A Pup Above
A Pup Above is an Austin, Texas-based direct-to-consumer and retail brand that makes seven recipes of sous-vide cooked, USDA-inspected human-grade fresh dog food, serving health-conscious U.S. dog owners via subscriptions and approximately 2,900 retail storefronts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What A Pup Above does
A Pup Above is an Austin, Texas-based direct-to-consumer and retail dog food company founded in 2020 by Ruth and Javier Marriott. It produces a portfolio of seven fresh, sous-vide cooked, human-grade recipes (Texas Beef Stew, Porky's Luau, Turkey Pawella, Chicka Chicka Bow Wow, Turducken, Fish Gone Wild, and Puppy) sold in 3-pound and 7-pound formats, alongside sampler, grain-free, and sensitive-stomach bundles. The core technology is a proprietary gentle, low-temperature sous-vide cook conducted in USDA-inspected human-grade kitchens, paired with batch pathogen testing (E. coli, listeria, salmonella), bone broth infusion, and 6-month in-home feeding trials that the company cites as supporting a 93% digestibility rate versus approximately 64% for kibble.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel with subscription billing (delivery every 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, 5% subscriber savings, free shipping above $99) shipped in temperature-controlled packaging to the 48 contiguous states, plus retail distribution through approximately 2,900 storefronts including Sprouts, Pet Supplies Plus, Hollywood Feed, and Pet Food Express. Pricing is unit-based at $11.50–$12.83 per pound, declining at larger pack sizes, with a 100% money-back guarantee. Customer segments center on health-conscious dog owners, dogs with sensitive stomachs, puppies, and overweight dogs, supported by a content-first marketing strategy anchored on The Institute of Barkology educational blog, social media, influencer/ambassador programs, and veterinary endorsements.
Revenue mechanics combine recurring subscription D2C sales with one-time purchases and retail wholesale; a single funding round of approximately $5.94M was disclosed in April 2023. The company is privately held with 11–50 employees, and no public revenue figure is available. Sustainability commitments include a Terracycle food-bag recycling partnership, a 1% revenue contribution to White Buffalo Land Trust, and upcycled produce sourcing.
A Pup Above firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Pup Above
- Legal name
- A Pup Above
- Website
- https://apupabove.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- A Pup Above is an Austin, Texas-based direct-to-consumer and retail brand that makes seven recipes of sous-vide cooked, USDA-inspected human-grade fresh dog food, serving health-conscious U.S. dog owners via subscriptions and approximately 2,900 retail storefronts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Pup Above industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Fresh Dog Food
- NAICS
- Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fresh & Refrigerated Pet Food (CRADAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Natural/Organic & Limited-Ingredient Diets (CRADAFAH)
Keywords
Where A Pup Above is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Pup Above business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: The company generates primary revenue through direct-to-consumer sales via its e-commerce website, offering both one-time purchases and subscription plans with delivery every 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Subscription model provides recurring revenue with 5% savings for subscribers.
- Product Sales: One-time purchases of fresh dog food patties in 3lb and 7lb sizes across various recipes (Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Fish, Turducken, Puppy).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3LB Bag - One-time purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | 3LB Bag - Subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | 7LB Bag - Best Value |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
A Pup Above product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Pup Above manufactures and sells gently cooked, sous-vide prepared fresh dog food made from 100% human-grade ingredients. Its product line includes seven protein-based recipes (beef, pork, turkey, chicken, turducken, fish, and a puppy formula) packaged as 3LB and 7LB frozen patties, sold individually or through curated bundles such as the Best Sellers Sampler Pack, Grain Free line, and Sensitive Stomach Bundle. The company sells directly to consumers via its website through subscriptions and one-time purchases, and through roughly 2,900 retail stores across the United States.
Product overview
A Pup Above is a fresh dog food company offering gently-cooked, sous-vide prepared meals made from 100% human-grade ingredients. The product portfolio centers on its core Fresh Dog Food line comprising seven distinct recipes: Texas Beef Stew, Porky's Luau, Turkey Pawella, Chicka Chicka Bow Wow, Turducken Recipe, Fish Gone Wild, and Puppy Recipe. These are sold individually as 3LB or 7LB frozen patties, or bundled as variety packs including the Sampler Pack/Best Sellers Bundle, Grain Free variant line, and Sensitive Stomach Bundle. All recipes are veterinarian-formulated to meet AAFCO standards, cooked using sous-vide method, and infused with bone broth. The company operates on a direct-to-consumer subscription model with online ordering and retail availability in nearly 2,900 stores nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Texas Beef Stew
Quantifiable outcome
- Dogs fed fresh food lived up to 2.5 years longer than dogs fed 100% kibble (Lippert-Sapy study)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use A Pup Above
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
A Pup Above technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
A Pup Above partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- White Buffalo Land TrustcoreA Pup Above contributes 1% of revenues to White Buffalo Land Trust, an organization focused on restoring the health of soil, water, and climate. This partnership supports the company's sustainability mission and environmental impact goals.
- TerracyclecorePartnership with Terracycle enables full recycling of food bags, addressing the environmental challenge that 99% of plastic pet food bags are not recycled. This initiative supports the company's sustainability commitment.
- Retail Store PartnerscoreProducts sold through nearly 2,900 retail locations including Sprouts, Pet Supplies Plus, Hollywood Feed, and Pet Food Express, providing brick-and-mortar distribution and consumer access.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Pup Above competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Farmer's Dog: The leading direct-to-consumer fresh dog food brand in the US, offering gently cooked, human-grade meals delivered via subscription. Most direct comparable on product format, target customer (health-conscious pet parents), and GTM motion.
- Ollie: DTC fresh dog food subscription brand with human-grade, gently cooked recipes. Closely comparable on product category, premium positioning, and subscription-based GTM.
- Spot & Tango: Fresh, vet-formulated dog food delivered via subscription with both fresh and dry (UnKibble) lines. Direct competitor in DTC fresh pet food with overlapping premium positioning.
- JustFoodForDogs: Fresh, human-grade dog food available via DTC and retail (pet specialty stores, vet clinics). Comparable on product format (fresh refrigerated meals) and on distribution strategy blending DTC with physical retail.
- Nom Nom: Fresh pet food brand acquired by Mars Petcare, offering vet-formulated fresh meals via subscription. Comparable product and GTM, though now backed by a major CPG parent's distribution.
- Open Farm: Premium pet food brand with ethically sourced ingredients, sold through DTC and retail (including Sprouts and Pet Supplies Plus). Comparable on premium positioning, ingredient transparency, and shared retail channel partners.
Broad incumbents
- Stella & Chewy's: Established premium pet food brand focused on raw and freeze-dried diets, sold widely through pet specialty retail. Adjacent category within premium/alternative pet nutrition with overlapping health-conscious customer base.
- Chewy: Largest online pet retailer in the US, carrying a wide assortment of premium pet food brands including fresh entrants. Relevant as both a potential retail/distribution partner and a broad incumbent shaping category discovery.
- Petco: National specialty pet retailer with growing fresh/frozen pet food assortment in-store and online. Comparable as a distribution channel and as a broad incumbent competing for premium pet food shelf space.
Emerging players
- Smalls: DTC fresh cat food subscription brand using gently cooked, human-grade recipes. Closely analogous business model in the feline segment, relevant as a potential expansion lane for A Pup Above.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A Pup Above social profiles
Digital presenceA Pup Above financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Pup Above leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
A Pup Above funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Pup Above M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A Pup Above
What does A Pup Above do?
A Pup Above manufactures and sells gently cooked, sous-vide prepared fresh dog food made from 100% human-grade ingredients. Its product line includes seven protein-based recipes (beef, pork, turkey, chicken, turducken, fish, and a puppy formula) packaged as 3LB and 7LB frozen patties, sold individually or through curated bundles such as the Best Sellers Sampler Pack, Grain Free line, and Sensitive Stomach Bundle. The company sells directly to consumers via its website through subscriptions and one-time purchases, and through roughly 2,900 retail stores across the United States.
Is A Pup Above a public or private company?
A Pup Above is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was A Pup Above founded?
A Pup Above was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is A Pup Above based?
A Pup Above is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Pup Above make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are product Sales.
Who are A Pup Above's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Farmer's Dog, Ollie, Spot & Tango, JustFoodForDogs, Nom Nom and Open Farm. Broad incumbents are Stella & Chewy's, Chewy and Petco. Smalls is listed as an emerging player.
Does A Pup Above have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Pup Above.
What industry is A Pup Above in?
A Pup Above's product category is Premium Fresh Dog Food. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAFAC, Fresh & Refrigerated Pet Food, with a secondary code of CRADAFAH, Natural/Organic & Limited-Ingredient Diets. Its NAICS code is 311111 and its SIC code is 2000.