Aldi's dry dog food is a budget-friendly option that gets mixed reviews: some find it acceptable for the price, offering decent protein/fat, while many reviewers and experts suggest it's not ideal due to fillers (like wheat/peas), ambiguous meat sources (e.g., "poultry meal"), and potential for poor long-term health issues like allergies or digestive upset, recommending rotating or supplementing with better options. While some lines like Natural Elements are better, relying solely on it might not provide optimal nutrition, with some owners reporting health problems.
More expensive food often consists of a higher percentage of high-quality meat. Attention is paid to ingredients and raw materials, which are pricier than cheap fillers. In addition, producing high-quality nutrition takes more money, time and expertise.
We keep a close eye on the ingredients and materials that go into all our products to ensure they meet the highest standards for our commitment to quality, health and safety. We proudly offer a variety of organic products within our Simply Nature line and produce department.
The best supermarket ranges are Optimum and Supercoat. These are both made with real meat/fish and quality ingredients. Both are a complete and balanced diet making them AAFCO approved.
Ingredients to avoid:
The best dry dog food in Australia depends on your dog's needs, but top-rated, well-regarded options include Australian-made Black Hawk (great value & quality), Prime100 (single-protein for sensitivities), and LifeWise (digestibility), alongside science-backed brands like Hill's Science Diet and Royal Canin, while Orijen and Taste of the Wild (Kirkland Signature Natures Domain) are premium choices for high meat content, though pricier. Focus on ingredient quality (real meat first) and suitability for your dog's age, size, and sensitivities.
The "Aldi Aisle of Shame" is the fan-given nickname for Aldi's center aisle, officially called "Aldi Finds," filled with rotating, limited-time products like home goods, apparel, and seasonal items, often tempting shoppers into impulse buys they didn't plan, hence the "shame" or "shameful" purchases. This popular, ever-changing section features unique bargains and dupes, from kitchen gadgets and decor to clothing, leading to a dedicated community sharing finds online.
Aldi Weaknesses. Limited Product Selection. Perception of Lower Quality. Geographic Limitations and Expansion Challenges. Operational Efficiency Risks.
The Aldi £13 rule refers to the UK supermarket's decision, effective September 2025, to pay its store assistants a minimum of £13 per hour (rising to £13.02 nationally and £14.33 within the M25), making it the first UK supermarket to reach this rate, with further increases for length of service, plus providing paid breaks.
The "worst" dog foods often contain low-quality fillers (corn, soy), unspecified "meat meals," artificial colors/flavors, and excessive sugar, leading to poor nutrition, allergies, or weight gain; brands frequently cited include Beneful, Kibbles 'n Bits, Gravy Train, and some Purina varieties, though specific product quality varies. Key red flags are generic ingredients like "animal fat," "meat by-product meal," and a first ingredient being corn or fillers instead of real meat, with ingredients like BHA/BHT also concerning.
The 95% Rule in dog food labeling, set by AAFCO, means a product named after a specific ingredient (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food") must be at least 95% that ingredient by weight (excluding water) and 70% including water, with the ingredient listed first and comprising more than 95%. If two ingredients are named ("Chicken & Beef"), they must total 95% (minus water), with the first ingredient being more abundant and both making up at least 3% each. This rule ensures transparency, indicating foods with a very high concentration of the named ingredient.
Dogs and humans have similar gastrointestinal tracts and require similar types of food. Just like us, dogs are omnivores and eat meat as well as greens and grains. It's a misconception that dogs need meat only — they require other nutrients too. It's always a good idea to look at the ingredients in your pets' food.
The Aldi "£14 rule" refers to the UK supermarket raising its hourly pay for store assistants to at least £14.35 in London (and £13.02 nationally) in late 2025, making it the highest-paying UK supermarket, with some experienced staff earning up to £14.66, ensuring competitive wages and supporting recruitment for expansion.
The best dog food brands are those with research-backed formulas developed with veterinary nutritionists that meet AAFCO nutritional guidelines for dogs of different life stage and health needs. Top picks include Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin.
It's called the "Aisle of Shame" because shoppers, intending to buy only groceries, often get lured into buying many unexpected, "shameful" impulse purchases from the limited-time, seasonal items in the middle aisle, abandoning their shopping lists for great deals on things like home goods, apparel, or quirky finds. The name is an affectionate, self-deprecating joke among fans who admit to spending money on things they didn't need but love because of the low prices.
Aldi has been the defendant in more than one lawsuit over wage theft. In 2019, store managers in Syracuse, New York, filed complaints that they were given salaries to do hourly work, meaning that they were essentially not being paid to do work that their employees were paid to do.
Some say it's how "old crows" who have long shopped at the store find each other. Others believe it refers to the sound a crow makes when it spies something shiny and interesting. Either way, the caw caw call is a method AOS shoppers — kindred spirits, if you will — use to find one another in the store.
Aldi's sister store is Trader Joe's, both owned by the German Albrecht family, though split into separate entities: Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe's, while Aldi Süd operates Aldi stores in the US, with the companies remaining distinct despite shared ownership. They share a similar discount model with private-label products but target different demographics, with Aldi focusing on everyday essentials and Trader Joe's offering trendy, unique items.
Dry Dog Food FAQs
Our vets' overall pick for the best dry dog food is the Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials dry dog food. Other highly recommended dry dog foods come from Royal Canin and Hill's Science Diet.
Mostly kibble of various qualities. Since most farmers are also hunters and/or fishermen, their dog often gets to feast on the entrails of any wild game the farmer brings home. Entrails have a lot of very good nutrition, not the least of which is the partially digested plants that the game animal ate.
Dog Food Ingredients to Avoid