Are you wondering Who Makes Rachael Ray dog food? Post Holdings, Inc. currently makes Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Dog Food. In April 2023, Post Holdings acquired the Rachael Ray Nutrish brand from The J.M. Smucker Co.
Here’s a breakdown of the ownership history:
Creation: In 2008, Rachael Ray partnered with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to create the Nutrish brand.
Smucker Acquisition: The J.M. Smucker Company later acquired Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, which included the Nutrish brand.
Post Holdings Acquisition(2023): In 2023, Post Holdings purchased select pet food quality control brands from The J.M. Smucker Co., including Rachael Ray Nutrish.
Post Holdings Acquires Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, Nature’s Recipe®, and Other Pet Food Brands
April 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of select pet food brands from The J.M. Smucker Co., effective April 28, 2023.
The acquisition was financed with cash, proceeds from a previously announced additional term loan facility, and approximately 5.4 million newly issued shares of Post common stock, according to The J.M. Smucker Co.
About Post Holdings, Inc.
Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading consumer packaged goods holding company with businesses across the refrigerated, center-of-the-store, foodservice, and food ingredients categories. Its portfolio includes well-known names such as Weetabix, Bob Evans Farms, Michael Foods, and Post Consumer Brands.
Post Consumer Brands is a market leader in the cereal and affordable premium pet food with natural ingredients segments across North America, and also markets Peter Pan® peanut butter. Weetabix is home to the UK’s number-one ready-to-eat cereal brand, Weetabix®. Together, Bob Evans Farms and Michael Foods are leaders in refrigerated foods, offering innovative, value-added egg and refrigerated side-dish products to retail and foodservice channels.
Additionally, 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. participates in the private natural dog food brand category through its ownership interest in Post Holdings. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com.
Nutrition: Rachael Ray’s Pet Food Comes with a Big Heart
From humble beginnings as a waitress in upstate New York to becoming an internationally recognized business mogul, Rachael Ray’s journey is the epitome of the American dream. Rachael is not only funny, down-to-earth, and high-energy, but also incredibly business-savvy — and she understands the importance of giving back.
Ray is best known as the host of her hit, Emmy Award-winning daytime television show, Rachael Ray, produced by CBS Television in association with Scripps Networks, Harpo Productions, and Watch Entertainment. She also connects with millions through her popular Food Network shows, signature line of cookware and kitchen tools, food products, and her lifestyle magazine, Rachael Ray Every Day.
What many people don’t know is her deep commitment to philanthropy. In 2007, she launched Yum-o!, a nonprofit organization that helps kids and families develop healthy relationships with food. Yum-o! inspires young cooks to get into the kitchen and create nutritious, family-friendly meals.
Through its three key initiatives — Cook, Feed, and Fund — the organization partners with groups to provide meals for hungry children and support educational opportunities for those interested in careers in the restaurant and food service industries.
[Who Makes Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food] In 2008, Rachael Ray partnered with affordable premium pet food specialists Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to create a line of super-premium dog food and treats called Rachael Ray Nutrish. After seeing Ray and her husband speak passionately about animals — particularly pit bulls — on television, the Ainsworth team reached out to collaborate. “The rest is history,” Ray recalls.
At the time, dog owners were shaken by a wave of pet deaths linked to high-quality dog food made mostly with fillers. Nutrish was created as a healthier alternative — food made with simple, natural ingredients and real meat as the first ingredient. That same year, Ray launched Rachael’s Rescue, pledging to donate her personal proceeds from Nutrish sales to no-kill shelters across the U.S. to provide food and medical care for animals in need.
“You need to build a solid business first, then you can give your money to the causes you’re passionate about,” says Ray. “But the business has to come first.”
Steve Joyce (VP of Marketing at Ainsworth) shared:[who makes Rachael Ray dog food]
“By 2015, Rachael’s Rescue had donated more than $14 million to help animals in need, partnering with trusted organizations such as the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, North Shore Animal League America, and many more. And as Nutrish grows, those donations will continue to grow.”
In 2014, Nutrish expanded into the cat food market, launching its first wet and dry recipes with no artificial preservatives, poultry by-product meal, or added flavors. Most recently, Ray announced DISH by Rachael Ray Nutrish, a super-premium line of dry dog food.
Available in two natural recipes — Chicken & Brown Rice with Veggies & Fruit and Beef & Brown Rice with Veggies, Fruit & Chicken — DISH is dog food made with whole, recognizable ingredients like slow-roasted chicken, crisp carrots, garden peas, farm-grown potatoes, and diced apples, inspired by recipes from Ray’s own kitchen.
[Who Make Rachael Ray Dog Food] In 2008, Rachael Ray partnered with pet food specialists Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to create a line of super-premium dog food and treats called Rachael Ray Nutrish. After seeing Ray and her husband speak passionately about animals and pit bulls on television, the Ainsworth team reached out to her — and the collaboration began. “The rest is history,” Ray says.
Following a series of dog deaths linked to pet food with natural ingredients made mostly of fillers, Nutrish was created to offer a healthier alternative — made with simple, natural ingredients and real meat as the first ingredient.[Who makes Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food?] The same year she launched Nutrish, Ray also founded Rachael’s Rescue, through which she donates her personal proceeds from affordable premium pet food sales to no-kill shelters across the country, helping provide food and medical care for animals in need.
“You need to build a solid business first; then you can give your money to the humanitarian efforts you’re passionate about,” Ray explains. “But the business has to come first.”
Steve Joyce (VP of Marketing at Ainsworth) said, “In 2015, Rachael’s Rescue — in partnership with the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, North Shore Animal League America, and many other organizations — donated over $14 million to help animals in need through food, medical care, and other critical support.”
In 2014, Nutrish launched its first cat food line, available in both dry and wet varieties, free from artificial preservatives, poultry by-product meal, and artificial flavoring additives. Just a few weeks ago, Ray introduced Dish by Rachael Ray Nutrish, a line of super-premium dry dog food. Dish is available in two natural dry recipes: Chicken & Brown Rice with Veggies & Fruit and Beef & Brown Rice with Veggies, Fruit & Chicken.
Each recipe contains essential nutrients for complete and balanced nutrition for dogs. The formulas were inspired by Rachael Ray’s own kitchen creations, featuring ingredients like crispy carrots, slow-roasted chicken, garden and field peas, farm-grown potatoes, and sliced apples.
Joyce reported, “Most pet owners feel guilty about feeding their pets plain brown kibble every day. Through our research, we discovered that many pet owners frequently mix their own food into their pet’s bowl.” Nutrish DISH Recipes features U.S.-farm-raised beef or chicken as the number one ingredient and is free from wheat, corn, soy, and gluten.
“Nutrish DISH Recipes was born as a dog-friendly version of the meals I prepare daily at home and on my show,” Ray says. “When it’s time for my pooch to eat — and she’s a very picky eater — she can actually see and taste the same ingredients that my husband and I enjoy in our meals.”
Ray adds, “I believe in our pet food products so strongly that I personally taste-test them myself. Nutrish may not be the cheapest food on the market — likely because of the quality of the ingredients — but I am 10,000 percent confident that our pet food is the best quality available.”
Nutrish has quickly become a disruptor in what many consider an already saturated pet food market, yet that hasn’t slowed its success — it has become the fastest-growing pet food line quality control line available today.
“Nutrish brand sales have increased by $100 million over the past 52 weeks compared to the same period last year,” Joyce told me. “We attribute this success to offering a high-quality pet food line at a reasonable price, making it accessible in traditional grocery stores. Consumers also connect with Rachael’s genuine love for her dogs, Isaboo and other animals, and her passion for pet nutrition.”
Ray’s passion for animals and nutrition is unmistakable when you speak with her. She has only ever owned Red Nose Pit Bulls—a breed banned in the UK and in some U.S. states, and often associated with dog fighting. “These sweet animals get a bad rap and are unfairly ostracized.
The breed was originally known as ‘nanny dogs,’ so to label them as vicious today is completely unfounded,” Ray shared. She adopted her most recent Pit Bull after the passing of her beloved previous pet, Boo.
“It was important for me to find another Pit Bull that was born around the time my first pet, Boo, passed away. I came across an ad for a Pit Bull in need of a home while browsing Pennywise, and it touched my heart so deeply that it brought me to tears. That’s how I found Isaboo. The bond I share with Isaboo is one of the most profound relationships I have ever experienced.”
As a pet owner confident with picky eaters of my own, my pups absolutely love Ray’s line of pet food products. Ray’s passion for helping animals in need across the country is what inspires me to keep supporting and purchasing her pet food products.
Conclusion of Who Makes Rachael Ray Dog Food?
In conclusion, Rachael Ray dog food is currently owned by Post Holdings, Inc. Rachael Ray first partnered with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in 2008 to create the Nutrish brand. In 2023, Post Holdings purchased select consumer trust in pet brands from The J.M. Smucker Co., including Rachael Ray Nutrish, Nature’s Recipe, and others.
Rachael Ray is not only known for her humor, down-to-earth personality, and high energy, but also for her strong business sense and dedication to giving back.
If you’d like to learn more about Rachael Ray’s dog food, feel free to reach out or leave a comment below — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)?
Q1.What is the most recommended dog food by veterinarians?
Ans. Veterinarians often recommend brands like Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin because they provide balanced nutrition for dogs, undergo extensive testing, and maintain high-quality standards.
Q2.How does Rachael Ray dog food compare?
Ans. Rachael Ray Nutrish’s top competitors include Stella & Chewy’s, Jinx, and Real Pet Food. Stella & Chewy’s specializes in freeze-dried and raw frozen nutrition for cats and dogs. Their product line includes freeze-dried raw meals, high-protein kibble, and frozen raw options, focusing on biologically appropriate, minimally processed diets.
Q3.Why was Rachael Ray’s dog food recall?
Ans. A class-action lawsuit alleged that Rachael Ray Nutrish was misleading consumers by labeling its products as “natural,” even though testing revealed traces of glyphosate contamination, a common herbicide, in some recipes.
Q4.Can I mix dry and wet dog food?
Ans. Yes — mixing dry and wet dog food (often called “mixed feeding”) is a safe and beneficial practice for most dogs. This approach combines the dental benefits and crunch of kibble with the added flavor, hydration, and moisture of wet food, making meals more enjoyable and nutritious.