About Granatapet
Overview
GranataPet is a German pet-food brand specialising in nutrition for dogs and cats. The company is based in the Allgäu region of southern Germany and positions itself around species-appropriate, nature-oriented nutrition, high-quality ingredients, grain-free recipes, and the use of pomegranate seeds as its signature ingredient.
The company identifies itself as a medium-sized business from the Allgäu and states that its products are manufactured exclusively in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 1
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Brand | GranataPet |
| Industry | Pet food / animal nutrition |
| Main animals | Dogs and cats |
| Origin | Germany |
| Base | Dietmannsried, Allgäu, Germany |
| Founder / CEO | Markus Fuchsenthaler |
| Founded / origins | 2005 |
| First products launched | 2008 |
| Cat-food range introduced | 2011 |
| Signature ingredient | Pomegranate seeds |
| Main formats | Wet food, dry food, snacks, oils |
| Production countries | Germany, Austria, and Switzerland |
| Positioning | Premium/natural, grain-free, high-meat pet nutrition |
Origins: A Dog Named Cira
GranataPet’s origin story is closely connected with its founder, Markus Fuchsenthaler, and his Labrador, Cira.
According to GranataPet, in 2005 Fuchsenthaler began investigating dog nutrition after Cira experienced allergic symptoms that he was unable to resolve with conventional commercial foods. During his research, he became interested in the pomegranate, particularly its naturally occurring compounds such as ellagic acid.
He subsequently worked with experts to develop a food incorporating pomegranate. The first product was reportedly a snack developed for Cira, followed by wet and dry dog food. The first GranataPet recipes entered the market in 2008. The company expanded into cat nutrition in 2011.
The timeline can be summarised as:
2005 (founder begins developing alternative nutrition for Cira) → Pomegranate becomes central concept → 2008 (dog products launch) → 2011 (cat products launch) → Expansion of the GranataPet product portfolio.
Brand Name and Identity
The name “GranataPet” is a combination of Granatapfel (German for pomegranate) and Pet.
The pomegranate is not merely a flavour used in one product; it is the ingredient around which the brand identity was originally built. GranataPet states that its products contain pomegranate seeds, which provide naturally occurring polyphenols and ellagic acid. The company associates these compounds with antioxidant and cell-protective properties.
However, it is important to note that the presence of pomegranate does not by itself make a pet food nutritionally superior. When evaluating a pet food, factors such as overall nutritional formulation, digestibility, ingredient quality, adequacy for the animal’s life stage, and feeding amount are significant considerations.
Brand Philosophy
GranataPet’s philosophy centres on several key principles:
Species-Appropriate Nutrition
The company describes its objective as providing a species-appropriate, balanced, and nature-oriented diet for dogs and cats.
Grain-Free Recipes
GranataPet states that its products are grain-free. It also claims that its recipes contain no added sugar, artificial preservatives, artificial colours or flavours, and no genetically modified organisms.
High-Quality Ingredients
The company asserts that its meat and other ingredients come from carefully selected, controlled sources. Ingredients undergo veterinary controls and laboratory testing.
No Scientific Animal Testing
GranataPet explicitly states that it does not use scientific animal experiments in its product-development philosophy. Instead, the company says it develops and evaluates products using its own dogs and cats, including animals belonging to employees, friends, relatives, and others. This position specifically refers to scientific animal testing rather than implying that no animals are involved in the broader agricultural or food-production supply chain.
Product Portfolio
GranataPet has developed a broad portfolio covering various needs for both dogs and cats.
Dog Food
The dog portfolio includes:
- Wet food
- Dry food
- Puppy food
- Small-dog formulas
- High-meat dry food
- Grain-free formulas
- Monoprotein products
- Treats
- Products featuring different meat sources (such as horse, game, fish, duck, and rabbit)
- Pumpkin-containing recipes
Cat Food
The cat portfolio includes:
- Wet food
- Dry food
- Kitten food
- Grain-free cat food
- Different protein sources (such as rabbit, tuna, game, chicken, and salmon)
Other Products
Beyond complete foods, GranataPet sells:
- Snacks
- Oils
- Multipacks
- Trial/sample products
- Accessories
The company’s online store organises its principal food categories into wet food, dry food, snacks, oils, and accessories.
Major Product Concepts
GranataPet offers distinct nutritional concepts rather than a single generic formula:
- DeliCatessen: A recognisable cat-food range associated with wet food, emphasising meat-based recipes.
- Symphonie: Used for selected wet-food products, offering different meat combinations and recipes.
- Liebling’s Mahlzeit: A product concept meaning “favorite meal,” appearing in the current range.
- Natural Taste: A line where GranataPet describes one dry-food formula as consisting of 90% animal ingredients, with vegetables and 10% fruit, herbs, and Norwegian salmon oil. This line is developed by GranataPet and produced in Austria.
- Mini Royal: Aimed at smaller dogs, including puppy/junior and adult-oriented products.
Ingredient Philosophy
The ingredient strategy is a defining aspect of the brand. Key emphases include:
- Animal-derived ingredients
- High meat content
- Grain-free recipes
- Pomegranate seeds
- High-quality oils
- Selected vegetables and herbs
- Green-lipped mussel
GranataPet states that green-lipped mussel is included in all of its dry-food varieties and in almost all of its wet-food varieties. Some recipes also utilise ingredients such as salmon oil, chicory-derived ingredients, FOS, and inulin.
Manufacturing and Location
GranataPet’s published contact information places the company in Dietmannsried, Bavaria, in the Allgäu region of southern Germany. Its website lists the address as:
Wohlmutser Weg 12, 87463 Dietmannsried, Germany.
The legal entity identified in the website footer is Fox4Pets GmbH & Co. KG. Thus, GranataPet is the consumer-facing brand, while Fox4Pets GmbH & Co. KG is the corporate entity.
Regarding production, the company states that manufacturing facilities are located exclusively in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Manufacturing partners operate under food-safety systems including HACCP, IFS, and BRC. Ingredients are subject to veterinary controls and testing by internal and external laboratories. While often described as a German brand, it is accurate to say that products are manufactured within these three European countries; for example, Natural Taste dry food is produced in Austria.
Quality and Safety Claims
GranataPet emphasises traceability, working with ingredient suppliers through long-term relationships to maintain traceability through to the finished product. Ingredients are checked by veterinary authorities and laboratories. The certifications held by manufacturing partners (HACCP, IFS, BRC) are relevant food-safety frameworks but do not guarantee that every individual recipe is optimal for every animal.
Market Positioning
GranataPet sits in the premium/natural pet-food segment. Its positioning aligns with brands that emphasise:
- High animal-protein content
- Ingredient transparency
- Grain-free formulas
- Specialty proteins
- European production
- Functional ingredients
- Premium packaging
This approach appeals to owners interested in detailed ingredient lists and formulation specifics.
Consumer Reputation
Current consumer feedback is generally favourable, though individual experiences vary.
On Trustpilot, GranataPet holds a rating of approximately 4.7/5 based on over 400 reviews 2. Positive reviews commonly mention product quality, acceptance by pets, and delivery service. Trusted Shops also contains thousands of customer reviews, with many verified reviewers praising the food’s acceptance and ingredient composition 3.
These reviews reflect customer sentiment but should not be treated as scientific evidence of nutritional superiority.
Critical Considerations
When evaluating GranataPet, several points warrant consideration:
- Grain-free is not inherently healthier: For dogs and cats, the absence of grains is not automatically a guarantee of superior nutrition. Nutritional adequacy depends on the complete formulation.
- Pomegranate is not a magic ingredient: While pomegranate contains interesting antioxidant compounds, its presence should not be interpreted as proof that the food prevents disease or slows aging.
- Marketing terms vs. Reality: Terms like natural, species-appropriate, and premium describe the brand’s positioning but are not substitutes for examining actual nutritional analysis.
- Individual tolerance varies: A food that works well for one animal may cause digestive issues or be refused by another. Customer reviews demonstrate this variability.
Summary
GranataPet is a German premium pet-food brand founded from a search for better nutrition for a Labrador, now known for grain-free dog and cat foods featuring pomegranate seeds and a strong emphasis on meat, ingredient quality, and European manufacturing.
Its history is founder-driven, tracing back to Markus Fuchsenthaler’s efforts to find a suitable diet for his dog Cira. Today, the brand offers a substantial range of products differentiated by pomegranate seeds, high animal-ingredient content, grain-free formulations, European production, and a stated no-scientific-animal-testing philosophy.
