With deep roots dating back to 1894, Purina, the leading food and litter manufacturer for dogs and cats in the U.S., is celebrating an impressive 127 years. With trusted brands such as Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Dog Chow and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Purina is committed to producing the highest quality products that feed millions of pets every day. A dedicated supporter of conservation, Purina is a proud partner of Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, and Ruffed Grouse Society.

“At Purina, we’re intent on celebrating hardworking dogs and people who share a passion for the outdoors,” says Purina Director of Sporting Dog Programs Karl Gunzer, whose team sponsors and attends 300+ sporting dog events every year and manages Purina’s conservation relationships. “We enjoy working with DU, PF/QF and RGS members and providing their dogs with outstanding nutrition to help them be their absolute best, while also helping to benefit conservation.”

William H. Danforth founded the company that would become known as Ralston Purina in St. Louis, where the company maintains a strong presence. Based on the company’s slogan, “Where Purity is Paramount,” Purina was incorporated into the company’s name in 1902, the same year it adopted the iconic Checkerboard logo.

Throughout its history, Purina has revolutionized the pet food industry. The company opened the first-ever pet nutrition and care center in 1926 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Missouri, to confirm the palatability and nutrition of its pet foods. In 1957, Purina introduced extrusion, a manufacturing process now standard for dry pet foods that produces a flavorful, expanded particle, or “kibble,” with superior palatability and appearance. Nearly 30 years later, the company established the groundbreaking Pro Plan brand, the first of its kind with real meat as the No. 1 ingredient.

Purina’s global team of 500+ scientists, including nutritionists, behaviorists, veterinarians and other specialists, are continually innovating and shaping the future of pet care. Their research has led to powerful nutritional breakthroughs, such as Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula to help optimize a hardworking dog’s endurance, Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND to help promote a dog’s healthy aging, and, most recently, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements Calming Care with a strain of beneficial bacteria shown to help a dog maintain calm behavior.

Purina holds all of its products to the highest safety and quality standards, setting the gold standard for the industry. Purina products are made in Purina-owned U.S. facilities and, in a typical production day, undergo 100,000+ quality checks involving ingredient/packaging, receiving, processing and packing.

Purina is steadfast in making its products in a sustainable way to help safeguard the environment. This includes reducing waste, optimizing energy and being good stewards of water. The company also is working with farmers and conservation leaders to improve the environment where its ingredients are grown or raised.

Above all, Purina’s belief over the past 127 years that pets and people are better together is the one constant that will never change.

For more about Purina, visit their website by clicking here.