Hill’s Pet Nutrition

What Hill’s Pet Nutrition does

Hill's Pet Nutrition is a US-based producer of science-led pet food, operating as a wholly-owned division of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) since its 1976 acquisition. The company sells two flagship product lines: Science Diet, an everyday nutrition range available through veterinary clinics, pet specialty retailers (PetSmart, Petco), and e-commerce channels; and Prescription Diet, a therapeutic veterinary-only line that requires clinician authorization and addresses specific conditions including kidney disease, digestive disorders, urinary health, weight management, joint mobility, and skin sensitivities. Its proprietary ActivBiome+ technology — a prebiotic fiber and antioxidant blend targeting the gut microbiome — is positioned across both product lines, with a 2026 relaunch introducing Active Biome Plus formulations developed with over 200 veterinarians and nutritionists.

Hill's commercial model is dual-channel and professionally anchored: it generates revenue through one-time pet food purchases (no disclosed subscription pricing) distributed across veterinary prescription, retail, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, supported by 12 global manufacturing plants and Colgate-Palmolive's distribution infrastructure. Its growth model combines premium pricing on clinically validated formulations, an annual Hill's Global Symposium that reinforces veterinarian relationships, a Food Shelter & Love program covering 1,000+ North American shelters (16 million adoptions supported since 2002), and ongoing R&D partnerships including precision fermentation with Bond Pet Foods (FDA GRAS-cleared lamb protein, May 2026), regenerative agriculture with ADM, and microbiome research with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The company reported over $4.5 billion in annual revenue at the division level, representing nearly 60% growth since 2020. Recent strategic moves include the 2025 acquisition of Australian fresh pet food brand Prime100, expansion into alternative proteins via Bond Pet Foods, deepening of veterinary professional education through multilingual symposium programming, and product relaunches centered on gut microbiome science. Customer concentration is distributed across millions of pet owners and over 1,000 shelter partners, but Hill's commercial leverage with the veterinary channel — through which higher-margin Prescription Diet products are dispensed — remains the central driver of pricing power and category leadership as the #1 veterinarian-recommended pet food brand in the US.

Name

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Legal name

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Website

https://hillspet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hill's Pet Nutrition, a Colgate-Palmolive division, is a science-led producer of Science Diet and veterinary-prescription pet food for dogs and cats, serving pet owners, veterinarians, and animal shelters across 20+ countries with over $4.5 billion in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet food and veterinary therapeutic nutrition

NAICS

Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Animal Maintenance & Wellness Nutrition (HLAMAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Animal Therapeutic Diets (Prescription Diets) (HLAMAHAA), Gastrointestinal & Food Sensitivity/Hypoallergenic Diets (HLAMAHAM), Veterinary & Therapeutic Pet Diets (Prescription) (AFADAFAH), Functional & Veterinary Diet Pet Food (CRADAFAF)

Keywords

• Pet food manufacturing
• Veterinary therapeutic nutrition
• Dog and cat food
• Prescription pet diet
• Science-based nutrition

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Pet Food Sales - Retail and Veterinary Channel: Hill's Pet Nutrition generates revenue through the sale of Science Diet (retail and veterinary channel) and Prescription Diet (veterinary-only channel) pet food products. Products are sold as dry food, wet food (canned, stew, pouches), and treats for dogs and cats across all life stages.
2. Hill's Pet Nutrition Division (Colgate-Palmolive): As a division of Colgate-Palmolive, Hill's Pet Nutrition is part of a $4.5+ billion segment that delivered nearly 60% growth since 2020. The company benefits from Colgate-Palmolive's global distribution, supply chain, and marketing infrastructure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hill's Pet Nutrition manufactures and sells science-led dog and cat food products through two flagship brands: Science Diet, which provides everyday nutrition across life stages, breed sizes, and health conditions via pet retail and veterinary channels; and Prescription Diet, which provides therapeutic nutrition requiring veterinary authorization and dispensed through veterinary clinics for specific health conditions such as kidney disease, digestive issues, urinary health, joint mobility, and weight management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science Diet: Everyday health nutrition for dogs and cats, available in various formulas targeting specific health needs including oral care, weight management, sensitive stomach, and senior care.
• Prescription Diet

Products and services

• Hill's Science Diet Retail-available everyday pet food brand offering science-led nutrition for dogs and cats across all life stages (puppy/kitten, adult, mature, senior), breed sizes (small/mini, medium, large), food types (dry, wet, treats), and health categories including digestive, weight, food and environmental sensitivities, urinary, kidney, joint, oral care, and skin and coat health. Available without veterinary prescription.
• Hill's Prescription Diet Veterinary therapeutic pet food brand requiring veterinary authorization, formulated for specific health conditions in dogs and cats including kidney disease (k/d), gastrointestinal disorders (i/d, Gastrointestinal Biome), urinary health (c/d, s/d), weight management (Metabolic, Perfect Weight), joint mobility (j/d), skin and food sensitivities (d/d, z/d), and dental health (t/d). Sold exclusively through veterinary clinics and authorized retailers.
• Prime100 Australian fresh pet food brand for dogs acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 2025 to expand Hill's Pet Nutrition into the fresh pet food category.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70% of dogs and cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed Perfect Weight/Metabolic nutrition
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Multi-year partnership to advance regenerative agriculture practices. The pilot program enrolls 16,000 acres of corn and soybean fields in Minnesota and Illinois, plus 2,500 acres in Hungary. The partnership aims to engage, educate and incentivize farmers to implement regenerative farming practices while supporting demand for sustainably sourced pet food ingredients. ADM had already surpassed its 2025 goal to transition 5 million acres to regenerative agriculture a year early in 2024.
• Bond Pet FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Multi-year collaboration to develop and commercialize fermentation-derived lamb protein for pet food. Received FDA Letter of No Objection for Lamb Protein Yeast ingredient, the first animal protein produced via precision fermentation for pet food to complete FDA's GRAS Notice review. The ingredient supports use at up to 15% inclusion in finished food for healthy adult dogs. More than 25 metric tons already delivered to Hill's facilities for formulation and testing. Additional regulatory submissions planned for feline use.
• International Cat CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Co-development partnership for the World of the Kitten Report 2026, providing comprehensive evidence-based guidelines on kitten nutrition from weaning through the first year of life. The report covers weaning guidance, nutrient requirements, and food selection criteria based on AAFCO or FEDIAF standards.
• Pet Sustainability CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Formation of the Pet Specialty Store-Drop-Off (SDO) Action Collaborative to address flexible plastic pet food packaging waste. The initiative aims to develop a scalable store drop-off collection system, with founding participants including Hill's, PetSmart, Petco, Peel Plastics, and Morris Packaging. The collaborative has four objectives: designing a scalable program, generating verifiable data, fostering industry collaboration, and securing resources for pilot implementation.
• The Association for Animal Welfare AdvancementminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2025Annual Wagsies Animal Welfare Video Awards partnership, recognizing impactful shelter and rescue pet stories through video marketing. The program celebrates animal welfare stories and engages the shelter community.
• US Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI) CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2025Coalition of companies led by General Mills, Mars, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and PepsiCo launched in Ann Arbor, Michigan to develop scalable recycling solutions for flexible plastic packaging. The initiative focuses initially on California with plans to expand nationally, seeking collaborative efforts from recyclers, processors, and other stakeholders.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Deepened collaboration to advance pet microbiome science and innovation. The partnership includes a web portal to accelerate pet microbiome research, developed with Harvard researchers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal Canin: Royal Canin (Mars Petcare) is Hill's closest direct competitor in science-led, veterinary-channel therapeutic nutrition for dogs and cats. Both compete head-to-head in prescription diets, breed/life-stage specialization, and vet recommendation share globally.
• Nestlé Purina PetCare: Nestlé Purina is one of the largest pet care companies globally, with Pro Plan and Pro Plan Veterinary Diets directly competing against Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet. Both compete across retail, vet channel, and e-commerce with science-backed nutrition positioning.
• Blue Buffalo (General Mills): Blue Buffalo is a premium natural pet food brand owned by General Mills, directly competing with Hill's Science Diet in the premium retail channel with a natural/ingredient-quality positioning. Both target health-conscious pet owners willing to pay above-mass-market prices.
• Wellness Pet Company: Wellness Pet Company produces natural, grain-free, and specialty pet food under Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, and Holistic Select brands. It competes with Hill's Science Diet in the premium natural pet food retail segment.
• Diamond Pet Foods: Diamond Pet Foods is a major US-based private-label and branded pet food manufacturer producing Diamond, Taste of the Wild, Kirkland, and 4Health brands. It is comparable as a scaled competitor with manufacturing scale in the value and premium-natural tiers.

Broad incumbents

• Mars Petcare: Mars Petcare is the world's largest pet food company with brands including Royal Canin, Pedigree, Whiskas, Iams, and Cesar. While much broader than Hill's, Mars is Hill's primary global competitor across therapeutic, premium, and mass-market pet food categories.

Emerging players

• Freshpet: Freshpet is a US public company producing refrigerated fresh pet food sold through grocery, mass, and pet specialty retail. It is an emerging competitor in the premium fresh segment where Hill's recently entered via the Prime100 acquisition.
• The Farmer's Dog: The Farmer's Dog is a leading direct-to-consumer fresh, human-grade pet food company with significant venture backing. It is an emerging challenger to Hill's premium positioning by appealing directly to millennial/Gen Z owners with vet-formulated fresh meals.
• JustFoodForDogs: JustFoodForDogs produces fresh, whole-food pet food sold through its own retail kitchens, vet partnerships, and online channels. It represents an emerging, fresh-format competitor whose vet-partnership model partially overlaps Hill's Prescription Diet channel.
• Open Farm: Open Farm is a premium, ethically-sourced pet food brand with strong direct-to-consumer and retail presence. It competes with Hill's Science Diet in the premium natural segment with a transparent sourcing and sustainability narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/9676
• Xx.com/hillspet
• Facebookfacebook.com/HillsPet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hill’s Pet Nutrition