Premium pet food is moving beyond kibble. Freeze-dried and air-dried formulas are shelf stable; frozen raw and fresh-cooked meals need a cold chain. We support both, with cold-chain options in select markets and strict lot and date control throughout.
Shelf-stable premium: freeze-dried and air-dried
Freeze-dried and air-dried pet foods are shelf stable, which means they can be stored and shipped like other dry food, but they are often premium-priced, fragile and sensitive to moisture once packaging is compromised. Freeze-dried nuggets crumble if a bag is crushed, so cartons should be fitted to limit movement and heavy items kept away from them in mixed orders.
These products are frequently sold as toppers and mixers alongside kibble, and many are also raw in origin, so lot traceability is especially important. We record lots and best-by dates at receiving, ship FEFO and keep the products in food-grade, pest-controlled zones. Moisture and pest checks at receiving catch compromised packaging before it reaches a customer.
Frozen raw and fresh-cooked: cold chain
Frozen raw and fresh-cooked pet foods need a continuous cold chain from receiving to the customer's door. That means frozen or refrigerated storage, rapid handling at receiving and pack-out, insulated shippers with refrigerant sized for the transit time, and shipping schedules that avoid packages sitting in carrier networks over weekends.
Cold-chain fulfillment is available in select markets. During onboarding we review your product temperature requirements, packaging and target delivery zones, then recommend which markets and transit times make sense. FDA's sanitary transportation rule applies to animal food as well as human food, so temperature control and documentation are taken seriously from the dock onward. We are direct about the limits too: if a product cannot reliably reach a region within its safe window, we will tell you rather than ship it anyway.
Raw pet food, pathogens and traceability
Raw pet food carries higher pathogen risk than cooked food, and FDA has repeatedly cautioned about Salmonella and Listeria in raw pet diets. For fulfillment, that makes traceability and handling discipline central. Every lot is recorded, product is never opened or repacked in primary packaging, and frozen raw food is stored apart from treats, toys and other items.
If a lot is questioned, we can place it on hold across every location and channel immediately and provide a list of orders, customers and ship dates for every unit shipped from it. That speed supports whatever corrective action you decide on, whether a targeted customer notification or a broader recall. The recall decision and any FDA reporting remain with you as the brand.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship frozen raw pet food?
Yes, in select markets with frozen storage and insulated packaging. We review your temperature requirements and delivery zones to confirm feasibility first.
Is freeze-dried pet food handled like dry food?
Largely yes, because it is shelf stable. We add protective packing because it is fragile, and we track lots and best-by dates on every unit.
Do you avoid weekend transit for frozen orders?
Yes. Frozen and refrigerated orders are scheduled to ship early in the week so they do not sit in carrier networks over a weekend.