The Farmer's Dog vs Hey Telo

About

The Farmer's Dog is a direct-to-consumer fresh pet food subscription company delivering pre-portioned, refrigerated, human-grade dog food (made with fresh meat and vegetables, cooked in USDA-certified facilities) directly to customers' homes on a subscription basis — disrupting the traditional kibble-dominated pet food market with fresh, personalized nutrition. Founded in 2014 by Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev in New York City, The Farmer's Dog has raised approximately $150 million and has grown rapidly as the premium pet food category has expanded with pet humanization trends.\n\nThe Farmer's Dog's meal plans are personalized — customers complete a health profile for their dog (breed, age, weight, activity level, any health conditions), and the company formulates a specific daily calorie plan and delivers the appropriate portion sizes. Meals are made with whole-food ingredients (turkey and sweet potato, beef and rice, chicken and lentils) with no artificial preservatives, fillers, or by-products. The subscription model and refrigerated delivery create a high-frequency engagement cadence with customers.\n\nIn 2025, The Farmer's Dog competes in the fresh dog food market alongside Nom Nom (acquired by Mars Petcare), Ollie, PetPlate, and A Pup Above — all competing for the premium pet owner willing to spend $60-200/month on fresh dog food versus $20-60/month on premium kibble. The fresh pet food market has grown significantly but remains a small fraction of the overall $58 billion US pet food market, which is dominated by dry kibble from Mars, Nestlé Purina, and Hill's. The Farmer's Dog's 2025 strategy focuses on growing brand awareness through national advertising (the brand ran a Super Bowl commercial in 2023 that significantly increased awareness), expanding its veterinary relationship for prescription diet products, and expanding internationally.