About Purina
A Company of Pet Lovers
Nourishing Pets. Enriching Lives.
For over 90 years, we've been guided by the belief that pets and people are better together.
The reason we're so invested in the quality of our food is because we love pets as much as you do. You'll find pets in our homes, and even sitting by our feet as we work in our offices.
Our passion for pets goes beyond pushing pet nutrition forward, and into forging partnerships in the pet welfare world and raising awareness of what pets truly need. After all, we've seen firsthand how powerful the bond with a pet can be, and the many unique ways that pets can strengthen our families and bring our communities closer.
Because we want dedicated and passionate employees on our team, we make sure that Purina is a great place to work. You can tell from the moment you walk in the door that our world revolves around pets, whether you're seeing the art on the walls or the many cats and dogs that employees bring to work every day.
Our quest to drive pet nutrition forward and conduct industry-leading research on the wellbeing of pets pushes our company to do more year after year. We work hard for your pets every day, and we love doing it.
Purina Through The Years
1894
William H. Danforth, partnering with George Robinson and William Andrews, enters the business of feeding farm animals by founding the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company. The name is changed to Ralston Purina in 1902.
1926
Purina establishes the first pet nutrition and care center at Purina Farms near Gray Summit, Missouri, to confirm the palatability and nutrition of its pet foods. It has since evolved into the Nestlé Purina Pet Care Center in Northwest Missouri.
1933
On a recommendation from Massachusetts General Hospital, the dogs on Admiral Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic expedition eat Purina Dog Chow Checkers, and thrive in the harsh conditions.
1956
Purina Dog Chow becomes the first pet food that is made using a technology called extrusion to form distinctive shapes that are known as "kibble" today.
1962
Purina introduces Purina Cat Chow to help feed a growing population of American housecats.
1963
Purina is the first to acknowledge that puppies need additional protein and nutrients in their food. The world is introduced to Purina Puppy Chow.
1986
Purina develops an innovative process that makes it possible to use real meat as the #1 ingredient in kibble, and launches Purina Pro Plan, the first brand of pet food to do so.
1986
Ralston sells the Purina Mills animal feed business so that Purina can focus on dog and cat food.
1987
Purina launches its groundbreaking 14-year study, which proves that feeding dogs to their ideal body condition throughout their lifetime can help extend their healthy years.
1987
Purina's decades-long support for pet welfare organizations takes on the name Pets for People. Pets for People has since grown to become a network of nearly 6,000 pet welfare organizations across the country. The program later created Pets for Seniors, which partners with 150+ shelters nationwide to provide senior citizens with reduced costs for pet adoptions.
1998
Purina Veterinary Diets introduces HA-Hypoallergenic Canine Formula. Through use of a protein isolate, this first-ever hypoallergenic diet brings relief to dogs with food allergies.
1999
Purina establishes the world's first and only Canine Reference Family DNA Distribution Center, providing assistance to top researchers mapping the canine genome.
2000
Veterinarians can now manage diabetic cats through a first-of-its-kind diet using high protein and low carbohydrates: Purina Veterinary Diets DM-Dietetic Management Feline Formula.
2000
After more than four years of rigorous research into canine instincts, Purina secondnature dog litter finally provides dogs with the convenience cats and their owners have always enjoyed.
2001
December 12th, 2001: Nestle acquires Ralston Purina, helping to expand the availability of Purina products to pets and pet owners all over the world.
2004
Purina is the first to apply molecular-level nutrition to a therapeutic diet by developing a food for dogs suffering from arthtritis: Purina Veterinary Diets JM-Joint Mobility Canine Formula.
2007
Purina Veterinary Diets offers the first probiotic nutritional supplement that is also highly palatable and convenient to use. Veterinary clinics nationwide embrace Fortiflora Nutritional Supplement.
2010
The Purina Event Center, a 84,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is designed for the needs of dogs and their owners, it featuring a padded floor for comfort and safety and over 150 dog grooming stations.
2011
Purina exceeds $10,000,000 in annual investments across the company in pet welfare and pet communities.
2013
Purina developed the revolutionary Tidy Cats Lightweight, which is half the weight of typical clumping cat litter and 99.9% dust-free.
2014
Purina launches first-of-its-kind personalized dog food line Just Right, which pairs a pet owner's firsthand knowledge of their dog with our pet nutrition expertise to create a custom personalized dog food that is sent right to their door.
