As of 2012[update], it is the second-largest pet food company globally (the first being Mars Petcare) and the largest in the United States.

[2] This was the same year, 1902 when Ralston Purina built its first building at the current headquarters, 800 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Federal Trade Commission approved the merger after the Meow Mix and Alley Cat brands from Ralston were sold to J.W.

[18] By 2009, Purina was one of Nestlé's fastest-growing divisions, due to an increasing willingness by consumers to spend more money on pet care.

[19] In 2008, it formed a separate company called PurinaCare with headquarters in San Antonio, Texas that sold pet insurance.

[22] In September 2010, Nestlé reached an agreement to acquire Waggin' Train, a producer of pet treats with $200 million in annual revenues.

[30][31] In February 2019, the company announced plans to spend $115 million to expand its factory in Bloomfield, Missouri, to support the demand for Tidy Cats.

[33] In April 2020, Nestlé Purina PetCare acquired Lily's Kitchen, a UK-based natural pet food brand.

[38] Also in October, Purina celebrated the completion of expansion at its local factory in Clinton, Iowa which would bring about other new 96 positions.

[40][41] The same year, Purina announced its partnership with pet-care startups from Europe and North Africa to meet the demands of more sustainable solutions for the well-being of pets.

Blue Buffalo advertised that its products contain no meat byproduct or corn, whereas Purina said independent lab tests confirmed that they do.

[58] In April 2017, another lawsuit, regarding Purina's Beggin' line of dog treats and the accusation that its advertising fooled consumers into thinking that it was full of bacon, was dropped.

[17] According to Fortune Magazine, in 2007 the pet food market "plunged into turmoil" due to the widespread discovery of contaminated ingredients.

[60] During this period, Nestle Purina voluntarily recalled some of its Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy products[61][62] in the US that contained wheat gluten from China contaminated with melamine.

[64] In 2012 a consumer sued Nestlé Purina PetCare when his pet died after eating Waggin' Train treats.

[69] According to The Washington Post, the company later re-introduced the brands after "revamping its manufacturing process and overhauling its supply chain".

[71] Some brands, such as Friskies are intended for budget shoppers, while others like Purina One and Beneful cost more and are for health or ingredient-conscious consumers.

[76] Purina Pro Plan Sport, which contains extra fat and protein and is intended for athletic dogs, was made available in 2013.

[77] In 2014, Purina introduced a product for the growing Brazilian market called Ravena, which used locally available ingredients, such as acerola and jabuticaba fruits.

[78] Purina-branded accessories, such as training pads, beds, leashes and cleaners began being sold in 2011 under the Purina PetGear name through brand licensing agreements with other manufacturers.

[82] In 2006, Nestlé Purina Petcare introduced a sponsored email application, Doggie-Mail, that could send messages online through a talking dog.

[86] In 2009, it released a free iPhone app called "petcentric places" that allows users to map local pet-related locations, like dog parks or pet-friendly hotels.

[88] In 2011, Nestlé Purina PetCare became the official sponsor of the Westminster show hosted by the American Kennel Club.

[90][91] Nestle Purina also produced television advertisements intended for Austria that had audio effects only pets could hear.

[102] Nestlé Purina Petcare sponsors various charitable activities,[73] such as the Pet Care Pride Day annual event where employees do volunteer work.

[54]: 3  The company has on-site gyms, physical fitness trainers, medical care, and an employee turnover of approximately 5 per cent.

"[106] In 2010, Nestlé Purina PetCare won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award based on organizational and manufacturing performance.