The Fromm Family Pet Food Story
We’re huge fans of Fromm Family Foods, a fifth-generation family-owned and operated artisan pet food company based in Wisconsin. This family business has become one of the most trusted names in premium dog and cat food, known for its wholesome ingredients and dedication to quality.
Let’s go back to the beginning of the Fromm Family story to learn how this remarkable company came to be an American institution and a respectable leader in the pet food industry.
The Beginning
The Fromm and Nienman Family history in the US starts in 1852, when the families emigrated from Germany in search of new opportunities. In the late 1800s, John F. Nieman became the first Nieman born and raised in the United States. As an adult, he moved to Hermansville, Michigan, during the logging boom of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. Around the same time, dairy farmer Fredrick “Fritz” Fromm married Alwina Nieman, and they raised children: Walter, Edward, John, Henry, and Erna. The brothers have a dream—to raise silver foxes.
A Family Business from Day One
In 1916, Alwina Nieman-Fromm co-signed a $6,800 loan with her 160-acre farm as collateral to help her sons start their business. Four years later, they secured more funding from their relative, John Nieman. In 1925, Fromm Bros., Nieman & Co. built its own food manufacturing plant in Mequon, Wisconsin. This allowed them to continue producing their own nutritionally geared recipes at a volume sustainable for their growth. (This plant is still in operation today and serves as the primary research and development area for new foods and treats, and a home base for the Fromm Family Foods LLC team.)
All this hard work led to the world’s first litter of 11 silver foxes, which were born on the company’s farm in Mequon-Thiensville in 1933. After 15 long years, Dr. Robert Green and Fromm Laboratories, Inc. created and marketed the fox encephalitis vaccine, a fox distemper vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, and feline distemper vaccine—utilizing attenuated viruses developed through their research work with ferrets. This achievement marked a major milestone in dog, cat, and fox health.
The next step, in the 1940s, was to harness the expertise of biochemist Dr. Willard Roberts to pioneer the process of cooking meat and grain together to produce the first all-granular pet food, and in 1948, Federal Foods was formed. Just one year later, the first bag of Fromm Complete Dog Meal was sold. (Federal Foods, Inc. is renamed Fromm Family Foods, LLC. In 1995, to reflect its 4th generation ownership and the company’s strong family values.)
Getting Into the Pet Food Business
Over time, the company fine-tuned its recipes, venturing into lifestyle-specific recipes with formulas such as “Hi-Stress” food for working dogs in the 1970s, and later using mixed tocopherols as a natural preservative in the 1980s. The 1990s saw Fromm formulas using a better quality protein in its recipes, and the 2000s ushered in meals highlighting high-quality meats and fish as the first ingredient, complemented with a vast array of fresh fruits and vegetables.
To keep up with demand, Fromm Family Foods LLC grew to two plants—Columbus, Wisconsin, and Mequon, Wisconsin—proudly sticking to its Wisconsin roots and keeping all of its food American-made and sourced.
A Legacy of Quality and Care
Fromm’s story is more than a family history—it’s a commitment to creating nutritious meals that help pets thrive. Whether it’s a meal rich in select proteins or formulas enhanced with bone broth and natural minerals, Fromm Family Foods LLC continues to innovate while honoring its tradition of quality, safety, and care.
If you’re looking for a brand that understands how to provide balanced nutrition for your pets, Fromm Family Foods stands as a proud example of how family, science, and passion can create something truly exceptional.