Australian pet food, by the numbers.
We analysed 408 dog and cat foods from 48 brands in the Pet Reviews index: their ingredients, price per kilo, grain-free status and how much the same product costs at different stores. Here's what the data shows.
Scored by the Pet Reviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
408
dog and cat foods analysed, across 48 brands
89%
of complete meals list meat as the first ingredient; just 2% lead with a cereal or plant
41×
gap between the cheapest ($2.25/kg) and dearest ($91.64/kg) complete meal
54%
of complete meals are grain-free
up to 17%
price difference on the same product between the cheapest and dearest major retailer
26%
average protein in complete dry and wet meals
Nearly 9 in 10 foods lead with meat.
The first ingredient carries the most weight on a label. Across the 181 complete meals we analysed, 89% list meat first, though only two-thirds name a specific fresh meat.
Based on the labelled first ingredient of 181 complete dog and cat meals (pack size ≥ 1kg) in the Pet Reviews index. Our index skews toward premium brands, so this is higher than the whole supermarket market.
A 41× gap from the cheapest food to the dearest.
$2.25/kg
Cheapest complete meal (a supermarket kibble)
$12.65/kg
Median across all complete meals
$91.64/kg
Dearest complete meal (premium freeze-dried)
Price is where pet food varies most. But a higher price per kilo doesn't always mean a higher score. Mid-priced Australian brands often land the best value once you account for how much you actually feed, and the cheapest bag per kilo is rarely the cheapest feed per day.
The same food, up to 17% dearer at the wrong store.
Across 365 products stocked at more than one major retailer, the identical product costs on average 7.5% more, and up to 17% more, at the dearest store versus the cheapest. On a $100 bag that's $7–$17 every purchase, or well over $100 a year for a big dog.
Compare prices across storesHow we ran the numbers.
We analysed 408 dog and cat products across 48 brands in the Pet Reviews index (June 2026). Price and ingredient stats use the 181 complete meals (products with a pack size of 1kg or more), excluding treats, supplements, toppers and sample packs so the per-kilo figures compare like with like.
First-ingredient percentages are based on each product's labelled first ingredient. Retailer price differences compare the cheapest and dearest listed price for the same product across major Australian retailers. Prices are illustrative editorial estimates based on publicly available information and our published methodology, not lab testing, and our index skews toward premium brands rather than the whole supermarket market. Nothing here is veterinary advice.
Cite this study
Free to use, with a link back.
Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to reference these figures. Please attribute to Pet Reviews and link to this page.
For the underlying figures or a media comment, email hello@petreviews.com.au.
Data study: FAQs
Across the 181 complete dog and cat meals in the Pet Reviews index (2026), the median price is about $12.65 per kilo. The cheapest is a supermarket kibble at roughly $2.25/kg and the dearest is a premium freeze-dried food at about $91.64/kg, a 41-times gap. These are editorial price estimates based on publicly available information.
In our index, 89% of complete meals list meat first: 67% a named fresh meat like chicken or lamb, and 22% a meat meal. Only 2% lead with a cereal or plant. Note this reflects the largely premium set of foods we review, not the entire supermarket market.
In our pricing, the same product costs on average about 7.5% more, and up to 17% more, at the dearest major retailer versus the cheapest. On a $100 bag that is $7–$17 a purchase, or well over $100 a year for a large dog, which is why comparing price-per-kilo across stores matters.
The study was produced by Pet Reviews (petreviews.com.au), Australia's independent pet food review platform, from its own index of scored products. You're welcome to cite and link to it. Please attribute to “Pet Reviews (petreviews.com.au)” and link to this page. For the underlying figures or media enquiries, email hello@petreviews.com.au.