How On Earth Do I Get My Hands On Fromm 4 star?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I am considering a dog food switch again. I currently feed Darwin Holistic Select, which is owned by Eagle Pack. He does fine on it, but I know Eagle Pack was recently sold... and that means the recipe will most likely be changed. In addition, it's  not nearly as good as Fromm. I looked up some prices on Fromm internet dealers and it seems extremely afforable. It is about 25 dollars for a 15 lb bag. I am currently paying 30 dollars for a 16 lb bag of HS, so it's pretty much the same price. they also have the same amount in feeding guidelines, so I won't be feeding him more food after the switch.

The Problem, there are no retailers in my area. Not even close. There are no dealers within 200 miles of where I live. I saw a couple in Colorado on their site... but that seems a little extreme. I would order online, but haven't been able to find any with reasonable shipping. Every site I looked at brought the price up to around 40 dollars for 15 lbs. Not even close to the same price. I think I will still consider upgrading anyways... but I would love to avoid monstrous shipping costs if possible.

Do any of you have this problem? What did you do? Do you know of any online retailers with reasonable shipping?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I haven't bought Fromm's because it isn't sold locally either. I think that I am going to ask one the private dog stores or feed stores here if they might order it.

[Maryjane & Barkley]

Camilla, you might want to check the Cherrybrook website. I think they carry lots of the Fromm varieties. If you spend $100, you can also get free shipping with Promo code CBSH. It might be worth it to order some different flavors to see what Darwin likes or you could order some other supplies. I bought a Chris Christensen T-Brush for Barkley from them that works pretty well. Hope this helps.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy's suggestion is about the only thing I can think of, too. I know F Parker switched to Solid Gold because the Fromm was hard for her to get, too.
Fromm is funny about where they will allow their products to be sold. They won't sell to large chains, and they seem to favor "boutique" type stores in more upscale areas. When I was using it, the store posted a sign saying that they were discontinuing it because the supplier wouldn't sell it to them any more. The store manager told me they wouldn't sell it to them because they believed they were a large chain. (Pet Supplies Plus) I called the company and also sent an email explaining that the store in question wasn't a large chain, but rather a franchise, and that this particular store is a small place in a fairly exclusive area. We were successful and they agreed to continue supplying them. Of course, it could also just be that a particular store could get it, and chooses not to because they don't think there's a market for it among their customers. So I'd try talking to your local pet supply store.

[Camilla and Darwin]

The Place we buy Darwin's food at is called Ma and Pa's bakery and it's a locally owned food store. They pretty darn selective. I think I'll talk to her next time I go in and ask about it.

[Laura & Chewie]

This is interesting because I buy Chewie's Fromm's at Pet Supplies Plus. I have two of them equal distance from my home...one sells it, one doesn't. I questioned the one that doesn't and he said he would be glad to order it in for me. So, definitely ask...you never know. Hope you can fine it...we love our Fromm's!

[Julie B.]

I had trouble finding Fromms also. Actually I have taken my 2 dogs off of Fromms because their poops got really runny on it. Plus my pup was beginning to eat her poop... I have switched to TOTW and they are doing great on it. Poops are firmed up and the poop eating has even subsided quite a bit. Not sure what was going on but I had to try something and it looks like the food may have been part of the problem.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

TOTW is grain free, and most of the Fromm's formulas aren't. Your dogs may have a bit more trouble digesting starches, which is not unusual.

[Dana]

My guys have been on Fromm's for well over 3 yrs now but I also had trouble finding it in my area (Monmouth County, NJ). I called local feed stores till I found one that was willing to order it for me. I had to buy 2 - 30lb bags at a time which was fine - we go through a bag a month. Mac is 70 lbs & Moose (Great Pyrennes) is 110 lbs. Lately, I've noticed more private pet stores are carry some of the Fromm's line. Good luck - my guys have done very well on it. Mac can & would eat anything with no problems - Moose has the eating issues & he's been perfect on the Whitefish & Potato.

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

More than likely your local premium pet food store is already getting orders from a distibutor who has Fromm or any other name you may be wanting to take a closer look at. The most common reasons an owner may not bring in a new product would be they question whether it is outstanding enough and different from everything else on their shelves to warrant the space, will people pay the price?, a distributor that does not extend terms to a retailer carries the product and even the lack of information.

In many ways you can be a tremendous asset to your retailer besides in your purchases, share the food group with them, let them see the educated consumer. Put them in touch with other retailers who can share their positive experience in bringing a line in. I know in the instance of my friend who owns a premium store if it is a grainy food, it is likely not coming in because she already has the best foods that do have grain, most of the others presented to her truly are 'just another grainy food' and it does not follow the direction most of her clientele seeks. She does look seriously at raw and grain free prospects BUT she has the strictest standards of anyone I know in the retail business ~ I have seen her pull her best selling line because of information she discovered before it was even common knowledge and in some instances it never comes to the surfaces, but we know it and it is verified. Stores within 20 minutes still carry them but the people come to her because her business is built on relationships and people know they can count on her to do the dirty work for them. That is how we became friends, I was in there constantly sometimes even just listening to what everyone else was looking for and why ~ I started sharing my research with her and her clients, now I help with consultations on the weekend, we speak each day, heck our families hang out sometimes in the rare down moment we can grab. My case may be far from what you are looking for but my point is I initiated the relationship and the sharing of information. The old 'you can get anything you want if you help others get what they want' thing ~ share your knowledge, questions, etc... You may find it helps get you the food you are looking for and perhaps a new friend also.

I would also caution you to be careful with home delivery scenarios as well as those that ship, I know here locally there is a common delivery company of pet food that you can pull up behind the building and see much evidence of rodents, sometimes you even catch the source of the evidence =0, of course then you have to wonder about pesticides which as I recall was a big scandal with a major box company warehouse several years ago.

When all else fails, call the manufacturer ~ if they get enough requests for a product in a specific area they may offer incentives even to get their product into a retailer.

Good luck!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have an update. I called all the local feed stores and my specialty pet store. They told me there is no distributor in Utah, therefore they have no way to order Fromm. They have to be licensed I guess.

So, I called Fromm directly and they were great. They told me I could order directly from them. The best part? The shipping is WAY cheaper. It would be 32 dollars for a 15 lb bag, and that is including shipping. This sounds like a great option for me.

Another question I had. When I called the store I buy Holistic Select at, she told me to check out a brand I hadn't heard of before.

Breeder's choice, Pinnacle. I looked up the website and looked at the ingredients. It looks pretty good... I don't think it looks as good as Fromm though. but I am no expert. Any thoughts?

http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacle_dog_orig.htm

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It looks okay to me, Camilla. It's on the WDJ approved foods list, which means that at least they answered the questionaire, and it's supposedly made in CA. This is the same company that makes Avoderm.
That price for the Fromm is phenomenal, BTW! I paid more than that for it at my local store, without the shipping!
It pays to ask!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I have only seen Pinnacle mentioned a few times here - I recently found quick blurb from October where Karen said she hadn't heard much. Let me try to do some searching on it. Nevermind just saw Karen's new response! LOL

By the way, Fromm really isn't charging you much for shipping. One of my stores charges $26 for a bag. I have recently found it for $24 and that is about as low as I have seen it. So $6-8 in shipping isn't bad for dog food.