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BRAND VS BRAND · KIBBLE

Stella & Chewy's vs Orijen

Stella & Chewy's vs Orijen: a bag of each brand facing off on an arcade fighting-game screen

Stella & Chewy's against Orijen, measured across 48 and 12 kibble recipes: 33.9% vs 44.0% protein on a dry matter basis, and 32% vs 19% starch.

Stella & Chewy's 48 kibble recipes reviewed Orijen 12 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

How They Differ

  • Orijen runs higher in protein: 44.0% against 33.9% 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 32%.
  • Orijen is more calorie dense, 459 kcal per cup on average against 428, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
  • Orijen leans grain-free: 92% of its kibble recipes against 50%.
AT A GLANCE

Side by Side

Measure Stella & Chewy's Orijen Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 48 12 1,601 in total
Protein, dry matter 33.9%25.0% to 40.9% 44.0%43.2% to 47.7% 30.4%
Fat, dry matter 17.0%14.8% to 20.5% 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. 32%24% to 42% 19%11% to 22% 37%
Calories per cup 428354 to 506 459401 to 494 398
Meat, fish or egg listed first 100% 92%
Grain-free recipes 50% 92%
Most used proteins Chicken 35%, Lamb 35%, Fish 33% 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 None2 older in the archive None
Made by Privately held 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.

Stella & Chewy’s Cage-Free Chicken Raw Coated Kibble Puppy Dry Dog Food Stella & Chewy’s Cage-Free Chicken Raw Coated Kibble Puppy Dry Dog Food Protein 41% Fat 18% Starch 25% Orijen Puppy Large Dry Dog Food Orijen Puppy Large Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 18% Starch 22% Compare these two in full
Stella & Chewy’s Small Breed Red Meat Raw Blend Kibble Dry Dog Food Stella & Chewy’s Small Breed Red Meat Raw Blend Kibble Dry Dog Food Protein 41% Fat 17% Starch 26% Orijen Amazing Grains, Regional Red Dry Dog Food Orijen Amazing Grains, Regional Red Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 21% Starch 22% Compare these two in full
Stella & Chewy’s Red Meat Raw Blend Kibble Dry Dog Food Stella & Chewy’s Red Meat Raw Blend Kibble Dry Dog Food Protein 41% Fat 17% Starch 26% Orijen Regional Red Dry Dog Food Orijen Regional Red Dry Dog Food Protein 43% Fat 21% Starch 22% 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, Stella & Chewy's is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
  • If you are cutting back on starch, Orijen starts lower.
  • If your vet has suggested a grain-inclusive diet, Stella & Chewy's has more of those recipes to choose from.
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.

Stella & Chewy's

No FDA recalls in our record for Stella & Chewy's in the last five years.

Archive: 2 older recalls
DEC 11, 2015
LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

Stella and Chewy's. Pet Food, Frozen Dinner Morsels

JUL 5, 2015
LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

Stella & Chewy's. Dog and cat food

Orijen

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

WHO MAKES THEM

About the Brands

Stella & Chewy's

Stella & Chewy's is a Wisconsin-based pet food company known for freeze-dried raw and frozen raw dog and cat food, raw-coated kibble, and toppers such as Meal Mixers and Marie's Magical Dinner Dust. Jay Thompson became CEO in June 2025, succeeding founder Marie Moody, who had served as interim CEO in 2024.

Based in Oak Creek, WI, since 2003. Every Stella & Chewy's 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 Now Fresh 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.

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