Plant-based fresh dog food brand Bramble won first place in the Dog Food and Treats category at Global Pet Expo's Best in Show competition, held in Orlando, Florida, U.S. The company also placed third in the Natural Products category.
Bramble debuted three new recipes in the New Products Showcase at the show, including a new line of kidney-friendly recipes formulated to be lower in protein and phosphorus. The new offerings join the company's existing lineup — The Cowbell and The Roost — and a third new fresh food option called The Wharf. All recipes are free from preservatives and synthetic vitamins and minerals, with ingredients and organic proteins sourced in the U.S.
The brand's formulas are vet-developed and made with human-grade, plant-based ingredients cooked in small batches before freezing. According to the company, Bramble's recipes contain more protein than most animal-based commercial pet foods and meet AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, nutritional standards.
A feeding trial conducted by Kelly Swanson, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, tested the digestibility of Bramble's two human-grade plant-based formulas. The trial found the diets to be as digestible as premium animal-based diets and showed improvements in gut health along with reductions in triglycerides and cholesterol.
"One thing to remember is that animals don't have ingredient requirements, they have nutrient requirements," Swanson said. "As long as they're consuming the essential nutrients in the correct amounts and ratios, dogs can be vegan, vegetarian or meat-eaters."
Founded in 2021 by former attorney Amanda Rolat, Bramble was developed after Rolat said she was unable to find an allergen-free, human-grade fresh pet food for her dog.
"I'm so humbled by this recognition and excited for more dogs to be able to benefit from Bramble," Rolat said. "I created Bramble because I truly believe that all dogs can benefit from an expertly formulated plant-based fresh food. It's easy to digest, clean protein that is nutritionally-packed and especially helpful for dogs with animal protein allergies and sensitive tummies. Along with our feeding trial, being awarded Best In Show at Global Pet Expo further demonstrates the benefits of feeding Bramble."
