Brand Comparison · 2026

Acana vs Nom Nom

Acana (Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen) and Nom Nom (fresh-cooked subscription acquired by Mars in 2022; partial WSAVA) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Both brands meet 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Acana is roughly 51% less than Nom Nom.

The verdict

Boutique kibble against a fresh-cooked subscription, with matching WSAVA scores. Acana, Champion Petfoods' more affordable line, meets 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria, owns its manufacturing, and emphasizes regional sourcing at $70-120/month, but is named in the FDA's DCM investigation, with no named board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Nom Nom, acquired by Mars Petcare in 2022, meets 2 of 5 with owned manufacturing and, by its own account, board-certified formulators, still formulation-only, at $150-240.

Pick Nom Nom for fresh-cooked palatability and a major parent company behind it, if budget allows. Pick Acana for Champion's regional-ingredient philosophy at a much lower price, for a dog with no cardiac risk. Both meet 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria, so the choice comes down to format and price. Talk to your veterinarian if your dog has a heart condition.

Key differences at a glance

Same parent group: Acana is listed under Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods); Nom Nom is listed under Mars Petcare.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: both meet 2 of 5 criteria.
Different formats: Acana is boutique dry kibble; Nom Nom is fresh-cooked subscription.
Monthly cost: Acana runs roughly 51% less than Nom Nom for a typical 50 lb dog.
Heart-health context: Acana appears in the FDA's diet-related DCM investigation, which has not established that any food caused the disease.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Acana	Nom Nom
Parent company	Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)	Mars Petcare
Category	Boutique dry kibble	Fresh-cooked subscription
WSAVA criteria met	2 of 5	2 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Partial
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Yes
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Partial
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$70 – $120 / month	$150 – $240 / 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 ↗

Mars Petcare

Nom Nom

Fresh-cooked subscription acquired by Mars in 2022; partial WSAVA.

Strengths

Acquired by Mars Petcare (2022) adds scale
Says its recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists (none named)
Strong palatability and owned kitchens

Watch-outs

Formulation-only substantiation
Publishes only a one-line testing claim
Premium subscription pricing
Limited recipe variety vs Ollie

Best for: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company.

Avoid if: You prefer to avoid Mars-owned brands or want feeding-trial substantiation.

Visit Nom Nom ↗

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. Nom Nom is the better choice when: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company.

On cost, Acana is roughly 51% less than Nom Nom at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, both brands tie at 2 of 5.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Acana WSAVA-approved or is Nom Nom 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 →

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.