The official recipe finder currently lists products for both dogs and cats, encompassing dry and wet foods, puppy and kitten formulations, adult maintenance diets, as well as grain-free and grain-inclusive options.3

Taste Of The Wild operates under Diamond Pet Foods, a company with origins dating back to 1970. Diamond was established by brothers-in-law Gary Schell and Richard Kampeter, who aimed to produce high-quality pet food at an affordable price point. They acquired a former milling facility in Meta, Missouri, to launch the business.

Diamond subsequently expanded its manufacturing footprint across the United States, establishing or enlarging facilities in states including Missouri, California, South Carolina, Arkansas and Kansas. The company states that the second generation of the Schell and Kampeter families continues to own and operate the business.10

Taste Of The Wild was developed as a wholly owned Diamond Pet Foods brand. According to the company, it has always been owned by Diamond and was created to offer pet food inspired by the natural dietary preferences of dogs and cats based on their evolutionary ancestry.2

The brand’s philosophy is summarised as:

Nature-inspired nutrition + distinctive animal proteins + affordability

Rather than attempting to replicate a wild animal’s diet literally, Taste Of The Wild utilises the concept of ancestral nutrition as a foundation for its recipes.

The central premise of Taste Of The Wild is that modern domestic dogs and cats retain biological traits inherited from their ancestors. Consequently, the brand emphasises animal proteins and ingredients associated with ancestral diets. Marketing materials frequently highlight proteins such as bison, venison, salmon, trout, beef, lamb and fowl.4

This philosophy aligns with the parent company’s original objective of providing premium-oriented nutrition at a price point lower than some highly specialised premium brands. Taste Of The Wild describes its mission as delivering quality nutrition at a fair value.5

It is important to note that “Taste Of The Wild” is a brand concept; it does not claim that the food is wild-harvested or that pets should consume the exact diet of wild predators.

Taste Of The Wild primarily manufactures food for dogs and cats.

Dog food

Canine recipes feature formulas based on proteins such as:

• Bison
• Venison
• Beef
• Lamb
• Salmon
• Trout
• Turkey
• Duck
• Wild boar
• Various poultry and fowl proteins

The official recipe database includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive options, alongside specific formulations for puppies and adult dogs.6

Cat food

The brand offers feline formulas featuring fish, poultry and meat-based proteins. Dry feline recipes are specifically formulated with the Viables® probiotic system.

Wet food

Taste Of The Wild also produces canned and wet recipes. These are described as combinations of meat and vegetables in gravy, supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals.7

A distinctive sub-line within the portfolio is Taste Of The Wild PREY. This range is designed around a limited-ingredient approach. Rather than using a broad mixture of proteins and carbohydrates, PREY recipes are constructed around a small number of principal ingredients.

According to the company, PREY dog recipes contain four key ingredients:

1. A principal animal protein
2. Lentils
3. Dried tomato pomace
4. Chicken fat

Cat formulas within this line utilise an even simpler ingredient structure.

Examples of PREY proteins include:

• Pasture-raised Angus beef
• Cage-free turkey
• Trout

The company states that PREY recipes contain no rendered meats or by-product meals and are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition.

The fundamental distinction between the main line and the sub-line is:

• Taste Of The Wild: Broader combinations of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.
• Taste Of The Wild PREY: Simpler, limited-ingredient formulations centred on a primary animal protein.

Ingredients are central to the identity of Taste Of The Wild. The company emphasises distinctive animal proteins and components such as:

• Bison
• Venison
• Salmon
• Trout
• Beef
• Lamb
• Turkey
• Duck
• Ancient grains
• Lentils
• Quinoa
• Chia seed
• Fruits and vegetables

Ancient-grain recipes specifically incorporate ingredients such as sorghum, millet, quinoa and chia seed.

To enhance palatability, the brand employs various preparation techniques. Its website highlights roasted and smoked flavours as part of its approach to taste appeal.8

Taste Of The Wild is strongly associated with grain-free pet food, as many of its earlier and flagship formulas utilise alternative carbohydrate sources. However, the current portfolio is not exclusively grain-free.

Grain-free recipes

These typically use legumes and potatoes as carbohydrate sources.

Ancient-grain recipes

These incorporate grains such as:

• Sorghum
• Millet
• Quinoa
• Chia seed

The availability of both categories allows the brand to cater to owners seeking either grain-free or grain-inclusive diets.

A notable feature of Taste Of The Wild dry foods is the inclusion of proprietary probiotics. According to the company:

• Dry dog recipes use K9 Strain® Probiotics
• Dry cat recipes use Viables® Probiotics

These probiotics were specifically developed for use in Taste Of The Wild products and are intended to support digestive health.6

Taste Of The Wild states that its products are developed and produced in the United States. The company currently indicates that its products are manufactured at seven facilities in the US, with ingredients sourced from both domestic and international suppliers.

It is worth noting that “Made in the USA” does not imply that every ingredient is American. The company’s position is that finished products are manufactured in US facilities, while individual ingredients may originate from global suppliers.9

Diamond Pet Foods similarly states that all its manufacturing facilities are located within the United States.

Quality and food safety are integral to Diamond’s corporate positioning. Taste Of The Wild states that ingredients undergo supplier evaluation, and the company continuously monitors ingredients, manufacturing environments and production processes.11

Diamond collects and tests samples from every product manufactured, retaining them for approximately the product’s guaranteed shelf life, typically 12 months.12

Taste Of The Wild also confirms that its meat suppliers are USDA inspected and approved, and the company actively monitors supply chains and ingredient safety.

Taste Of The Wild formulates its recipes to provide complete and balanced nutrition in accordance with applicable US regulatory requirements. The company states that its recipes adhere to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines for complete and balanced pet foods.

AAFCO nutrient profiles and model regulations serve as the standard basis for nutritional adequacy statements in the US pet food industry.

2012 Voluntary recall

Taste Of The Wild acknowledges a voluntary recall in 2012 related to potential product contamination. The brand states that subsequent testing confirmed no Taste Of The Wild product was contaminated.9

Diamond Pet Foods provides a similar account, describing the 2012 event as a precautionary voluntary recall and noting that further testing did not detect contamination in its products.12

For current regulatory actions, the FDA maintains an official database of animal food recalls and withdrawals, which serves as the authoritative source.

Grain-free and DCM discussion

Taste Of The Wild has been mentioned in discussions regarding grain-free dog food and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The company notes that the FDA has not established a causal relationship between any specific diet and DCM, stating that DCM is a complex disease involving multiple factors.13

Scientific and regulatory discourse on this topic remains nuanced. For individual pets, veterinary professionals are the appropriate source for dietary advice.

Taste Of The Wild occupies a distinct position in the pet food market, presenting itself as:

• More nature-inspired than conventional supermarket food
• Protein-focused and ingredient-conscious
• Relatively accessible in price compared to ultra-premium specialist brands

Branding relies heavily on imagery of wilderness, mountains, forests, wildlife and natural landscapes. This fosters an emotional connection between the pet owner’s perception of nature and the nutritional needs of domesticated animals.14

The brand appeals to pet owners who:

• Prioritise animal-protein-centred diets
• Prefer distinctive proteins such as bison or venison
• Respond to nature-inspired branding
• Seek grain-free or ancient-grain options
• Desire alternatives to standard chicken or beef formulas
• Want premium-style nutrition without the highest specialist price points
• Are interested in limited-ingredient diets via the PREY range

Taste Of The Wild primarily targets the premium and mainstream-premium pet food segments.

Although Taste Of The Wild is an American brand, it has significant international reach. Diamond Pet Foods states its products are trusted in all 50 US states and approximately 100 countries worldwide.15

The brand has established regional websites and distribution channels in various international markets, including Japan and Australia.1314 In Southeast Asia, Taste Of The Wild maintains a dedicated presence in Thailand.1516

Taste Of The Wild is not an independent company; it is a brand under Diamond Pet Foods. The corporate structure is as follows:

Schell & Kampeter, Inc.
↓
Diamond Pet Foods
↓
Taste Of The Wild
↓
Dog & cat food products

Diamond Pet Foods is a privately held, family-owned company established in 1970 and remains controlled by the Schell and Kampeter families.10

The trademarks Taste Of The Wild and Taste Of The Wild PREY are owned by Diamond Pet Foods.7

Key defining features of Taste Of The Wild include:

Protein-focused

Animal proteins are central to both recipes and marketing.

Nature-inspired

Recipes and branding are grounded in ancestral and natural diet concepts.

Unusual proteins

Bison, venison, trout, wild boar and other non-traditional proteins distinguish the brand.

Multiple carbohydrate philosophies

The portfolio includes both grain-free and ancient-grain recipes.

Probiotic-focused

Proprietary probiotics are incorporated into dry dog and cat formulas.

US-manufactured

Products are developed and produced in US facilities.

Family-owned parent company

Taste Of The Wild belongs to Diamond Pet Foods, which remains family-owned.

Value-oriented premium

The brand combines premium-style ingredients with relatively accessible pricing.

The name “Taste Of The Wild” encapsulates the company’s marketing philosophy:

• “Taste”: Palatability and appealing flavours
• “Wild”: Ancestral instincts and natural diets

The brand does not suggest that domestic pets are wild animals; rather, it uses evolutionary ancestry as inspiration for ingredient selection. The official tagline is “A modern diet, inspired by nature.”16

This phrase accurately reflects the brand: Taste Of The Wild is a modern commercial pet food designed around a nature-inspired nutritional concept.

1. About Our Company — Taste of the Wild Pet Food
2. What company owns Taste of the Wild? – Taste of the Wild Pet Food
3. Recipe Finder — Taste of the Wild Pet Food
4. Taste of the Wild Pet Food | Dog and Cat Food Brands
5. Recipe Finder — Taste of the Wild Pet Food
6. Taste of the Wild Frequently Asked Questions
7. Taste of the Wild Copyright & Trademark Information
8. Taste of the Wild › Dog Food Reviews
9. Taste of the Wild Recall History and Pet Food Brand Info | Petful
10. Is Taste of the Wild family-owned? – Taste of the Wild Pet Food
11. Quality & Composition – Taste of the Wild
12. Taste of the Wild Pet Food Recall History | PawDiet
13. テイストオブザワイルドとは | ブランドについて | Taste of the Wild Japan
14. テイストオブザワイルド Japan | プレミアムグレインフリーペットフード
15. Home
16. OUR BRAND