Consumers livid over Nestle-Purina acquisition of Merrick, Castor & Pollux, accusing them of selling out to Big Pet Food
Bye bye independent pet food brands, hello homogenization.
Nestle-Purina announced yesterday it’s gobbling up some of pet parents favorite niche pet food brands Merrick and Castor & Pollux. Merrick Pet Care said yesterday it has signed an agreement for Nestlé Purina PetCare Company to purchase the company.
Nestle-Purina, eyeing the growing demand for organic pet food, decided they wanted a piece of that lucrative pie, and swallowed up Merrick Pet Care, one of the fastest-growing natural and organic pet food companies in the industry.
The cherry on top of Merrick’s pet food pie for Nestle-Purina was Merrick’s portfolio of natural and organic pet food and treat brands, namely Castor & Pollux and its ORGANIX brand, along with Ultramix natural pet food, Good Buddy natural pet treats, as well as its Whole Earth Farms line.
In 2012, it was Merrick that gobbled up Castor & Pollux, when it was acquired by Merrick Pet Care to further expand its natural pet food line. That same year, Merrick’s facilities became certified by the USDA National Organic Program to manufacturer for both dry and canned food for pets.
Even though Merrick swears they will continue to operate as an independent business, with no planned changes to its management or operations, consumers aren’t having any of it.
Pissed, that Nestle-Purina, one of the most reviled pet food brands on the market, has just eaten up some of their most cherished pet food brands, has left a decidedly icky taste in their mouth.
Nestle-Purina probably didn’t foresee the fury it would cause pet parents who were once loyal, devoted consumers of Merrick, Castor & Pollux, and ORGANIX brands, who have taken to social media to ride them up one side and down the other for selling out to Big Pet Food, least of all a company as loathed as Nestle-Purina.
Consumers, once loyal to those brands, are dropping like flies, swearing on Merrick’s Facebook page and on Castor & Pollux’s Facebook page they will never to buy their food ever again. Ever.
I think it’s safe to say that Merrick and Castor & Pollux’s customers are pissed. These are just a few of the more choice comments:
“Way to flush the legacy down the toilet. I will make my own dog food before feeding something associated with the pet killing Purina again…Lost my business for sure.”
“This is sad news. We loved your products; so did my sister, cousins, and friends. I guess we will all be looking for quality product and Purina has not proven to be a quality product. Why are there so much quality organic company selling out to big name? I guess money talks and integrity is lost.”
“…once Nestlé Purina hold the reigns your company is shit and will no longer be trusted by consumers. Purina sources and makes food and treats in China…”
“Corporate greed over health as safety of our companions. No matter what you say Merrick, Nestle now owns you…”
“I’m hurt. We all know that the formula will change it’s just a matter of time. I will no longer be recommending Merrick or Whole Earth Farms foods to my clients…I bought my last bag from this company.”
“We will no longer be buying your product for my dog. Nestle is not a company I can support in any way. They do not support my right to know what is in their food. Their CEO does not think water is a human right and their dog food is crap.”
“Merrick why choose investors associated with dog food that was killing family pets? Surely if you are committed to continue making high quality food you could have found a more reputable company…”
“This is very disappointing news. Merrick might as well have been bought by McDonald’s…”
“…I won’t be surprised if your next announcement is that food will now be made in China. Good riddance.”
“HORRIBLE NEWS. I’ve been buying your dogfood for a long time and now I have to find something else. Sad to hear that such a fine company has sold out to corporate greed. This literally makes me feel like crying.”
In fact, I feel like crying too after reading the comments. In comment after comment consumers are in anguish, heartbroken even, at the utter disappointment that their brands sold out to Nestle-Purina.
Way to go Merrick, I think you just lost all of your most loyal customers.
Did you hear that swoosh?
That was Merrick’s reputation being flushed down the drain.
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44 Comments
Maureen Clavel
I just found Castor and Pollux a few dats ago and hopeful am feeding it to my former street cat. Now, looking it to find more info for possible feed to my dog, I find Nestle-Purina? I guess I’ll start looking again.
Karicat
Merrick canned food was the only food my cat was able to keep down. Shortly after their stock supply from before the sell out, my cat began throwing up every day. I looked into this by checking with her Dr to see if her thyroid, pain, or allergy medication was being administered correctly and asked if there were any known ingredients that might cause a negative reaction with her meds or her condition. I was assured that I was doing everything according to Dr s advice, including the food. So after contacting Merrick I decided maybe it was time for kitty to try limited ingredient canned food. At that point they HAD been bought by Nestle and denied that when in my email I asked them if there were any changes in formula or company ownership. They flat out lied, I later found out.
I switched to the limited ingredient and she still threw up. Every day. My poor best friend. I thought maybe she was just getting old and this was part of it. Throwing up daily. Instincts kicked in and I decided to research this company and that’s when I dropped them like a hot potato.
I went to my local mom n pop pet store, they are wonderful and always seem to have keen understanding of what pet owners need.
So, I’m here to also be a witness through this testimonial that Merrick now is poisonous, to my cat and in my careful monitoring of her with this brand and other better wholistic less popular or less commercially known canned cat foods. My cat hasn’t thrown up since I made the switch. I even reluctantly tried a couple of cans here n there and yep she barfed. Sorry my friend. I’ll never buy their products again. They lied to me and didn’t even offer to somehow see that I received customer satisfaction. So goodbye to them.
I hope people read this and it helps, shd they be having the same issues and questions I did.
Paul Thulin
I just recently changed our cats food to Castor & Pollux Organix line of wet and dry food. First I won’t purchase any Nestle products due to their comments on water ownership and won’t purchase Purina pet foods because they have never advanced from their 70’s pet food mentality.
Have to find another brand for our kitty family.
If you think I am a fanatic not quite…President and owner of a multi-million dollar human healthcare company.
Rob
Is therea class action against them yet? Both our dogs got sick off organix! Furious!
L. Maddox
I hate this. I have 7 dogs and have feed them Organix from the day I found it. Could really use some help on finding like pet food by an independent company with products from USA and Canada.
Ember
Have you found a solution?
Maggie
Canadian Petcurian with Now and Go lines may be something to check out. I’ve used them in the past with good success and am thinking of switching back to them. They are pricey and availability but those are the only issues I know of.
Alice Concannon Dupre
I think its very frightning. I just bought a can of PETGARD FOR MY CAT AT A NATURAL FOOD Store Thinking Liam would love the seafood! I was disappointed at 1.39 a can , that he turned up his nose! I also bought a can of Organix; we’ll see what my biy thinks of that. Of course before i became more educated i gave Liam fancy feast loaded with gravy and he gobbled that up. But then aftereducating myself i stopped buying Purina foods! I switched to Variety Pet Foods. a product of Canada made in Colorado. Liam loved , and still loves. Savannah Chicken Crockpot and Moms turkey with Vegetables. Plus other offerings. Problem is my ( former) grocery store started cutting back on the. 12 can cartons. My complaints fell on deaf ears at STOP AND SHOP. THEY ARE ALL PART OF THE MONSANTO CONGLOMERATE!! ON MY SOC SEC BUDGET I CAN NOT KEEP TRYING TO FIND AN ETHICAL CAT FOOD!! CHEWY ONLY CARRIES VARIETY DOG FOOD. PLEASE HELP!! IM IN AN AWFUL QUANDRY. THANKS FOR ASSISTANCE
Natalie
I wonder whether this independent lab could help you? they can test for contaminants.
http://cwclabs.com/About.html
This was set up by the Health Ranger, Mike Adams, who runs Natural News.
dkatiepowellart
I linked to your article for an article of my own. I write two blogs, and this is where you will find it: https://katwritesfood.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/poisonous-pet-food/
Ann*
This is Ann back with a new comment regarding the buyout of Merrick by Nestle Purina. Despite the reassurances (lies) of Merrick from seven months ago announcing their buyout by Nestle Purina:
(From Merrick) “Pet parents, we have news to share with you regarding the ownership of Merrick Pet Care.
We’ve signed an agreement for Nestle Purina PetCare to purchase Merrick Pet Care. We will continue to operate independently, with our same management team, operations and kitchens in Hereford, Texas. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/1CNNYAv
At the core of our business is your trust in choosing Merrick for your pet.”
It didn’t take long for my predictions from July 2015 in this comment section to come true. Consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Nestle Purina and a Merrick cat and dog pet food for false labeling of the food which now contains ingredients from China:
http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/327183-nestles-purina-hit-with-made-in-usa-false-labeling-class-action/
There is only one way to protect yourself and your pets from big pet food lies and that is not to buy any products made by or affiliated with Nestle Purina.
Jon Bullard
I hate Purina brand and everything that is associated with that brand. This brand’s workings are deceitful and untrustworthy. People didn’t know before the information revolution. They know know Purina!!!! Disgusting!
Marie
I have 8 small dogs 20lbs and under. I have been feeding them Whole Earth Farms grain free stews- chicken, turkey and salmon. My dogs loved them! Tonight I had a can explode when I opened it: the can was only 3/4 full of just gravy. Six months ago a case I had sent to my sister for her dog was full of maggots. If I have to switch dog food companies, who should I try that’s not too expensive??
Ann*
Marie, Here is a link to Whole Earth Farms/Merrick/Nestle Purina website: http://feedgoodness.custhelp.com/app/ask
I suggest that you also contact them to inform them of these problems and ask if anyone else has reported similar issues. They should also refund you your purchase price. Their website says they use no ingredients from China and the product is Made in the USA, but I wonder since Nestle Purina bought them out if that is still true. Maybe they “haven’t had time” to update their website.
Good luck to you and your 8 family members. But please put them on notice that problems are occurring in their product line.
Pamela Campbell
Marie, I know this is a very late comment but I use Weruva and Zignature. THEY BOTH ROCK!!! I’M SURE by now you have found other brands but wanted to let you know these 2 are awesome!!!
Brian Smith
“We admire Merrick and what the team is doing to provide pets with nutritious, quality and safe food and are excited about how the Merrick brands will broaden the Purina portfolios.
Are we really supposed to believe that? Merrick was one of the brands I purchased, and my cats liked it, but they’ve just lost a customer!
Ann*
The same thing happened last year with independent Zuke’s Dog and Cat Treats, bought up by Purina. I emailed Zuke’s to confirm it and they did confirm that they are now “partners” with Purina, proud of it, and hopeful to bring positive change to the industry. Except that when I examined every inch of the Zuke’s packaging I could find no mention of Purina, their new partnership they are so proud of. I told them that I do not buy Purina products and will no longer be purchasing theirs.
Peter
It’s more than sad. It is tragic, and truly dangerous for some pet parents. The Merrick line of cat foods is among the ONLY choices for those needing low/moderate phosphorous products. I will no longer be able to trust Merrick, and there will be no getting around that.
Bonnie
“Even though Merrick swears they will continue to operate as an independent business, with no planned changes to its management or operations, consumers aren’t having any of it.”
Don’t bet on that. They will have to do what their masters tell them to do.
Adam Welsch
Exactly…
anthony hepton
You have mentioned some contaminants of pet food, but every time Purina challenges the customer to show that these contaminants are actually present in a particular batch of product and that there is a direct relationship between the contaminant and the illness. Why is it the responsibility of the customer to identify and correct the deficiencies of the manufacturer? We are not privy to key pieces of information regarding their processes, their controls, their HACCP plan, their ingredient specifications, ingredient suppliers and audit reports, if any, from those suppliers.
We are aware of numerous customer comments regarding these products, but once again, we are not in a position to evaluate these data. For example, are all 17 Purina manufacturing plants getting similar numbers of comments on a per million units produced, do they have identical processes in each plant, are the ingredients sourced from the same supplier etc.etc.etc. I know that if I had access to this kind of data it would be much easier to challenge their assertion that their product is 100 % safe.
Ann*
I have bought Merrick products for many years and the idea that they will remain independent is ludicrous. Nestle Purina will be pressuring Merrick to return more to the shareholders and all independence will be quickly gone. I am not buying any more Merrick either.
I looked at a bag of Nestle Purina Waggin Train chicken jerky treats this morning and asked my husband to find the NEW larger font MADE IN CHINA in a more prominent place as a result of the Nestle Purina lawsuit settlement. He couldn’t find it. I had to point it out to him on the backside in font that could not have been much larger and in a place a couple of inches above the bottom left corner of the package where it used to be. This is an insulting joke to claim that the settlement gave significant improvements to the labeling.
I quit buying all Nestle Purina products two years ago and now Merrick is added to that list.