Brand Comparison · 2026

Acana vs Merrick

Acana (Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen) and Merrick (premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Acana meets 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Merrick is roughly 8% less than Acana.

The verdict

Acana meets 2 of 5 WSAVA questions at $70-120/month. Merrick meets 1 of 5 at $60-115/month. The prices nearly match, so the difference is evidence. Champion Petfoods, which makes Acana, reports a full-time PhD animal nutritionist, while Merrick's FAQ describes trained nutritionists including PhDs without stating a full-time PhD or a board certification. Merrick is made in Hereford, Texas plants that Nestlé Purina runs, and its quality-control evidence is a certificate reported in 2013.

Acana has the edge on paper. Both brands appear in the FDA's 2019 DCM update, so ask your veterinarian before choosing either for a dog with cardiac risk factors. Merrick suits owners who want premium kibble from Purina-run plants and accept thinner public evidence. Merrick's FAQ says its foods are formulated to meet AAFCO profiles, and Acana's label says the same, so neither cites feeding trials.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Acana is Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods); Merrick is Nestlé Purina.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: Acana meets 2 of 5 criteria vs 1 of 5 for Merrick.
Monthly cost: Merrick runs roughly 8% less than Acana for a typical 50 lb dog.
Heart-health context: both Acana and Merrick appear in the FDA's diet-related DCM investigation, which has not established that any food caused the disease.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Acana	Merrick
Parent company	Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)	Nestlé Purina
Category	Boutique dry kibble	Premium dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	2 of 5	1 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Partial
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Partial
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Partial
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$70 – $120 / month	$60 – $115 / month

Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)

Acana

Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen.

Strengths

Less expensive than Orijen with similar formulation philosophy
Owned manufacturing
Recipes built around regional ingredient sourcing

Watch-outs

Named in 67 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update, the most of any brand. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease
Formulation-only substantiation
No named board-certified veterinary nutritionist (Champion reports a full-time PhD animal nutritionist)

Best for: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs.

Avoid if: You want full WSAVA compliance or your dog has cardiac risk factors.

Visit Acana ↗

Nestlé Purina

Merrick

Premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence.

Strengths

Made in the Hereford, Texas plants that Nestlé Purina runs
Merrick's FAQ says trained animal nutritionists, including PhDs, formulate the food
The Hereford plant earned SQF Level 3 certification in 2013

Watch-outs

No nutritionist is named and no board certification is stated
The FAQ says formulated to AAFCO profiles, with no feeding-test claim
Quality-control evidence is a 2013 certificate. Merrick's current pages describe no testing program
Named in 16 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease

Best for: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing.

Avoid if: You want a named nutritionist, feeding-trial substantiation or a published testing program.

Visit Merrick ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Acana is the better choice when: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs. Merrick is the better choice when: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing.

On cost, Merrick is roughly 8% less than Acana at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Acana meets 2 of 5 vs 1 of 5 for Merrick.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Acana WSAVA-approved or is Merrick WSAVA-approved.

Where to buy

Made your pick?

Check current pricing on whichever brand fits your dog. Prices and promotions change frequently, so it is worth comparing both before you commit to a bag or a subscription.

Shop Acana on Chewy →Shop Merrick on Chewy →

Disclosure: these are affiliate links and IntelliBowl may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission does not influence the comparison above. See our methodology.

Personalized recommendation

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Compare these brands against others

Methodology: WSAVA criteria reflect each brand's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of October 2026, scored against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. AAFCO substantiation reflects the dominant method used across the brand's main retail product line. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. Recommendations are editorial and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See our recommendation methodology for IntelliBowl's quiz-engine ranking logic.