Canada’s Leading Raw Pet Food Brand Expands into the United States

(SMITHVILLE, ON, CANADA) Big Country Raw, Canada’s leading raw pet food brand, has partnered with Frontier Distributing, to expand distribution into the United States starting in March 2026. The states included in the distribution territory are Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

“We’re excited to partner with the largest raw pet food manufacturer in Canada, Big Country Raw, as they enter the U.S. market for the first time. Their commitment to high-quality, responsibly sourced raw nutrition aligns perfectly with the growing demand we’re seeing from independent retailers and pet parents across our region. What ultimately made this partnership compelling for us is Big Country Raw’s proven track record of manufacturing excellence, strict quality controls, and strong retailer support. They’ve demonstrated an ability to adapt and scale without compromising product integrity. At a time when consumers are increasingly focused on transparency and premium nutrition, this partnership allows us to bring a trusted Canadian leader to the U.S. in a thoughtful, strategic way. We’re confident that Big Country Raw will resonate strongly with our retail partners and help drive meaningful growth in the frozen and raw category,” says Anil Ganga, Vice President of Business Development, Frontier Distributing Inc.

This advancement comes after significant capital investment in capacity. In late 2025, Big Country Pet Co. (the parent company) expanded with a 30,000 square foot cold storage addition, providing an additional 3,000 skid spots for storage, as well as adding two additional docks. In anticipation of the opportunity, an additional cartoner was installed, and a night shift was added to increase production capacity to keep up with demand.

Capacity was not the only focus; Big Country Pet Co. has made significant investments and advancements in their food safety program over the past 6 years as well – including HACCP certification since 2023 where they have achieved a score of “Excellent” (the highest rating you can achieve) after every third-party audit with Bureau Veritas. Most recently, Big Country Pet Co. has registered with the FDA and received CFIA certification for export.

“Food safety is a continual investment for us and just as important as the quality and nutrition of our recipes. We investigated different pathogen mitigation processes that are currently used in the category. However, we did not feel like any of them balanced both food safety along with nutrient and taste preservation. We made the decision to leverage our current process in Canada, using bacteriophages, and partnered with Clean Works on a scientifically proven, safe and natural process used in the human food chain that fogs our product during mixing. In addition to these mitigation processes, we will also test and hold all product to ensure we meet all safety standards before shipping,” says Rob Brouwer, Co-Founder.

Big Country Raw will be the first pet brand to use Clean Works technology in the production of pet food.

“Clean Works is thrilled to partner with Big Country Pet Co. in bringing our revolutionary waterless- decontamination technology into the pet food sector. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, green technology and food safety,” says Denise VanderVeen, Director of Business Development, Clean Works.

Big Country Pet Co. started to make invaluable connections in the US at the Global Pet Expo in 2024, where they exhibited with Pets Canada. This year, Big Country Pet Co. will have a standalone booth, marking a company milestone.

“We are very energized by the response from both distributors and retailers, which has been humbling to receive. Our strategy is to walk before we run. We walked for two years trying to get organized, and now we’re picking up the pace. We have a great launch partner with Frontier Distributing, along with a plan to launch with other distribution partners who we’ve built relationships with along the way.  We have a proven process in Canada and we intend to replicate our learnings and successes and pivot when we need to,” says Geraldine Brouwer, Co-Founder.

The launch portfolio includes 14 skus including select DINNER recipes which are complete and balanced for all life stages (Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Beef, Duck, Lamb, Whitefish, Rabbit), as well as two Grab N Go 12 lb boxes that include 4 lbs of 3 different DINNER recipes and 18 count Quail Eggs. Also included in the launch are three 30 lb XL variety boxes, which is the largest bulk size of any in-store raw brand, offering incredible value to the pet parent.

When Rob and Geraldine Brouwer started Big Country Raw in 2012, distributing outside of Canada was not on their radar. Their focus was simple: build a successful brand here at home. Through the partnership with independent pet specialty retailers, the growth of Big Country Raw has exceeded what they ever imagined was possible.

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About Big Country Pet Co.

Big Country Pet Co. is not just any pet food company – we are proud that our flagship brand, Big Country Raw, is Canada’s leader in the frozen raw pet food category. We provide pet parents with healthier food options for dogs and cats, including complete frozen and gently cooked meals, supplements, and treats, as well as distribute third-party premium pet products. We have an endless devotion to the well-being of our pets. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them through high-quality and innovative products. With a profound passion for pets, we continually strive to set new benchmarks for pet nutrition, safety and well-being. In 2024, the Globe and Mail and Canadian Business Magazine once again recognized Big Country Pet Co. (listed as Big Country Raw) as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies.

For More Information Contact:
Sarah Ripley

Director of Marketing, Big Country Pet Co.
E: sarah.ripley@bigcountrypetco.ca