My contact with your company was professional, informative and personable. I’ve been impressed with your web site and range of foods. I’m currently trialing balance to see if it helps my dog's sensiti... See more
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I'm so pleased I was recommended Essential, and moved away from supermarket dog food. I thought our dog had simply mellowed as she'd gotten older, but the difference after starting this food was almo... See more
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Great quality dog food! My springer spaniel used to have issues with anything containing grains, but since we switched to Essentials 5 years ago everything has been great. Ordering and shipping is rea... See more
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My Labrador retriever has been on their foods since we got him at 8 weeks old, from the working dog puppy large breed up to the adult formulas. He has tried several flavours, all are devoured withou... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Why choose ESSENTIAL FOODS? There are many advantages to choosing ESSENTIAL FOODS. Our grain-free meal is crafted from high-quality ingredients – and guaranteed filler-free. In addition to our delectable line of tasty meals, you’ll find a large selection of irresistible treats prepared and packaged to the same high standard as the rest of the ESSENTIALS assortment. Our mission is to make a difference and help the dog get a healthier and better life through its eating habits. We simply feel committed to it. That's why we don't produce dog or cat food either; we produce meals. Meals packed with nutrition which keep a stable blood sugar level and which only contain ingredients that benefit and strengthen your best friend's health. Nutrition is essential for the dog's or cat's overall wellbeing. Explore our delicate meals, pâté, and treats at essentialfoods.com
Why choose ESSENTIAL FOODS?
Written by the company
- With the first bag of ESSENTIALS, a new lifestyle awaits
- ESSENTIAL FOODS grain-free meals are crafted from high-quality ingredients, with a high percentage of fresh meat and a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Some of the benefits include improved digestion, a glossier coat, more balanced behaviour, and a healthier body weight.
- BOF-approved
- All meals are prepared using the BOF principle (Behavioural Optimizing Foods), meaning a meal should mirror the dog's natural diet and eating habits while helping to stabilize blood sugar.
- Grain-free meals, pâté and treats
- A grain-free diet helps sensitive digestion Although most dogs can digest grains without any problems, there are still some that struggle and are prone to digestive problems such as constipation. All our products are of highest quality and specially formulated using the right balance of key nutrients – just without the grains.
90 days guarentee
Very simple - It's a total satisfaction guarantee
Should there be anything that you're not happy with, simply get in touch and we'll arrange for a FULL refund.
Our guarantee covers all meal products bought online with us, up to 3 months from date of purchases. Just our very own confident way of saying: Give ESSENTIALS a go, you won't regret it!
Contact info
Ørnegårdsvej 16, 2870, Gentofte, Denmark
- +45 71 99 90 90
- support@essentialfoods.com
- www.essentialfoods.com
One mission
4.8
Excellent
933 reviews
Asks customers to review
This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 48 hours
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Kidney Issues Possibly Linked to High Protein Content
I have two active mixed-breed dogs, which I fed with Essential food for approximately four years. Everything seemed fine, they ate the food eagerly, but it eventually turned out that one dog had elevated blood creatinine, and the other had creatinine at the upper limit. Veterinarians and I suspect that these kidney problems were caused by excessive protein intake from this food. The values normalized when I switched to a different brand. I thought it was important to share this experience, considering that it was confirmed in both dogs.
December 24, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi Nina,
First I want to say I am very sorry to hear both your dogs have experienced heightened creatinine levels, but I am glad to hear a different diet helped bring them back down.
It is important to note that this health issue amongst dogs is not caused by the protein content in a food, nor by a specific brand of dog food.
Extensive scientific studies have been made regarding this exact issue, taking a very close look into how protein affects the kidneys when fed in high quantities. The results of these studies were that if the dog is healthy then the kidneys are not affected by recipes with a high protein content, whereas if the dog is predisposed to kidney disease or have an existing kidney disease then it can affect the creatinine levels.
When we guide our customers in terms of which foods they wish to feed their dogs, we always recommend consulting with a veterinarian if the dog has any existing illness that needs to be kept in mind. Our foods are designed for healthy dogs and we will always refer our customers to their vet if there are pre-existing diagnosis. Naturally, we cannot know if there are any conditions the dogs are predisposed to, but then it is important to do as you did and react to help your dogs.
In conclusion, it is an issue that becomes apparent when a dog predisposed to this issue gets fed food with a higher protein content that what is optimal for that dog - the food does not cause the health issue in the dog
I hope that the new food keeps them in balance and that my reply to you helped shed a bit of light as to what may be the cause to this unfortunate experience.
Should you ever have questions then do not hesitate reaching out to us on service@essentialfoods.com.
Kind Regards,
Katja
Essential Foods
Great food for sensitive dog..
Great food for sensitive dog... great delivery and offers, but rather expensive unfortunately.
April 7, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi Jonas,
Thank you so very much for taking the time to leave us a review, it means a lot to us!
Feeding a sensitive dog is no easy task, so it brings us great joy that your dog is thriving on our products. It is always our highest priority to deliver quality meals to our customers and their pets. This is, as you point out, not a cheap mission, but we are happy that you still choose us as your supplier of pet food.
Should you ever need assistance or have questions then you are always welcome to contact us directly on service@essentialfoods.se or by telephone on +46 8 446 890 97.
Thank you again, and happy holidays!
- Team Essential Foods
I have been using Essential dog food…
I have been using Essential dog food for over 8 years for my Alaskan Malamute ( Miska). I find that the Estate living and the Superior living works for her alternating between lunch and tea time meals .She has always been full of energy, vitality and has a healthy coat admired by all that meet her.I can order Wednesday afternoon and it is delivered Friday without any delays within the 1 hour time specified. Well done Essential for the best service that anyone could ask for
December 4, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi William,
Thank you ever so much for this review, it really warms our hearts to hear Miska is enjoying our products!
It is one of our greatest missions to deliver the best service we can. Great service, enthusiasm and quality products are the most important values for us, and should you ever have questions or need help from us you are always welcome to contact us directly in customer service.
Give Miska some scratches from us and have a merry Christmas!
- ESSENTIAL FOODS
I would highly recommend Essentials Dog…
I would highly recommend Essentials Dog food. I have used their Working Dog beginner, then moved onto Superior Living. I have a young Black Labrador who has thrived. Her energy levels are always spot on, together with her weight. People often comment on her shinny coat. I have found the company to be very helpful and responsive. If you love your dog, try this food, you won’t regret it.
November 15, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi Jane,
Thank you so very much for this beautiful review of us and our products - it means the world to us that you have taken the time to write us, but also that you have chosen Essential Foods!
It sounds like you have a dog who is absolutely thriving and that is shows, which is exactly what we aim for with every meal we deliver to you and our other customers.
Should you ever be in the need of assistance or have questions about any of our products, then you are always welcome to contact us on service@essentialfoodsgb.co.uk or directly by phone on +44 1904 211600
Thank you once again!
Kind regards,
Team Essential Foods
This is genuinely an excellent
This is genuinely an excellent, ethically sourced, clean & healthy top quality food!
I've been feeding both my labs Essential since they were pups, they started off with the Beginning for large breeds and I can honestly say they have both had zero problems with any stomach, teeth or toileting issues since then.
They're both now on adult food, I'm not a fan of feeding dogs kibble by any means, but this seems on the moister side of dry and since they're both doing so well on it I've kept them on it, and Essential make a tinned food now as well in the same flavours which has exactly the same high quality ingredients so they are on a mix of both - all the flavours go down well except one of my dogs didn't seem very keen on the salmon/trout Nautical one, otherwise their bowls are empty in about 3 seconds flat!
I did contact customer services to ask if they wanted me to return the Nautical bag as I only intended to use it the once, but they were very understanding and suggested I either keep it for the other dog or donate it to a rescue (which I did), and he sent me an alternative flavour bag instead without charge, amazing!!
I also buy all the treats & chews from Essential too as they don't have additives & other nasties either, and there is always a discount for large orders, which mine always seem to be!
Quick mention about the staff and the website too, there's a feeding & training advice section which is actually really useful, and any questions sent from there are answered within a day. I can't not include the customer service here because it's so different from 99% of other companies who need you to listen to 18 options on a recorded message then use your keypad to reach the infinite knowledge of a bot - bad times, and personally speaking the old skool quality of customer care is another of the reasons I've stayed loyal to Essential for a number of years and fully intend to continue.
The vet is really pleased with both dogs; coats are clean and shiny, teeth spotless and gleaming white (especially since both dogs are black!) and both fit and lean so I'm happy to recommend without hesitation.
September 26, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Dear Phil,
Thank you so, so much for this absolutely astounding review. We cannot put into words how grateful we are for the time you have taken to sit down and write this - we truly appreciate it!
Nothing brings us greater joy than to hear that our customers are this pleased with our products and services, it is incredibly important to us that we do everything we can to solve the issues brought to us in any way we can. The best part though is hearing how your dogs thrive on the products. It is a true joy and the exact reason why we do what we do, why we put the amount of time and love into our products, and why we focus on only the highest quality in every meal served.
Should you ever need our assistance with an order or a product again, you know where to reach us and we are more than happy to be of assistance. Happy customers and pets is the goal, and hearing your story is beyond what we could hope for.
Thank you again, Phil!
Sincerely,
The Essential Foods Team
Best food for my girls
My choccy lab came to us on Royal Canin - I knew it was not the best food but she always had sloppy poops so I had to find an affordable alternative. We found Essentials in December 2019 and have not looked back. We weaned her litter of 9 pups on it and they all continue to thrive on it as does our girl. It is great food and the treat bag with each order is lovely.
September 20, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi Beth,
Thank you so much for your kind words and review. It means the world to us, here at Essential Foods, to know that our customers are happy with the products they receive for their furry companions.
It's amazing to know that not only does your dog thrive on the food, but also her puppies - absolutely wonderful!
If there is ever anything we can help with, in terms of our products, you know where to reach us!
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
The Essential Foods Team
Excellent customer service
Excellent customer service - we started buying direct when our local pet shop did not have stock. Despatch and delivery is super fast. On the last occasion, we were ordering a bag to be delivered to where we were staying on holiday. Auto-fill took over and the delivery address was part our usual address and part the address we wanted it to go to - I could see from the tracking info that the order could not be delivered, I called Essentials as soon as I realised and they immediately re-despatched the order so that we were not left short. They were so helpful.
The food has been great for our puppy - she loves it and her coat gleams.
August 22, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hi Lucy,
Thank you so much for the five starts and your kind words! It warms our pet-loving hearts to see that you have had such a great experience with us!
Every day, we strive to provide quality in both our products and services, and it is a pleasure to see we have succeeded. Having happy customers with happy and healthy pets is what we are here for, and if you ever need help with anything regarding our services, feel free to reach out.
Give your puppy some love and some scratches from us!
Sincerely,
The Essential Foods Team
Excellent food options
Excellent food options, great service, amazing delivery - just all round exceptional quality.
September 10, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review here on Trust Pilot.
We are delighted that you like our selection of meals and are satisfied with our service and delivery.
Every day, we strive to deliver both meals and service of the ABSOLUTE highest quality.
Your review confirms that we are doing the right thing.
REMEMBER that we are always ready to offer advice and guidance should you need it.
Wonderful food for my working lab
This was the food the excellent breeder we got our puppy from weaned them on to. She really rates it and we've found the company super. Our working lab loves it (okay, she's a lab, she'd like anything) and the number of people who comment on how glossy her coat is is substantial. She's been washed once so that gloss must come from eating the right stuff. The feed is high quality, with all the right vitamins and minerals she needs. It couldn't be easier to order and arrives within a day or two. We're delighted with Essential Foods and it will likely be Beryl's food for life.
September 10, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. We strive to deliver exceptional meals for dogs and cats that bring joy to homes for both two- and four-legged family members. Of course, this also means that we must deliver a level of service that is second to none. Your review here confirms that we are doing the right thing, so thank you very much. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone or email. We are committed to providing exceptional service every time.
My dogs love this food
My dogs love this food. Quality ingredients can only be found when you open the bag. My oldest dog always had a dull coat but now she shines. She was also a bit fussy with food until we swapped. If you have a question then customer services are brilliant and very helpful.
September 10, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. It's so nice to see that our customers remain enthusiastic after such a long time.
It means a lot to us that our meals have made a positive difference for your dog. I can guarantee you that we will never compromise on the quality of our meals and treats, nor on providing top-notch service to anyone who needs advice and guidance. A huge thank you for sharing your experiences here from the entire ESSENTIALS team.
The best kibble around
My puppy (he is one) has two types of food.
His kibble comes from Essential food.
We have used them from the very start (over a year) and I’m over the moon.
Delivery is super speedy (DPD) and ordering is is so very simple.
Great company and my pooch loves his kibble.
July 10, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Hvor er det fantastisk at høre, at du og din hund er så tilfredse med Essentials, og du skal have tusind tak for at tage dig tid til at dele din oplevelse med os herinde. Det er skønt, at din hun spiser med stor glæde hver gang, og at hun har en stabil mave. Det viser bare, hvor vigtigt det er at finde det rette foder. Og så er det jo også et stort plus med god service, hurtig levering. Husk at vi til voksne hunde har 5 varianter du kan skifte imellem som du har lyst, helt uden en overgangsperiode imellem dem. Vi står altid til rådighed for gode råd og tips 😊 Endnu engang tusind tak for at du deler din positive oplevelse.
Excellent quality cat food that doesn't cost the earth
Excellent quality cat food that does not cost a fortune. Far more cost effective than other premium brands for example Acana and Orijen. Very good ingredients if you look up on pet food expert. We have 6 cats. 3 Bengals, a Savannah, Siamese and a Garfield. They all love this food and will not change it
August 24, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful Trustpilot review.
It's fantastic to read about the huge difference our meals have made to your cats.
We have received a lot of positive feedback from cat owners over the years, which has led us to expand our range to include cat food.
This has resulted in LYNX becoming our first dedicated cat treat, as well as the launch of The PANTHER as a new meal for cats, and there will be more treats and other products from us in the future.
So keep an eye on the webshop, something good may be on its way in the near future ;)
Ive found this company great very…
Ive found this company great very helpful when an order was undelivered they promptly answered my email and re sent another.
Ive been using this product for over 2 years my dog loves it and recently acquired a puppy and he loves it also.
They always give free deliveries and a bonus bag of treats which is a lovely treat and extra thing for my pooches.
Im happy also with the selections and different ranges and high percentage of the good things they need.
Both border terrier mixes so they use alot of energy.
August 21, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review.
We strive to deliver exceptional meals for dogs and cats that bring joy to homes for both two- and four-legged friends. Of course, this also means that we must deliver a level of service that is second to none.
Your review here confirms that we are doing the right thing, so thank you very much. If there is anything else we can do, please feel free to contact us by phone or email. We are committed to providing exceptional service every time.
Excellent food and service
Excellent delivery service. Free bag of treats or can of food with each order! Dogs love it (all flavours but nautical is favourite) . Price may be higher than some brands but feed far less per day making it far more affordable.
July 18, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review here.
We are delighted to hear that your dogs are thriving and enjoying our meals.
Fast delivery and an extra little gift included in the delivery are definitely just an added bonus.
REMEMBER, we are always ready to offer advice and guidance if needed.
Essentials Contour for small dogs
My dogs absolutely love the essentials contour for small dogs .
They always eat it all up.
It's full of nutrition but also helps to maintain their weight with them both having been spayed .
Would definately recommend it.
July 28, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write a review here on Trust Pilot.
It warms our hearts to hear that your dog is thriving and wagging his tail a little extra when you serve Contour in his food bowl.
Finding the right meal for a spayed dog can be difficult. But with Contour, you get a meal that is packed with good, healthy nutrition.
After all, who says you have to ‘settle’ just because you're spayed? ;)
Once again, thank you for sharing your positive experience
Dear Mrs Paula,
By way of introduction I am the Founder of ESSENTIAL FOODS, and I just wanted to personally thank you for your review.
We are here for you in every way possible.
Sincerely yours
Christian Degner-Elsner
Great support
It's a pleasure dealing with this company. Delivery is very prompt. The food is excellent according to our 2yr old lab. She is thriving on the Nautical Living range and gets many compliments on her condition. Kevin, one of the nutritionists gave some valuable help a few months back and we have introduced some Stamina food to encourage some weight gain.
It feels that this company really care and nothing is too much trouble.
July 22, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
It's fantastic to hear that you and your dog are so happy with Essentials, and thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us here.
It's wonderful that your dog eats with such enthusiasm every time and gets compliments on his daily walks.
It just goes to show how important it is to find the right food. And of course, good service and fast delivery are also a big plus.
We are always available to offer advice and tips to anyone who needs it😊 .
I will share your experience with the rest of the team, so that a good day becomes even better.
__
Dear Jason,
By way of introduction I am the Founder of ESSENTIAL FOODS, and I wanted to personally thank you for your review.
Absolutely correct, providing authentic 5 star service is onbe of our 3 core values, and I am very pleased every time this is highlighted from our beloved customers.
NAUTICAL LIVING is also a solid favourite with our Aussie girl.
Anything and all, we are always just a call/mail away from making whatever it takes to keep you both fully pleased having chosen ESSENTIALS.
Sincerely yours
Christian Degner-Elsner
Coat quality - constant comments
The quality of our dogs coat is commented on so often by both dog lovers and general members of the public. It has to be down to the quality of the ingredients in the food
July 16, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
First of all, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.
We are delighted to hear that your dog is thriving and enjoying his meals.
The compliments on his beautiful coat from people you meet on your walks are just an added bonus.
Your review here confirms that we are doing the right thing, so thank you very much. If there is anything else, you are always welcome to contact us by phone or email. We want to provide exceptional service every time.
___
Dear Jacob,
By way of introduction I am the Founder of ESSENTIAL FOODS, and I wanted to personally thank you for this review.
I can absolutely second that it DOES come down to the quality of our ingredients and our 100% dedicated focus to being the difference for dogs whom are fortunate to have us served.
Anything and all, we are always just a call/mail away from making whatever it takes to keep you all fully pleased having chosen ESSENTIALS.
Sincerely yours
Christian Degner-Elsner
Best of the Best!
Firstly, and most importantly, the Essentials food is just the very best. From small delicious treats to big bags of kibble. It is not often you tip out a bag of kibble and find not one speck of dust or one broken biscuit in the bottom, but with Essentials this is always the case. The range of Pate is also top notch and I use a big spoonful on all meals. My young labrador loves it all. She is super healthy, very athletic and as a life long owner of labs, she is the first one who does not have bottom burps! Other than that, the staff are just as good as the product. More than once I have asked for advice and they really do care. I recommend them to all my friends without reservation.
July 28, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
First of all, thank you very much for choosing ESSENTIAL FOODS and for taking the time to write this wonderful review.
At ESSENTIAL FOODS, we always put quality, healthy and proper nutrition first. This means that you can always be sure that you are getting meals and treats of the highest quality every time you choose one of our products.
With meals of the highest quality comes the obligation to provide top-notch customer service and guidance; anything less is simply not an option in our book.
And it is precisely this top-class quality and service that is part of our DNA.
We simply cannot help ourselves ;)
___
Dear Christine,
By way of introduction I am the Founder of ESSENTIAL FOODS, and I wanted to personally thank you for your review. The level of details that you have noted and appreciated means a lot to our team and myself personally.
Anything and all, we are always just a call/mail away from making whatever it takes to keep you both fully pleased having chosen ESSENTIALS.
Sincerely yours
Christian Degner-Elsner
Great service, quality product
Very quick response and arrives promptly. Many different foods to choose from. Our golden retriever doesn't suffer from stomach upsets and eats his food with gusto. It always smells nice. Great value. Was recommended to us by the breeder and we have stayed with it as it is a quality product.
July 28, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Dear Mary,
By way of introduction I am the Founder of ESSENTIALS, and I just wanted to say a warm thank you for taking the time.
It is my promise that we keep our quality and important details like the smell of our meals stems from uncompromising attention to the ingredients, more than an eye on making a penny more.
We would be delighted to keep serving you both in the many years to come,
Sincerely yours
Christian Degner-Elsner
__
It's fantastic to hear that you and your dog are so happy with Essentials, and thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us here.
It's wonderful that your dog enjoys eating every meal and that he has a stable stomach. It just goes to show how important it is to find the right food. And of course, good service and fast delivery are also a big plus.
Excellent food
Our two black labs have eaten this food since pups, they absolutely love it! I think they eat better than us!
I love the fact we get 10% off when buying more than one bag and a free gift!
Excellent value and will continue to buy.
Thank You 😊
July 17, 2025
Reply from ESSENTIAL FOODS
Thank you for taking the time to drop us a line here at trust Pilot.
We're delighted to hear that your two lovely Labradors love their meals.
And who says you shouldn't eat well "just" because you're a dog ;)
A 10% discount and an extra little free gift is only a plus.
We look forward to delivering even more meals to these two lovely dogs in the future.
Katja Holst
Nutritional and servicemanager
ESSENTIAL FOODS
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