Optimum
A supermarket mid-market brand from Mars Petcare, made in Australia and easy to find on the shelf. It is grain-inclusive with cereal high in the panel and sits a step below the premium range, but the per-kg price is fair and it does the everyday job. Decent value rather than a class-leader.
Scored by the Pet Reviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Overall score
Weighted across six areas · /100
- 0
- Value
- 0
- Ingredients
- 0
- Transparency
Brand facts
- Ownership
- Mars Petcare (Australia)
- Country of manufacture
- Australia
- Retailer relationship
- Independent — widely stocked
- Product types
- Dry, Wet
- Price tier
- Mid-range ($$)
- Overall score
- 63/100 · Average
Optimum is a strong choice if…
- ✓Budget-aware feeders who shop at the supermarket
- ✓Owners after a no-fuss everyday kibble
- ✓Healthy adult dogs with no special needs
May not be the best fit if…
- —You want a meat-first, low-cereal formula
- —Your dog needs a prescription or grain-free diet
The Optimum range
Cost / day
$1.45
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.73
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$5.50/kg
18kg bag
First ingredient
Chicken (meat and meal)
Protein
24%
Honest everyday value in the big bag, just keep in mind the cereal sits high in the mix.
Cost / day
$1.10
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.55
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$9/kg
3kg bag
First ingredient
Chicken (meat and meal)
Protein
28%
A wallet-friendly puppy kibble that covers the basics for growing pups without the premium price.
Cost / day
$1.60
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.80
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$5.33/kg
15kg bag
First ingredient
Poultry and poultry by-products
Protein
0%
This is Optimum's flagship everyday dry food for adult dogs, and it lands a solid 64/100 as a dependable, widely-stocked all-rounder. Its standout is the genuine Australian-made, Waltham-formulated nutrition at a price that undercuts most premium kibbles.
Cost / day
$1.70
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.85
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$5.66/kg
15kg bag
First ingredient
Poultry and poultry by-products
Protein
0%
A purpose-built growth formula for puppies up to 12 months that earns 65/100 for thoughtful extras at a fair price. Its standout is the inclusion of colostrum for gut health alongside the higher protein and calcium growing pups need.
Cost / day
$1.60
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.80
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$5.33/kg
15kg bag
First ingredient
Sorghum and/or rice and/or wheat
Protein
0%
A large-breed-specific everyday dry food that scores 62/100 for its joint-support focus and bigger kibble. Its standout is the naturally chicken-sourced glucosamine aimed at the joint health bigger dogs depend on.
Cost / day
$3.14
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$1.57
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$10.47/kg
2kg bag
First ingredient
Poultry and poultry by-products
Protein
0%
Optimum's everyday adult cat kibble in a popular ocean-fish flavour, scoring a representative 63/100. Its standout is balanced everyday nutrition with added yucca extract to help cut litter-box odour.
Cost / day
$2.14
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$1.07
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$7.14/kg
8.4kg bag
First ingredient
Meat (lamb, chicken, beef &/or pork)
Protein
0%
A 12-can carton of hearty lamb-and-rice wet food for adult dogs, earning 63/100 as a practical, palatable staple. Its standout is the convenience and value of buying a full carton of complete wet meals at once.
Cost / day
$7.75
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$3.88
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$25.84/kg
1.275kg bag
First ingredient
Meat by-products and Meat (including Chicken, Sheep &/or Beef)
Protein
0%
Single-serve salmon-flavoured jelly pouches tailored for cats aged eight and over, scoring 62/100. Its standout is the senior-specific formulation in tidy, portion-controlled 85g pouches.
Cost / day
$7.05
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$3.53
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$23.49/kg
1.275kg bag
First ingredient
Meat by-products and Meat (including Chicken, Sheep &/or Beef)
Protein
0%
The grain-free, weight-conscious wet option in Optimum's cat range, earning 64/100. Its standout is pairing a grain-free recipe with portion-controlled pouches aimed at managing a cat's healthy weight.
Cost / day
$1.60
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0.80
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$5.33/kg
15kg bag
First ingredient
Poultry and poultry by-products
Protein
0%
A lower-fat everyday dry food for adult dogs watching their weight, scoring 62/100. Its standout is reduced fat and calories while keeping the same Australian-made, complete-and-balanced approach as the core range.
Where to buy Optimum
Prices vary by retailer and change with sales, member and subscription pricing — always compare price per kg. Pricing on this site is a guide only, and nothing here is veterinary advice.
Read our full Optimum review
Score breakdown, pros and cons, who it's best for, price comparison across retailers and the best alternatives — the editorial verdict in full.