Back in 1894, William H. Danforth founded Purina Mills, a specialized animal feed company. He, along with George Robinson and William Andrews, established the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company, which focused on providing feed for farm animals. By 1896, Danforth had gained full control of the company.
In 1902, the company underwent a name change and rebranded as Ralston Purina, adopting the iconic checkerboard trademark.
Under Danforth's leadership, in 1898, the company introduced a cracked-wheat cereal that gained recognition as Ralston Whole Wheat Cereal.
A significant milestone was achieved in 1926 when Purina inaugurated the world's first research center dedicated exclusively to pet nutrition. Situated in Gray Summit, Missouri, USA, this facility allowed for a scientific approach to studying pets' dietary needs through feeding studies and nutrition trials. Expanding on this foundation, Purina launched Winalot, the first complete and balanced dog food, in 1927. It was followed by the introduction of Bonio, the pioneering bone-shaped biscuit, in 1929.
In 1957, Ralston Purina expanded its reach to international markets. Additionally, the company acquired Eveready Battery in 1986 (which was later divested in 2000) and gradually phased out its involvement in the agricultural feed sector during the 1990s. In 1986, Ralston Purina sold its US animal feed business, Purina Mills, to British Petroleum, which is currently owned by Land O'Lakes.
In a momentous transaction, Nestlé acquired Ralston Purina for an astounding $10.3 billion in December 2001. This acquisition followed Nestlé's previous acquisitions of Friskies pet food in 1985 and Spillers Pet Foods in 1998. The merger resulted in the creation of Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. To further expand its product portfolio, Nestlé Purina PetCare acquired Lily's Kitchen, a reputable UK-based natural pet food brand, in April 2020.
Purina's Pet Care Journey
