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. Nom Nom meets 4 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Acana is roughly 63% less than Nom Nom.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Acana	Nom Nom
Parent company	Champion Petfoods	Mars Petcare
Category	Boutique dry kibble	Fresh-cooked subscription
WSAVA criteria met	1 of 5	4 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	No	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Yes
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$55 – $90 / month	$150 – $240 / month

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

Same brand named in FDA DCM investigation as Orijen
Formulation-only substantiation
No full-time board-certified veterinary 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 and manufacturing rigor
Veterinary nutritionist on staff
Strong palatability and quality control

Watch-outs

Formulation-only substantiation
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 63% less than Nom Nom at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Nom Nom meets 4 of 5 vs 1 of 5 for Acana.

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 May 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.