FirstMate
CanadaPetPicks.ca Aggregate Score: 4.4 / 5 | Based on 10 independent sources | Zero recalls since 1989 | Made in Abbotsford, BC
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia | Founded: 1989 | Made in Canada | Visit Official Website
What is FirstMate?
FirstMate is a family-owned Canadian pet food company based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, founded in 1989 by Michael Florian — a former commercial fisherman who noticed the dramatic health improvements in dogs eating high-protein fish feed on Pacific salmon farms. From that observation, a premium pet food brand was born that now ships to over 30 countries while still manufacturing entirely out of its own BC facility.
What separates FirstMate from most pet food brands — Canadian or otherwise — is end-to-end ownership of its production process. The company owns and operates both a dry kibble factory and a cannery in British Columbia, giving them direct control over sourcing, manufacturing, and quality testing at every stage. In over 35 years of operation, FirstMate has never issued a product recall — a distinction shared by very few brands with this level of market presence.
Aggregate Review Scores
We aggregated ratings and commentary from 10 independent sources to build a complete picture of how FirstMate performs across different evaluative frameworks.
| Source | Score | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Food Advisor (Grain-Friendly) | 5 / 5 | Ingredient analysis, dry dog food |
| Dog Food Advisor (Grain-Free) | 4.5 / 5 | Ingredient analysis, grain-free dry |
| Dog Food Advisor (Canned 50/50) | 5 / 5 | Ingredient analysis, wet dog food |
| Cats.com | 46 / 60 (B+) | Cat food — species appropriateness, variety, price |
| Dogster | 4.5 / 5 | Overall dog food evaluation |
| Wag! | Recommended (with notes) | Ingredient quality, wet vs dry comparison |
| Canadian Pet Connection | Highly recommended | Canadian brand analysis, ingredient sourcing |
| Pet Food Reviewer | Above average | Nutritional profile, recall history |
| Petful | Recall-free verified | Safety and recall history |
| Chewy consumer reviews | 4.4 / 5 | Real-world owner experience |
Ingredient Quality
Across all reviewers, FirstMate ingredient quality is consistently praised. The brand uses named animal proteins — chicken meal, Pacific Ocean fish meal, cage-free duck meal, Australian lamb meal — as the dominant protein sources in their dry recipes. Dog Food Advisor awards the grain-friendly line a full 5 stars, noting the use of chelated minerals and selenium yeast as markers of a higher-quality formulation.
The one consistent criticism across reviewers is the reliance on meat meals rather than fresh meat as the primary protein source in dry food. Wag! specifically notes this as a drawback, though they temper the critique by pointing out that the FirstMate canned range uses fresh meat as the first ingredient — earning their full recommendation for the wet product line.
No ingredients are sourced from China. All vitamins and minerals are North American in origin, with the exception of lamb sourced from Australia — a fact FirstMate discloses openly on their website.
Product Range
FirstMate produces three distinct dry dog food lines, plus a canned range for both dogs and cats:
- Grain-Free — 12 limited-ingredient recipes including Pacific Ocean Fish, Australian Lamb, Chicken, Duck, and Salmon. Average protein 26.9%, fat 14%. Best for dogs with sensitivities.
- Grain Friendly — 6 recipes using oats and brown rice instead of common filler grains. The most affordable entry point into the premium segment. Rated 5 stars by Dog Food Advisor.
- Canned / Wet — Limited ingredient pate-style wet food for dogs and cats. No carrageenan, no gum thickeners. Fresh meat as first ingredient.
The canned range is one of the few wet foods on the market completely free of artificial thickeners. Cats.com specifically highlights this as a significant differentiator for the cat food line, where carrageenan-free wet food is particularly hard to find at this price point.
Recalls and Safety
Zero recalls in over 35 years of operation. This is confirmed independently by Dog Food Advisor, Petful, Cats.com, Canadian Pet Connection, and Wag! — every source that checked. Many of the largest pet food brands have had multiple recalls in the past decade. FirstMate clean record is a direct result of owning their manufacturing — they are not reliant on third-party co-manufacturers where quality control is harder to enforce.
Price and Canadian Availability
FirstMate sits in the upper-mid premium segment — more affordable than Orijen or Acana, but priced above standard grocery-store brands. Approximate Canadian pricing:
- Dry dog food (11.4kg bag): $65-$85 CAD depending on formula and retailer
- Dry cat food (5kg bag): $40-$55 CAD
- Canned (156g): $2.50-$3.50 CAD per can
FirstMate is widely available across Canada at Pet Valu, Bosleys, Rens Pets, and independent pet specialty stores. Also available online through Chewy Canada and Pet Valu online.
What Canadian Pet Owners Say
Consumer sentiment across Chewy Canada and the FirstMate website is strongly positive. Common themes across hundreds of reviews include improvements in coat quality, reduced itching in dogs with sensitivities, better digestion, and strong palatability — particularly for picky eaters on the Pacific Ocean Fish formula. Several owners specifically mention the brand Canadian identity and commitment to buying local as a purchasing factor.
Our Verdict
FirstMate is one of the most consistently well-reviewed Canadian pet food brands across every independent source we consulted. The combination of zero recalls in 35 years, full manufacturing ownership, clean ingredient sourcing, no Chinese ingredients, and wide Canadian retail availability makes it a standout choice for Canadian pet owners.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ingredient quality | 4.5 / 5 |
| Product variety | 4.0 / 5 |
| Canadian availability | 5.0 / 5 |
| Value for money | 4.0 / 5 |
| Recall history | 5.0 / 5 |
| Consumer satisfaction | 4.4 / 5 |
| CanadaPetPicks Aggregate | 4.4 / 5 |
Where to Buy FirstMate in Canada
- Chewy Canada — free shipping over $49, Autoship available
- Pet Valu — in-store and online across Canada
- FirstMate store locator — find your nearest independent retailer
FirstMate Reviews & Product Coverage
Browse all our reviews and articles covering FirstMate products below. Posts are automatically updated as new reviews are published.
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FirstMate Dry Cat Food
Summary review of FirstMate dry cat food lines — Grain-Free and Grain Friendly. No peas, no legumes. Made in Abbotsford BC. CanadaPetPicks aggregate score: 4.3/5.
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FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish with Blueberries Dry Cat Food
Single product review of FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish with Blueberries dry cat food. No peas, no legumes, wild fish, grain-free. Made in BC. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.4/5.
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FirstMate Limited Ingredient Wild Salmon Cat Food
Single product review of FirstMate Limited Ingredient Wild Salmon wet cat food. Wild Pacific salmon, no peas, no gums, BPA-free. Made in BC. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.5/5.
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FirstMate Wet Cat Food
Summary review of FirstMate canned wet cat food. In-house cannery in BC, single protein, no peas, no gums, BPA-free. CanadaPetPicks aggregate score: 4.4/5.
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FirstMate Wild Pacific Fish & Oats
Single product review of FirstMate Wild Pacific Fish & Oats Grain Friendly dry dog food. 494 kcal/cup, no peas, no potato, wild fish. Dog Food Advisor 5/5. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.5/5.
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FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original
Single product review of FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original dry dog food. No peas, no legumes, wild herring/anchovies/sardines. Made in BC. Dog Food Advisor 4.5/5. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.4/5.
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