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In The Kibble
My dogs
BRAND

FirstMate

Owned by Nasta Pet FoodSince 1989North Vancouver, British Columbia

RECIPES REVIEWED
10
AVG PROTEIN, DM
27.5%
AVG STARCH
41%
FDA RECALLS
None
LINES
Limited Ingredient Diet 7 Grain Friendly 1 KASIKS 1

All recipes

10 foods matched · newest first
DEEP DIVE

Inside The FirstMate Range

Across 10 recipes we review

Protein runs lower than the average food we review (27.5% vs 31.9% on a dry matter basis).

Starch is higher than average, at 41% of the food as fed.

90% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (91% across the site).

80% of recipes are grain-free.

NUTRITION

How The Range Measures Up

this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 1,774 foods we review

Protein, dry matter 27% 20% to 33%
15%site avg 32%50%
Fat, dry matter 13% 9% to 16%
5%site avg 16%30%
Starch, as fed 41% 34% to 50%
10%site avg 34%60%
Kcal per cup 493 470 to 527
250site avg 390600

Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out

INGREDIENTS

What Goes In The Bowl

Fish 50% 43%
Chicken 30% 58%
Beef 20% 14%
Lamb 20% 16%

Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.

Ingredients Some Owners Avoid

By-products 0% 14%
Artificial colors 0% 2%
Chemical preservatives 0% 12%
Corn 0% 20%
Wheat 0% 15%
Soy 0% 11%

These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.

BREED SIZE
  • All Breeds7
  • Large Breed1
SPECIAL DIETS
  • Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)8
FirstMate Kasiks Wild Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Formula Dry Dog Food MOST PROTEIN FirstMate Kasiks Wild Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Formula Dry Dog Food 33.3% dry matter FirstMate Grain Friendly Cage Free Chicken Meal & Oats Formula Small Bites Dry Dog Food LEAST STARCH FirstMate Grain Friendly Cage Free Chicken Meal & Oats Formula Small Bites Dry Dog Food 37% as fed FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control Formula Dry Dog Food FEWEST CALORIES FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control Formula Dry Dog Food 470 kcal per cup
THE COMPANY

About FirstMate

Owner
Nasta Pet Food
Ownership
Subsidiary of a private company
Founded
1989
Headquarters
North Vancouver, British Columbia

Who Makes It

FirstMate Pet Foods is a Canadian pet food maker that sells dry and canned dog and cat food under the FirstMate and KASIKS names. It is known for fish-based recipes, especially its Pacific Ocean Fish formulas, and for limited ingredient diets. The company says its products are formulated by a veterinarian and a PhD animal nutritionist. 1, 2, 3

Where It Is Made

FirstMate makes its own food rather than using a contract manufacturer. Dry food is produced at a company-owned plant in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and canned food at a company-owned cannery in Port Kells, British Columbia. The British Columbia government says both facilities are certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the USDA and the European Union. 4, 5, 3

History

Michael Florian founded FirstMate in Chilliwack, British Columbia in 1989, and it ran as a family-owned business for decades. According to the company, the idea began when guard dogs at fish farms kept eating the fish feed Florian monitored, so he was asked to make a dog food from the same ingredients. In February 2026, the French family-owned group Nasta Pet Food (owner of Bab'in, Forza10 and Natural Code) bought FirstMate and said it would keep running on its own with the same management and plants. 4, 6, 2

Worth Knowing

Pet Food Experts started distributing FirstMate across its US network in December 2024, which widened the brand's reach in independent pet stores. Recall trackers report no FirstMate recalls. 3, 7

  1. firstmate.com
  2. just-food.com/news/nasta-pet-food-snaps-up-firstmate
  3. blog.petfoodexperts.com/pet-food-experts-welcomes-firstmate
  4. www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/export-catalogue/bc-agrifood-seafood-export-catalogue/packaged-food-seasoning-dressing-companies/firstmate-pet-foods
  5. firstmate.com/our-quality-ex
  6. petage.com/nasta-pet-food-acquires-firstmate-pet-foods-to-accelerate-north-american-expansion
  7. dogster.com/dog-nutrition/firstmate-dog-food-review

Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

RECALL HISTORY // FIRSTMATE

No FDA Recalls On Record

We have not matched any FDA recall to FirstMate. We check the FDA feed daily. See the recall log

NEWS & PRESS

What FirstMate Has Announced

FEB 23, 2026
CORPORATE Nasta Pet Food snaps up FirstMate

Just Food reported that Nasta bought FirstMate for an undisclosed price and refinanced its business with a EUR 120 million facility from HIG WhiteHorse. The combined group expects about EUR 200 million in revenue in 2026. Just Food

FEB 17, 2026
CORPORATE Nasta Pet Food Acquires FirstMate Pet Foods to Accelerate North American Expansion

French family-owned Nasta Pet Food bought FirstMate Pet Foods of British Columbia. Nasta said FirstMate will run on its own, keeping its management, teams and manufacturing sites. Pet Age

DEC 18, 2024
NEWS Pet Food Experts Welcomes FirstMate to All-Star Brand Portfolio

US distributor Pet Food Experts announced it would start distributing FirstMate pet foods across its seven US regions beginning in December 2024. Pet Food Experts

Keep In The Know,
Know What's In The Bowl

Dog food guidance, ingredient deep dives, and nutrition news worth knowing.