need a subscription; you can grab it at Target, Walmart, or Kroger right next to your milk and eggs, making it the most convenient fresh option by far.
- Palatability Upgrade: It is significantly more appetizing to dogs than dry kibble, with a soft, meat-like texture that works wonders for picky eaters or senior dogs with dental issues.
- Cost Efficiency: It is considerably cheaper per serving than direct-to-consumer subscription brands (like The Farmer's Dog), offering a middle-ground price point for owners who want "better than kibble" without bankruptcy.
- "Fancy Bologna" Quality: Unlike true fresh competitors, Freshpet is not human-grade. It is produced in feed-grade facilities and often uses "meals" and processed slurry rather than whole muscle meats, essentially making it wet food in a tube rather than a home-cooked meal.
- The Mold Roulette: Consumer complaints frequently cite issues with mold developing inside the package before the expiration date, often due to micro-tears in the plastic casing or temperature fluctuations in grocery store display fridges.
- Recall History: The brand has faced multiple voluntary recalls (most notably for Salmonella in 2021 and 2022), shaking consumer confidence in their safety protocols compared to stricter human-grade competitors.
The Pets Table
Human-grade Fresh and minimally processed Air-Dried dog food, developed with board-certified vet nutritionists to support gut and immune health, a shiny coat, and an overall active lifestyle
- Human-grade Fresh and affordable Air-Dried Meals
- 90% of our dog parents on Trustpilot recommend us
- Over 10 million meals delivered to happy pups
- Uses real ingredients, superfoods, and vitamin A for health.
- Fiber and postbiotics for gut health.
- Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients.
- More expensive than traditional kibble.
- Requires freezer and refrigerator space for fresh food.
REVIEW: Is 'The Pets Table' The Best Fresh Food of 2025?
We’ve tested 50+ dog food brands this year. Here is why "The Pets Table" just took our #1 spot.
If you are anything like me, you are tired of looking at the back of kibble bags and seeing ingredients you can't pronounce. We all want our dogs to live forever, and nutrition is the only variable we can fully control.
Enter The Pets Table. Created by the veterans at HelloFresh (yes, the human meal kit giants), they have entered the pet space with a simple mission: Human-grade food, delivered to your door, without the markup.
We ordered a box for our office dog, Barnaby. Here is our unfiltered review.
The "Top 10" Verdict: EDITOR'S CHOICE 🏆
Best for: Picky eaters, sensitive stomachs, and owners who want convenience.
1. It's HelloFresh... But For Dogs
Most dog food startups struggle with supply chains. The Pets Table is different. Because they are backed by HelloFresh, they have access to premium farm relationships that other brands don't. This means the turkey, beef, and chicken in these bowls is the same quality as the kit you cooked for yourself last night.
2. The "Lick Clean" Test
Barnaby is a notoriously picky Golden Retriever. Usually, he grazes. When we put down the Fresh Chicken Casserole from The Pets Table, he didn't just eat it; he licked the bowl until it moved across the kitchen floor.
3. Personalized for YOUR Dog
This isn't one-size-fits-all. When you sign up, you take a quiz (similar to the HelloFresh preference quiz). You tell them your dog's:
- Breed & Age
- Activity Level
- Current Body Shape (Skinny, Ideal, Chunky)
- Allergies
Their algorithm then calculates the exact calorie count your dog needs. No more guessing with measuring cups.
👍 What We Loved
- Human-Grade: You can see the carrots and peas.
- Convenience: Pre-portioned packs. Open and serve.
- The Smell: Actually smells like roast dinner, not "dog food."
- Money Back: If your dog doesn't eat it, they refund you.
👎 The Drawback
- Freezer Space: It comes frozen, so clear some room next to your ice cream.
- Price: It is more expensive than dry kibble (but cheaper than vet bills).
Final Thoughts
If you can afford the slight upgrade from premium kibble, The Pets Table is a no-brainer. The improvement in Barnaby's coat and energy levels after just two weeks was noticeable. Plus, the HelloFresh-backed logistics mean your box actually arrives on time.
We managed to find a link for our readers to get a massive discount on the trial box.