Steve's Real Food

What Steve's Real Food does

Steve's Real Food is a privately held, Utah-headquartered manufacturer of raw and freeze-dried pet food for dogs and cats, founded in 1998. The company operates with a small team (1-10 employees) and outsources all production to a USDA-inspected, HACCP-compliant contract co-packer in Salem, Oregon. Its product portfolio spans two core diet formulations — B.A.R.F. (80% meat/organ/bone, 15% produce, 5% superfoods) and Prey Model Raw (95% meat/organ/bone, 5% value-added) — delivered across frozen nuggets/patties and freeze-dried formats, with proteins including beef, chicken, pork, turkey, turducken, and white fish. The Quest sub-brand targets cats with a 95:5 prey-model formulation, while Protein Bites (fermented, powered by Gussy's Gut) and Eggs Over Easy (egg and pork heart topper) extend into treats and toppers, and a merchandise line provides ancillary revenue.

The company's core technology centers on three processing capabilities: High Pressure Processing (HPP) for cold-water pathogen elimination without preservatives or nutritional loss, Instant Quick Freezing (IQF) to lock in freshness at production, and freeze-drying that retains approximately 98% of original nutrients while creating shelf-stable products. Ingredient sourcing emphasizes human-quality, USDA-inspected inputs from local farms practicing regenerative agriculture, including multi-generation family farms in Idaho. The company holds SQF food-safety certification and B Corp certification, and participates in the 4ocean Cleanup Partnership.

Commercially, Steve's Real Food makes money through one-time unit sales of its frozen, freeze-dried, treat, topper, and merchandise SKUs. Pricing is not publicly listed and is distributed via a downloadable pricing sheet; a subscription option via RawPetFood.com offers approximately 10% savings. Distribution is intentionally restricted to independent, locally-owned pet retailers — explicitly excluding big-box and major e-commerce channels — supplemented by direct online sales through RawPetFood.com and international distributor partnerships serving Canada and other markets. The go-to-market is content-led, with substantial investment in LearnAboutRaw.com, feeding calculators, transitioning guides, success stories, and active social channels designed to educate consumers about raw feeding and drive them to local retail partners. Veterinary endorsements (Dr. Julie Anne Lee, Dr. Heather Oxford, Dr. Judy Morgan) and the brand's 26-year category history form the core trust and demand-generation layer.

Name

Steve's Real Food

Legal name

Steve's Real Food

Website

https://stevesrealfood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Steve's Real Food is a Utah-based manufacturer founded in 1998 that produces raw and freeze-dried pet food for dogs and cats using HPP, IQF, and freeze-drying technology. It sells exclusively through independent pet retailers, its RawPetFood.com site, and international distributors, targeting health-conscious pet owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Raw Pet Food Manufacturing

NAICS

Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Animal Food Manufacturing (31111)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen & Raw Pet Food (incl. freeze-dried) (CRADAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Raw & Fresh Pet Food (Refrigerated/Frozen) (AFADAFAE), Freeze-Dried & Dehydrated Pet Food (AFADAFAD)

Keywords

• Raw pet food
• Frozen raw dog food
• Freeze-dried cat food
• BARF diet pet nutrition
• Prey model raw diet

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottonwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Frozen Raw Pet Food Sales: Core product line including BARF and Prey Model frozen raw diets for dogs and cats, sold in nugget and patty formats through independent pet retailers.
2. Freeze-Dried Raw Pet Food Sales: Shelf-stable freeze-dried raw diets for dogs and cats, offering convenience for travel and storage. Available in 20oz bags that rehydrate to 5 pounds of food.
3. Protein Bites Treats: Fermented, freeze-dried bite-sized treats for dogs and cats powered by Gussy's Gut organic fermented superfood blend, targeting gut health.
4. Food Toppers: Eggs Over Easy protein-based food topper combining eggs and pork hearts, sold in 5oz tubs.
5. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and promotional items sold through the company's storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Steve's Real Food manufactures and sells raw pet food for dogs and cats, including frozen and freeze-dried formulations following BARF (80/15/5) and Prey Model Raw (95/5) dietary ratios. The company uses High Pressure Processing (HPP), Instant Quick Freezing (IQF), and freeze-drying technologies to deliver pathogen-reduced, minimally processed nutrition through independent pet retailers and direct online sales.

Product overview

Steve's Real Food is a raw pet food company offering complete and balanced raw diets for dogs and cats since 1998. The product portfolio includes two main diet formulations: BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diets at 80/15/5 ratio of meat/organ/bone to produce to superfoods, and Prey Model Raw (PMR) diets at 95/5 ratio emphasizing higher meat content. Products are available in frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, and freeze-dried treat formats across multiple protein sources (Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Turducken, White Fish). The Quest sub-brand targets cats with prey-model formulations, while Protein Bites and Eggs Over Easy serve as complementary treats and toppers. All diets meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quest: A premium raw cat food line using a 95:5 prey model diet formulation, available in both frozen and freeze-dried varieties.

Products and services

• Frozen Raw Dog Food (BARF Diet)
• Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food (BARF Diet) Shelf-stable freeze-dried raw dog food in 20oz (1.25lb) bags of scoop-and-serve nuggets that rehydrate to approximately 5 pounds of food. Same BARF formulation as the frozen line across multiple proteins.
• Frozen Prey Model Raw (PMR) Dog Food Prey Model Raw diet composed of 95% meat/organ/bone and 5% value-added ingredients (kelp, eggshell membrane, raw goat milk). Available in 20lb boxes (two 10lb bags, 40 patties total) in Turkey, Beef, and Chicken proteins.
• Quest Frozen Raw Cat Food Quest line of raw cat food using a 95:5 prey model formulation with smaller nuggets and no fruits or vegetables; formulated for all life stages. Available in 2lb bags in White Fish, Chicken, Pork, and Beef proteins.
• Quest Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Freeze-dried version of the Quest cat food line preserving flavors and nutrients without refrigeration. Same 95:5 prey model formulation available in Pork, Chicken, White Fish, and Beef proteins.
• Protein Bites Freeze-dried fermented bite-sized treats for dogs and cats powered by Gussy's Gut organic fermented superfood blend (prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics). Available in 4oz bags in Lamb and Chicken flavors.
• Eggs Over Easy Food Topper 100% protein-based freeze-dried raw food topper combining eggs and pork hearts for dogs and cats. Available in 5oz tubs, designed to be used as a meal topper.

Quantifiable outcome

• Freeze-drying retains approximately 98% of original nutrients
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 4oceanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified 4ocean Cleanup Partner as part of Steve's Real Food's environmental mission to reduce ocean plastic and promote sustainability. The partnership supports the company's 'Mission to Do a World of Good' for pets and the planet.
• Gussy's GutcoreTechnology or IntegrationGussy's Gut provides organic fermented superfood blend used in Steve's Real Food's Protein Bites treats for dogs and cats, targeting gut health with prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics.
• National Food NWcoreOthersEgg supplier with over 60 years of experience supplying local communities with highest quality fresh eggs, sharing Steve's values of environmental sustainability, humane animal care, and strong community stewardship.
• Five-Generation Family Farm (Twin Falls, Idaho)coreOthersFamily farm supplying pork ingredients for Eggs Over Easy and other pork products. Pigs are fed a biologically appropriate diet and roam freely. The farm is USDA-verified and prioritizes sustainability.
• Local/Regional FarmscoreOthersPartnerships with local, environmentally-conscious farmers practicing regenerative agriculture and ethical animal treatment for ingredient sourcing including grass-fed beef, lamb, free-range poultry, and sustainably-sourced fish.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nature's Variety (Instinct): Direct peer in raw and freeze-dried raw diets, with significantly broader distribution through Petco, Chewy, and grocery. Competes in the same raw/freeze-dried category with overlapping protein and format offerings.
• Primal Pet Foods: Direct peer offering frozen raw and freeze-dried raw diets for dogs and cats with comparable BARF-style formulations, multiple protein SKUs, and a national distribution footprint including independent pet retailers.
• Vital Essentials: Direct peer specializing in freeze-dried raw pet food and treats, sold through independent pet retailers and online. Overlaps on freeze-dried format and protein variety targeting the same raw-feeding consumer.
• Darwin's Natural Pet Products: Direct peer offering custom, fresh raw diets for dogs and cats via a direct-to-consumer subscription model, competing in the same biologically-appropriate raw feeding segment.
• Stella & Chewy's: Direct peer in raw and freeze-dried pet food with broad protein variety, multiple formats (patty, nugget, morsel), and a similar positioning around biologically appropriate raw diets sold through independent and online channels.
• Answers Pet Food: Direct peer in fermented and raw pet food including treats and toppers, sold through independent retailers and direct-to-consumer. Competes on similar nutritional positioning and gut-health claims.
• Northwest Naturals: Direct peer offering frozen raw and freeze-dried diets for dogs and cats with a similar independent-retail-led distribution model and comparable protein and format variety.
• K9 Natural: Direct peer producing frozen and freeze-dried raw dog and cat food with 95% meat formulations (similar to Steve's Prey Model/Quest), distributed internationally through pet specialty channels.

Broad incumbents

• Open Farm: Premium pet food brand with strong sourcing/sustainability positioning overlapping Steve's Real Food's ingredient story; broader portfolio (kibble, wet, raw, treats) and mainstream retail distribution including Petco and Chewy.

Emerging players

• Smallbatch Pets: Small-batch raw and freeze-dried pet food producer with a focus on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients and distribution through independent pet retailers — highly comparable operating model and positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stevesrealfood
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwayvNgwfdYqjNJPyUHlc0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/StevesRealFood
• Instagraminstagram.com/stevesrealfood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Steve's Real Food