Skip to content
In The Kibble
My dogs
BRAND VS BRAND · KIBBLE

Now Fresh vs Orijen

Now Fresh vs Orijen: a bag of each brand facing off on an arcade fighting-game screen

Now Fresh against Orijen, measured across 20 and 12 kibble recipes: 28.8% vs 44.0% protein on a dry matter basis, and 38% vs 19% starch.

Now Fresh 20 kibble recipes reviewed Orijen 12 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

How They Differ

  • Orijen runs higher in protein: 44.0% against 28.8% on a dry matter basis, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
  • Orijen is lower in starch, about 19% of the food as fed against 38%.
  • Orijen is more calorie dense, 459 kcal per cup on average against 399, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
AT A GLANCE

Side by Side

Measure Now Fresh Orijen Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 20 12 1,601 in total
Protein, dry matter 28.8%26.7% to 31.1% 44.0%43.2% to 47.7% 30.4%
Fat, dry matter 16.7%12.2% to 20.0% 19.6%14.8% to 22.7% 16.0%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 38%34% to 43% 19%11% to 22% 37%
Calories per cup 399365 to 422 459401 to 494 398
Meat, fish or egg listed first 100% 92%
Grain-free recipes 85% 92%
Most used proteins Egg 100%, Fish 75%, Turkey 55% Fish 100%, Chicken 58%, Turkey 58%
Recipes with corn, wheat, soy Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0%
By-products 0% 0%
FDA recalls, last 5 years None None
Made by Petcurean Pet Nutrition Champion Petfoods

Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Protein and fat are on a dry matter basis, starch and calories as fed.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Closest Matching Recipes

Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.

Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Protein 31% Fat 20% Starch 34% Orijen Puppy Large Dry Dog Food Orijen Puppy Large Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 18% Starch 22% Compare these two in full
Now Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food Now Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 31% Fat 20% Starch 34% Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 23% Starch 18% Compare these two in full
Now Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog Food Now Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 31% Fat 20% Starch 35% Orijen Original Small Breed Puppy With WholePrey Nutrition Dry Dog Food Orijen Original Small Breed Puppy With WholePrey Nutrition Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 22% Starch 11% Compare these two in full
CHOOSING

Which Fits Your Dog

  • For an active or working dog, or one that needs to hold muscle, Orijen puts more protein in each bowl.
  • For a dog that gains weight easily, Now Fresh is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
  • If you are cutting back on starch, Orijen starts lower.
SAFETY

Recall History

FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.

Now Fresh

No FDA recalls in our record for Now Fresh in the last five years.

Orijen

No FDA recalls in our record for Orijen in the last five years.

WHO MAKES THEM

About the Brands

Now Fresh

Now Fresh is a dog and cat food brand made by Petcurean Pet Nutrition, a pet food company based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, whose other brands include Go! Solutions, Gather and Summit. The brand sells dry kibble, wet food and bone broth coated Good Gravy kibble, and the company says its recipes use fresh deboned meat with no by-product meals or meat meals.

Based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Every Now Fresh food we review

Orijen

Orijen is a premium dog and cat food brand made by Champion Petfoods, which also makes Acana. The brand is known for high-protein recipes, and the company says its foods are built around WholePrey ingredients such as meat, organs and bone.

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, since 2005. Every Orijen food we review

KEEP COMPARING

More Brand Comparisons

Acana vs Orijen Orijen vs Taste of the Wild Fromm vs Orijen Instinct vs Orijen Nulo vs Orijen Open Farm vs Orijen Zignature vs Orijen Stella & Chewy's vs Orijen Go! Solutions vs Orijen All comparisons

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 10, 2026.

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

The In the Kibble newsletter. Useful emails for dog owners: what we find inside dog food, how to feed well, and a heads-up when a food is recalled.
DOUBLE OPT-IN // ONE CLICK TO STOP // NEVER SHARED