Lily's Kitchen honest review: the B Corp brand that scores A
Lily's Kitchen ticks every box on paper: founded in 2008 by a British natural food advocate, B Corp certified, recycled cardboard packaging, "proper food for proper pets" as a strapline. And the substance genuinely holds up: fresh chicken first, no cereals in most ranges, added taurine for cats, A grade in our scoring system.
But in 2020, something changed: Nestle Purina acquired Lily's Kitchen. And with it came every consumer anxiety about the brand's independence and the integrity of its formulations. Has the recipe changed? Does the A grade still hold? Can a B Corp certification survive under a Nestle subsidiary? We analysed everything. Without diplomatic hedging.
The French version of this review is available at /fr/blog/fr-lilys-kitchen-avis/.
Overall score and PetFoodRate positioning
| Criterion | Dog score | Cat score |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade | A (86/100) | A (85/100) |
| Ingredient quality | 88/100 | 87/100 |
| Nutritional balance | 85/100 | 86/100 |
| Transparency | 87/100 | 85/100 |
| Absence of undesirables | 90/100 | 89/100 |
| Species suitability | 84/100 | 85/100 |
These scores are calculated from our algorithm applied to the "Brilliant Chicken" adult dog and "Chicken and Turkey Bake" adult cat recipes, which represent the flagship products.
To understand how we calculate these scores, see our methodology page. For full product sheets, browse our full rankings. To see where Lily's Kitchen sits in context, see our best dog food 2026 ranking and our best cat kibble 2026 guide.
The composition: what justifies the A grade
Adult dog range - "Brilliant Chicken"
The ingredients list opens with "fresh chicken (50 pourcent)". That level of transparency and protein sourcing immediately distinguishes Lily's Kitchen from the majority of kibbles available in the UK and internationally.
Full composition breakdown:
- Fresh chicken (50 pourcent) - identified animal protein in first position
- Dehydrated chicken - protein complement from the same source
- Sweet potato - low-GI starch (GI 44), naturally gluten-free
- Potato - secondary starch, highly digestible
- Peas - legume, fermentable fibre
- Alfalfa - fibre and mineral contribution
- Carrots, apple, spinach, nettle - functional ingredients in small quantities
- Salmon oil - identified EPA/DHA omega-3 source
- Rosemary extract - natural preservative
What we appreciate:
- "Fresh chicken" at 50 pourcent: the highest declared fresh meat figure we see across mass-market brands
- Zero corn, zero wheat, zero sorghum, zero artificial colourant
- Salmon oil is named (not just "fish oil")
- No added sugar, no glycerine
What we note:
- Potato sits in third position - its GI (78) is close to that of rice. Acceptable but less ideal than if sweet potato occupied both lead vegetable positions
- Peas are present but in a secondary quantity (position 5), which limits the FDA taurine risk compared to brands that place peas first
Nutritional values:
- Crude protein: 26 pourcent
- Fat: 15 pourcent
- Crude fibre: 3.5 pourcent
- Crude ash: 7.5 pourcent
- Moisture: 10 pourcent
Adult cat range - "Chicken and Turkey Bake"
The cat composition is even more protein-forward. First ingredient: fresh chicken (60 pourcent). Dehydrated turkey second. Sweet potato, then vegetables. And critically: taurine added, explicitly listed in the additives section.
Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, indispensable for cardiac and ocular health. Cats cannot synthesise sufficient taurine on their own, unlike dogs (which can do so partially). Kibbles based on plant-heavy or poor-quality ingredients can be functionally deficient. Lily's Kitchen adds it systematically across all cat ranges - a mark of genuine nutritional seriousness.
Cat nutritional values:
- Crude protein: 36 pourcent - excellent for a cat
- Fat: 18 pourcent
- Crude fibre: 2.5 pourcent
- Taurine: 1500 mg/kg (well above the FEDIAF minimum of 1000 mg/kg)
The Nestle Purina acquisition in 2020: what changed, what did not
The facts
In October 2020, Nestle Purina PetCare announced the acquisition of Lily's Kitchen. Founder Lily Heaney remained as "Chief Creative Officer" during a transition period. The brand continued operating under its own name, in its UK facilities, with its team largely unchanged.
The question every buyer asks: will Nestle reformulate to cut costs?
What the data shows in 2026:
Six years after the acquisition, Lily's Kitchen product formulations have not experienced any documented downgrading in our database. We compared FEDIAF-registered declarations from 2019 (pre-acquisition) and 2024 - the "fresh chicken 50 pourcent" is still there, the ingredients list on flagship products has remained stable. No replacement of identified proteins with anonymous meal. No introduction of corn or wheat.
This does not mean it will never change - acquisitions by large groups often have a 3-5 year horizon before rationalisation begins. It means that, as of today, the product still matches the promise.
The B Corp certification under Nestle
This is the most sensitive question. B Corp certification is granted to the legal entity - in this case Lily's Kitchen Ltd - not to the parent company. Lily's Kitchen retained its B Corp certification after the acquisition. B Corp regularly audits certified entities and can revoke certification if standards are no longer met.
Can a Nestle subsidiary honestly hold B Corp status? That is a legitimate philosophical question. Nestle has practices in other divisions that would be incompatible with B Corp criteria (water management in Africa, sugar lobbying). But B Corp certifies entities, not conglomerates. Lily's Kitchen Ltd meets B Corp criteria for its own operations: ethical sourcing, animal welfare, working conditions, environmental impact. The certification is maintained.
Our position: if you are buying Lily's Kitchen specifically for the B Corp certification, know that it certifies the Lily's Kitchen entity and not Nestle Purina as a whole. If you are buying for the composition, it holds up to scrutiny.
Comparative: Lily's Kitchen vs similar-positioned competitors
vs Edgard and Cooper
| Criterion | Lily's Kitchen | Edgard and Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Overall dog grade | A (86/100) | A (86-88/100) |
| Overall cat grade | A (85/100) | A (86/100) |
| First ingredient (dog) | Fresh chicken 50 pourcent | Fresh chicken 40 pourcent |
| Crude protein (dog) | 26 pourcent | 30 pourcent |
| B Corp | Yes (Lily's Kitchen Ltd) | Yes (Edgard Cooper BV) |
| Parent company | Nestle Purina (since 2020) | Still independent (2026) |
| Price/kg | 7-8 EUR equivalent | 6-7 EUR equivalent |
| UK availability | Waitrose, Pets at Home, Amazon | Pets at Home, supermarkets, online |
Edgard Cooper scores slightly higher on crude protein (30 pourcent vs 26 pourcent) and has the advantage of capital independence. Lily's Kitchen scores slightly higher on declared fresh meat percentage (50 pourcent vs 40 pourcent). Both are A grade. The choice often comes down to local availability.
See our Edgard and Cooper review for the detailed comparison.
vs Purina Pro Plan
| Criterion | Lily's Kitchen | Purina Pro Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade | A (86/100) | B (74/100) |
| First ingredient | Fresh chicken | Dehydrated chicken |
| Corn/cereals | None | Rice + wheat |
| Crude protein | 26 pourcent | 26 pourcent |
| Price/kg | 7-8 EUR equivalent | 5 EUR equivalent |
| Parent company | Nestle Purina | Nestle Purina |
Same parent company, radically different formulation philosophy. Pro Plan uses cereals and dehydrated chicken (not fresh). Lily's Kitchen uses 50 pourcent fresh chicken and no cereals. The score gap (86 vs 74) directly reflects this formulation difference.
vs Royal Canin Medium Adult
| Criterion | Lily's Kitchen | Royal Canin Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade | A (86/100) | C (64/100) |
| First ingredient | Fresh chicken | Corn |
| Corn | No | Yes (1st ingredient) |
| Crude protein | 26 pourcent | 25 pourcent |
| Price/kg | 7-8 EUR equivalent | 5.80 EUR equivalent |
The score gap is significant. Lily's Kitchen represents a fundamentally different nutritional philosophy from Royal Canin. See also our corn-free dog food ranking and our grain-free dog food guide.
The wet range: a frequently overlooked strength
Lily's Kitchen is also known for its wet food recipes. Unlike most premium brands that focus primarily on kibble, Lily's Kitchen has a range of stews and baked dishes that scores very well.
Lily's Kitchen Chicken and Turkey Stew (dog) - A grade (88/100)
Composition: fresh chicken (60 pourcent), chicken broth (18 pourcent), turkey (8 pourcent), carrots, garden peas, barley. Moisture: 78 pourcent. Protein: 8 pourcent (wet basis) = approximately 38 pourcent dry matter basis - excellent. No carrageenan (a gelling additive found in many wet foods and controversial for digestive health). Low salt.
For the full wet food ranking, see our best wet dog food 2026 guide and our best wet cat food 2026 guide.
Lily's Kitchen Poached Salmon and Chicken (cat) - A grade (87/100)
Poached salmon (55 pourcent), chicken (20 pourcent), fish broth. Added taurine. No carrageenan. Dry matter protein: 40 pourcent. Excellent for a cat.
Ranges to be cautious about within the Lily's Kitchen line
Not all Lily's Kitchen references are equivalent. A few points to watch:
Veggie and vegetarian recipes: Lily's Kitchen offers a few vegetarian recipes for dogs (biscuits, occasional recipes). These are not complete foods and should not form the basis of a dog's diet. Dogs are opportunistic carnivores, not herbivores.
Treats and biscuits: often higher in sugar content (honey, molasses) than the main recipes. Use sparingly, not as a regular dietary supplement.
Kitten and Puppy ranges: nutritionally correct but slightly less differentiated than the adult ranges. Verify that taurine is explicitly added in cat kitten references.
Where to buy Lily's Kitchen
In the UK, Lily's Kitchen is widely available:
- Waitrose: full range in-store
- Pets at Home: full range in-store and online
- Amazon UK: full range, usually next-day delivery
- Zooplus UK: competitive pricing, free delivery above threshold
- Ocado: full range including wet food
- Independent pet shops: variable by location
Prices observed in the UK (June 2026):
- Kibble 2.5 kg: approximately 20-24 GBP (8-9.60 GBP/kg)
- Wet food pouches 150 g: approximately 1.80-2.20 GBP
- Treats 100 g: approximately 3-4 GBP
The kibble price is slightly above Edgard Cooper but within the same premium segment.
Understanding the Lily's Kitchen label: what the numbers reveal
To go beyond the overall score, here is how to break down the Lily's Kitchen adult dog label step by step.
The five-ingredient rule
The first five ingredients represent the bulk of the formula. For Lily's Kitchen "Brilliant Chicken":
- Fresh chicken (50 pourcent) - hydrated animal protein (pre-cooking weight)
- Dehydrated chicken - concentrated animal protein
- Sweet potato - low-GI starch
- Potato - secondary starch
- Peas - legume, fermentable fibre
Five ingredients, three quality animal or plant sources. No corn, no corn gluten, no unidentified by-products. This is exactly what the ingredients list should look like.
Understanding "fresh chicken 50 pourcent"
An important point frequently misunderstood: "fresh chicken 50 pourcent" means that before extrusion (cooking), the recipe contained 50 pourcent fresh chicken by weight. Fresh meat contains approximately 75 pourcent water. After extrusion, that fresh chicken represents roughly 12-13 pourcent of the final product on a dry matter basis. Still significant - especially combined with dehydrated chicken (concentrated protein of identical origin) in second position.
This transparency about pre-cooking percentages is more honest than formulations that do not clarify the calculation method. Brands that claim "70 pourcent meat" without specifying "as fed" or "dry matter" can be misleading - this is often the same thing as "50 pourcent before cooking" expressed differently.
For more on reading pet food labels, see our complete pet food label guide. For the role of omega-3 fatty acids in coat health, see our omega-3 in pet food guide - a genuine strength of Lily's Kitchen formulations thanks to the named salmon oil.
Lily's Kitchen's environmental commitments
The B Corp certification evaluates multiple dimensions. On the environmental side, Lily's Kitchen declares:
100 pourcent recyclable packaging: kibble boxes are FSC-certified cardboard (sustainable forestry management), wet food pouches are recyclable via specific collection points. Packaging is one of the highest-scored elements of their B Corp certification.
Responsible sourcing: chickens used are reared in Britain and Ireland, with welfare requirements above the legal minimum. Salmon in relevant recipes comes from MSC-certified (Marine Stewardship Council) fisheries.
Carbon footprint: Lily's Kitchen has published an annual carbon footprint report since 2021. In 2023, their carbon intensity per kilogram of product sold was 3.2 kg CO2 equivalent - below the premium pet food brand average according to their own report (not independently verified in the scope of this article).
These commitments are real but perspective is necessary: a brand owned by Nestle Purina, which produces millions of tonnes of pet food annually with considerable carbon footprints in other divisions, cannot claim carbon neutrality at group level. Lily's Kitchen does what is within its power at entity level. This is consistent with B Corp certification.
For more on how pet food is manufactured and what this means for ingredient quality, see our how kibble is made guide.
Lily's Kitchen vs other ethical brands available in the UK
The "premium ethical" segment is growing. Here is where Lily's Kitchen sits against competitors claiming the same promise:
| Brand | Score | B Corp | Owner | Fresh chicken % | UK availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily's Kitchen | A (86) | Yes | Nestle Purina | 50 pourcent | Waitrose, Pets at Home, Amazon |
| Edgard and Cooper | A (86-88) | Yes | Independent | 40 pourcent | Pets at Home, supermarkets |
| Forthglade | A (84) | Yes | Independent UK | 55 pourcent | Online, selected independents |
| Yarrah (organic) | B (76) | Yes | Independent NL | Organic chicken 30 pourcent | Health food stores, online |
| Aatu | A (87) | No | Independent UK | 80 pourcent* | Online, independents |
*Aatu claims 80 pourcent total animal protein, not fresh chicken exclusively.
In this comparison, Edgard and Cooper remains the best-distributed independent B Corp brand in the UK. Lily's Kitchen has the advantage of a higher declared fresh meat percentage and a more developed wet food range.
Recommended Lily's Kitchen ranges by animal profile
To help you navigate the product line, here is a summary by profile:
Healthy adult dog, all sizes: "Brilliant Chicken" or "Lovely Lamb and Goat" - both A grade, the two flagship references.
Senior dog (7 years and older): "Casserole for Older Dogs" - slightly reduced protein, added glucosamine, optimised digestibility.
Dog with sensitive skin or suspected allergy: "Proper Salmon for Dogs" - single salmon protein, no chicken, no beef. Useful for partial elimination testing. See also our hypoallergenic dog food guide and our corn-free dog food ranking.
Adult cat: "Chicken and Turkey Bake" or "Organic Chicken and Duck" - both A grade, added taurine.
Kitten: "Chicken Kitten Food" - added taurine, DHA for neurological development, slightly higher protein level.
Occasional wet food complement: the wet food range makes an excellent complement to kibble. The stew recipes score particularly well.
Taurine in Lily's Kitchen cat food: why it matters
Since the FDA published its 2018 advisory on potential links between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, taurine has become a scrutinised nutrient across all companion animal nutrition. For cats, the situation is even more critical: cats are obligate carnivores that cannot synthesise sufficient taurine endogenously.
Taurine deficiency in cats causes:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) - potentially fatal heart condition
- Central retinal degeneration - progressive irreversible blindness
- Reproductive failure in breeding females
The FEDIAF minimum for taurine in complete cat food is 1,000 mg/kg on a dry matter basis. Lily's Kitchen cat adult recipes declare 1,500 mg/kg - 50 pourcent above the minimum. This is a meaningful safety margin that reflects genuine nutritional seriousness.
For comparison, some budget cat kibbles declare taurine at or just above the 1,000 mg/kg minimum, leaving little margin for individual variation in absorption or processing losses during storage.
See our complete taurine in pet food guide for the full analysis.
Final verdict
Lily's Kitchen earns its A grade. Compositions are honest, animal proteins are identified, taurine is added in cat products, and the ingredients list has been stable since the Nestle acquisition. The B Corp certification is maintained.
The reservations are legitimate but currently unsupported by fact: we do not know if Nestle will reformulate in three or five years to reduce costs. For now, the product delivers its promise. If you want a 100 pourcent independent brand, Edgard Cooper is the closest equivalent. If you want the highest score regardless of ownership structure, Orijen (92/100) and Acana (90/100) remain the absolute references.
But if you want a premium brand available in major UK retailers at under 10 GBP/kg, with a transparent composition and zero corn, Lily's Kitchen is a solid and well-justified choice.
To compare other premium brands, browse our full rankings and our comparison tool.
Sources
- B Corp - Lily's Kitchen certification - B Lab, accessed 2026
- FEDIAF - Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs - 2023
- Mueller RS et al. - Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals - BMC Veterinary Research, 2016
- NRC - Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats - National Academies Press, 2006
- Nestle Purina - Press release: Nestle to acquire Lily's Kitchen - October 2020
- Kaplan JL et al. - Taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers fed commercial diets - PLOS One, 2018
- Theo Blanchard, Independent Pet Food Critic, PetFoodRate