Freshpet Raises Sales Forecast as Fresh Pet Food Grows
Owners of refrigerated dog and cat food should expect selective price increases as the company works through rising ingredient and packaging costs.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Pets — General
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Freshpet raised its fiscal 2026 sales guidance to $1.234 billion-$1.245 billion after reporting third-quarter 2026 diluted EPS of $0.58 on sales of $317.8 million. The results beat analyst estimates for both earnings and sales, and the company ended September with $345.9 million in cash.
Why it matters
For pet owners who buy refrigerated, fresh-style dog and cat food, the company's strong quarter signals continued growth in a category that is becoming more crowded. Freshpet is directing more advertising toward its highest-value households as competition intensifies, and it plans selective price increases to offset ingredient and packaging cost pressures.
Freshpet raised fiscal 2026 sales guidance to $1.234 billion-$1.245 billion. E-commerce sales climbed 35% year over year, and MVP household penetration increased 8%, while store count rose 5% to more than 31,000 locations.
The players
Freshpet
A refrigerated fresh pet food maker known for its Fresh from the Kitchen dog and cat food line, sold widely through retail and e-commerce channels.
The details
Freshpet is converting its Fresh from the Kitchen product line to new bag-production technology, which the company says improved consumer-reported quality and stepped up volume trends. The company expects the installed technology to deliver more than 100 basis points of adjusted gross margin improvement once fully optimized. Management is also concentrating advertising spending on its highest-value households rather than spreading it evenly across the customer base.
Timeline
September: Freshpet ended the quarter with $345.9 million in cash.
Q3 2026: Third-quarter results beat analyst estimates.
2027: Freshpet reiterated its gross margin and EBITDA margin targets.
The Home Front
Freshpet's growth reflects the broader move among U.S. pet owners toward refrigerated, fresh-style food and away from shelf-stable kibble. Its 35% e-commerce sales gain and rising MVP household penetration show that online and repeat-buyer channels are where this shift is most visible.
If you buy refrigerated pet food, expect that selective price increases may reach your grocery or online receipts in coming months, so check your current cost per meal and compare it with dry or shelf-stable options. Keep your pet's feeding schedule and storage instructions handy, since fresh products typically require refrigeration and should be used by the date printed on the package.
The takeaway
Freshpet's results show that owners of fresh pet food are a growing, repeat-buying group, which is why the company is targeting its highest-value households. If your pet eats refrigerated food, track your monthly spending now so you can measure the effect of any price changes.
Further reading
For broader context on how owners are choosing food for their animals, see our Pets — General coverage.
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