Brand Comparison · 2026

Nom Nom vs Wellness CORE

Nom Nom (fresh-cooked subscription acquired by mars in 2022; partial wsava.) and Wellness CORE (higher-protein boutique kibble with partial wsava compliance.) 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. Wellness CORE is roughly 62% less than Nom Nom.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Nom Nom	Wellness CORE
Parent company	Mars Petcare	WellPet
Category	Fresh-cooked subscription	Boutique dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	4 of 5	2 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Partial
Credentialed formulator	Yes	Partial
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Yes	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$150 – $240 / month	$55 – $95 / month

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 ↗

WellPet

Wellness CORE

Higher-protein boutique kibble with partial WSAVA compliance.

Strengths

Higher-protein formulations than mass-market alternatives
Owned manufacturing through WellPet
Consistent ingredient sourcing

Watch-outs

Formulation-only AAFCO substantiation
No full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist on staff
Grain-free variants implicated in the FDA DCM investigation

Best for: Owners who want higher protein content and accept partial WSAVA compliance.

Avoid if: Your dog is at risk of diet-associated DCM or you specifically want feeding-trial-substantiated food.

Visit Wellness CORE ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Nom Nom is the better choice when: Owners who want fresh-cooked food backed by a major parent company. Wellness CORE is the better choice when: Owners who want higher protein content and accept partial WSAVA compliance.

On cost, Wellness CORE is roughly 62% 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 2 of 5 for Wellness CORE.

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.