2025 SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL
Impact Report
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Table of Contents Letter from our Founder
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Introduction
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2025 Highlights
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Our Impact
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Ingredients
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Packaging & Process
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People
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A NOTE FROM
Lucy Postins Founder & Chief Integrity Officer Hi and welcome to the 2025 edition of our annual Impact Report! 2025 was a big year for us at The Honest Kitchen, because we successfully renewed our B Corp Certification with an even stronger score than the first time! Being a B Corp means we have a formal framework for governing the ways we do business, that prioritizes social environmental values alongside our company’s fiscal sustainability. One of the things I’m consistently most proud of at The Honest Kitchen, is the truly incredible group of passionate, mission-driven people on our team! Even in trying economic times, they consistently show up with positivity, respect, and a can-do attitude. Without our amazing crew, this company really wouldn’t be anywhere near as special. At The Honest Kitchen, it’s been part of the fabric of our company since day one, to do the right thing, make decisions thoughtfully, put pets first and operate with ethics and integrity. We’re proud to keep working every day to stay true to our roots as we work to bring the world of healthy, human grade whole food to even more pets!
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OUR MISSION
To put as many pets as possible on the road to good health through good food. OUR PROMISE
To create the healthiest products that help pets live a long and happy life.
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What makes The Honest Kitchen so special?
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We created the human grade pet food category over two decades ago. We have the most comprehensive human grade portfolio, available in more than 7,000 stores across North America. We were one of the first pet food brands to be Certified B Corporation. We have helped hundreds of thousands of pets get on the path to good health, through good food. We operate a human grade manufacturing plant that is dedicated to producing 42% of all The Honest Kitchen’s products.
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2025
Highlights
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Ingredients We purchased more than
28M LBS
We used
450K LBS
We bought
1.2M LBS
of non-GMO produce
of wild caught sustainable seafood.
of American Humane Certified chicken
100%
95%
76%
of the produce we buy is non-GMO
of Whole Food Clusters’ ingredients are grown in North America
of Wholemade™ recipes’ ingredients are grown in North America
People 72%
of our total workforce identifies as female
70%
of our workers in management positions or higher identify as female
Our team collectively volunteered
455 HOURS
to a variety of different non-profit organizations including local food banks, pet rescues, women and youth programs and more.
Pets 2,763 True Stories from customers & counting! 11
The Honest Kitchen has been a Certified B Corporation since 2022, and we’re committed to upholding that standard as we grow. Being a B Corp holds us accountable for how our business impacts people and the planet, not just what goes into the bowl. As we pursue our mission of putting pets on the path to good health through good food, we’re proud to do it responsibly and in line with our values. It’s a credential that builds trust with our customers, and one we hope inspires others to prioritize purpose alongside profit.
How We Measure Our Impact INGREDIENTS page 15
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PACKAGING & PROCESS page 19
PEOPLE page 23
Ingredients 13
INGREDIENTS
Certifications
Ingredients are everything. Since 2002, we’ve been uncompromising with the quality & integrity of our raw ingredient sourcing. From eggs and salmon to pumpkin and parsley, we only use wholesome foods you recognize from your own kitchen. To meet our uncompromising standards, our suppliers must provide proof of food origins, screening, handling, cleaning and more. We only source from folks we know and trust, including a few we started with back in 2002. And, what we leave out is as important as what we put in. • When possible, we choose local suppliers to help minimize the carbon footprint associated with transportation. • We choose several fruit and veggie ingredients grown in Europe, where most countries have voted to either partially or fully ban GMOs. • We consolidate purchases from our raw ingredient supply partners whenever we can, which helps to minimize the environmental impact of freight.
100%
of the produce we buy is non-GMO
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95%
of Whole Food Clusters’ ingredients are grown in North America
76%
of Wholemade™ recipes’ ingredients are grown in North America
INGREDIENTS
Ingredient Sourcing We purchased more than
28,800,000 LBS of non-GMO produce
We’re passionate about the issue of genetic modification, not only because of the negative effects that GMOs have on the environment, soil and surrounding land, but also because increasing numbers of studies are demonstrating that consuming GMOs has adverse effects on animals and people. You can read more about GMO safety at nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts.
We bought
450K LBS
of wild caught sustainable seafood in 2025
Looking after our oceans matters to us. In 2025, 100% of the fish we purchased (all 450,000 pounds of it!) was wild caught, sustainably sourced seafood, including salmon, cod, whitefish and wolffish. The herring in our Smittens® is responsibly sourced from Iceland.
We bought over 1.2M pounds of American Humane Certified (AHC) Chicken in 2025, which is over 50% of the chicken we use in our Wholemade™ recipes. AHC, founded over 150 years ago, is an internationally recognized leader in promoting the humane treatment of animals.
In 2025, we bought
1.2M LBS of AHC chicken
“American Humane Society is thrilled to certify The Honest Kitchen,” said Haley Grimes, Director of Farm Program Operations at American Humane Society. “Their certification reflects a strong commitment to sourcing humanely raised chicken and advancing animal welfare in the pet food industry. We hope more pet food companies follow their lead by sourcing American Humane Certified proteins.” 15
INGREDIENTS
Sourcing Map WHERE OUR INGREDIENTS COME FROM We’re proud to make our food in the USA with US & globally sourced ingredients. The vast majority of what goes into our recipes comes from close to home, and when we do look further afield, it’s for a good reason: quality, seasonality, or because that’s simply where an ingredient grows best. ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO • 91% of our ingredients (by volume) come from North America, representing 85% of our total ingredient spend. • Every pound of chicken, beef, turkey, duck and egg we buy is sourced from the USA, including free range chicken and wild caught salmon and pollock. • Grains stay close to home, too. Our oats, barley and flax come from Canada and the US. • Europe is our go-to garden. Carrots, cabbage, green beans and parsnips come from Poland, and parsley and spinach from Serbia and Germany.
5% 91%
Europe
2%
North America
2%
South America
Asia
<1% Oceania
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Packaging & Process 17
PACKAGING & PROCESS
Human Grade
Because pet food should be food.
Why go the extra mile to make our pet foods human grade? Simple—we believe everyone, including our pets, deserves food that’s safe, nutritious and tasty. Our food is made with high quality, human grade ingredients and produced to the same standards of quality and safety as the food you eat. Because the happiest time of day should be the healthiest.
us The World’s 1st Ever Human Grade Pet Food Follows human food safety standards, which include 100+ safety requirements Uses non-GMO ingredients verified as human-edible Only uses highest-quality, thoughtfully sourced protein, like wild caught fish and cage free turkey Minimally processed using production methods like cold pressing, roasting and gentle dehydration
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1,000+ Feed Grade Pet Food Brands
them
Follows livestock feed safety standards, which include a minimum of 15 safety requirements Can use ingredients rejected for human consumption, including feed grade byproducts and fillers Able to use protein not safe for human consumption, including ‘4D’ meats (dying, dead, diseased or downed) Highly processed using production methods that may include extrusion, which uses extreme heat and pressure
PACKAGING & PROCESS
Quality & Safety
We’re committed to the safety and integrity of our ingredients and finished products. We conduct extensive third-party testing as part of our quality control program. BEFORE PRODUCTION
AFTER PRODUCTION
Suppliers must submit a Certificate of Analysis from an accredited laboratory before an ingredient enters our production facility. This certificate verifies the ingredient has tested clear of pathogenic bacteria.
Our finished products are re-tested for pathogenic bacteria. Shipments are restricted until lab results are obtained and approved. Routine third-party testing is also done to screen for melamine, ethoxyquin and heavy metals.
To meet our human grade standards, suppliers of ingredients for our complete and balanced food must provide proof of compliance with good manufacturing practices. This includes safe handling, processing, storage and transit for human foods. • Foods maintain human-edible status from harvest through handling, screening, cleaning and shipment to our human food facility • Every ingredient includes a Statement of Country of Origin • Supplier adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP Section 21 CFR 117) • Foods are not genetically modified or subject to engineered recombinant DNA technology • All ingredients are verified to be free of chemicals, adulterants, artificial preservatives and unnecessary anything • Supplier follows sustainability and fair trade practices where applicable
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PACKAGING & PROCESS
Recyclable Packaging Currently, a total of 66% of our packaging is made from renewable materials and is fully recyclable after use. Our Wholemade boxes are made from 18% postconsumer paperboard, and our shipping cartons are 40% recycled material.
66%
of our packaging is made from renewable materials and is fully recyclable after use
100%
We’re currently investigating ways to reduce our total packaging usage with innovative materials to lessen the environmental impact of our boxes, bags and pouches. We also strive to minimize our use of plastic throughout our supply chain. Our items are designed to use as little plastic as possible, and we never use plastic void fill in our direct-to-consumer shipments. of the virgin paperboard we use is from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) compliant sources
Reducing Food Waste We’ve proudly created a program to help reduce food waste by diverting test batches, tailings and any non-sellable finished goods to local hog farms as a source of nutrition. 20
People 21
PEOPLE
A Team of Pet Lovers We’re a team of pet-obsessed foodies who put our heart and soul into our work! At The Honest Kitchen, we’re committed to helping pets live longer, healthier lives while also prioritizing environmental sustainability. We even have a dedicated wall in our office with photos of our beloved animal companions, serving as a daily reminder of the positive impact we’re striving to achieve.
Their Favorite Thing About Working Here “Probably my coworkers, which sounds cheesy but I truly have met some of my favorite people through working at THK! I do very much believe in our mission and was a THK lifer before I ever worked here; my youngest dog, now 12, has been eating THK Wholemade since we brought her home.” Caity Quanz Senior Manager of Procurement
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“I believe in the product! It’s an easy sell because THK is one of the reasons I got so much extra time with my diabetic pug, Felix. He was diagnosed at 2 and the vet gave him no more than 4 years which is the average for diabetic dogs at diagnosis. He lived a few months shy of his 15th birthday.” Liz Black Customer Support Manager
PEOPLE
Team Demographics & Company Policies
Andrea MacEachern Senior Director of Ecomm
erce
Miki Dosen g Officer ef Chi Marketin
aldorf Lauren W ent Procurem f o r cto enior Dire
Melissa Acr i Director of R&D
S
72%
of our total workforce identifies as female
70%
of our workers in management positions or higher identify as female
The Benefits of Working at The Honest Kitchen • Mission-driven brand making a real difference in pets’ lives. • High-growth environment with room to shape strategy and programs. • Collaborative, values-led culture that supports both people and pets. • Time off: Highly competitive time off schedule, including unlimited vacation and additional sick time, in addition to a generous companypaid holiday schedule.
• Opportunity to work on a categoryleading, human grade brand with strong consumer loyalty. • Benefits: Various health insurance plans with generous employer contributions to premiums. We also offer vision, dental, shortterm disability, long-term disability, accident, critical illness, an employee assistance program, and an FSA/HSA. 23
PEOPLE
Volunteering
In 2025 our team collectively volunteered
455 HOURS
to a variety of different non-profit organizations including local food banks, pet rescues, women and youth programs and more.
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PEOPLE
True Stories Good things happen when pets are powered by real, good foods. True Stories are written by real customers, sharing how The Honest Kitchen helps support happier and healthier pets.
2,763 True Stories & Counting! Our boy, Atticus, was diagnosed with late stage heart failure. We were advised by our doctor that diet plays a factor among many things. Wanting to give him the most time possible on this Earth, we opted to change his diet immediately. We were given a list of foods to try and ingredients to avoid and our first pick was The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Dehydrated Beef. We’re proud to say that his health has improved and he’s still with me well past what the doctor’s prognosis anticipated. Thank you Honest Kitchen for giving our boy some more time to play ball. Atticus, German Shepherd
After we picked Murphy up from the breeder it was suggested that we continue to feed him the same kibble food he had eaten as a young puppy. However, he had continuous digestive issues and repeated visits to the vet for oral antibiotics and the recommendation for a bland diet. This helped for a short while but always ended up with him having more digestive issues. We were recommended The Honest Kitchen by our puppy trainer and immediately all of his tummy issues went away! He has eaten THK ever since and loves it, we also love that it’s easy to switch between the different proteins and his digestive system is super regular. Murphy, Labradoodle 25
PEOPLE
Charitable Donations We donated over
$175,000
to non-profits including American Humane Second Chance Grants, Pasadena Humane, A Wish for Animals, Austin Pets Alive, Bissell Pet Foundation and more.
Grant recipients The Honest Kitchen is proud to support American Humane Society’s Second Chance® Grants program with a $24,000 contribution. Every month, we provide funding to support American Humane Society’s Second Chance® Grants program to help offset the cost of medical care for rescued animals who are victims of human cruelty or neglect. These grants offer hope to pets in desperate need, giving them the second chance they deserve. Our mission is to help keep pets on the path to good health through high quality, human grade nutrition and supporting Second Chance® Grants extends that commitment by helping vulnerable animals receive the care they need to move toward healthier, happier lives.
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Second Chance® Grants Recipients
Legend January 2025 Recipient
Louis February 2025 Recipient
Nellie March 2025 Recipient
Rochee April 2025 Recipient
Jameson III May 2025 Recipient
Queen June 2025 Recipient
Flynn July 2025 Recipient
Leonidas August 2025 Recipient
Hippo September 2025 Recipient
Delta October 2025 Recipient
Dabber November 2025 Recipient
Victor December 2025 Recipient 27
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