The scores
Annamaet Encore 22/9 Chicken & Salmon Meal: B (76/100) — Chicken meal and salmon meal lead, with millet and pearled barley providing the carb base. Clean, no-filler formula with prebiotics and taurine.
Fromm Gold Adult Dog Food: B (84/100) — Duck, chicken meal, and chicken in the top three, with oatmeal and pearled barley as grains. Five protein sources, dual omega-3s, fresh vegetables, and prebiotics.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients show similar philosophies at different intensities:
Annamaet: Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Millet, Cracked Pearled Barley
Fromm: Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley
Annamaet leads with two concentrated protein meals — chicken and salmon — meaning the first two ingredients are pure, water-removed protein. Fromm leads with whole duck (high water content, drops after cooking) but gets three animal proteins into the top three slots. Both hit grains by position four, and both choose quality options over cheap fillers. The structural difference: Annamaet concentrates its protein more efficiently; Fromm spreads more variety across the formula.
Where Fromm pulls ahead
Protein diversity: Fromm includes duck, chicken meal, chicken, lamb, menhaden fish meal, dried egg, and salmon oil — seven animal-derived ingredients across five species. Annamaet uses chicken meal, salmon meal, chicken fat, and dried egg product — four ingredients across two species. More protein sources means a broader amino acid profile and nutritional coverage.
Ingredient breadth: Fromm includes fresh vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans), cheese, and a wider range of supplements. Annamaet keeps it minimal — effective, but fewer nutritional bonus ingredients beyond the core protein-and-grain foundation.
Dual omega-3 approach: Fromm uses both flaxseed (plant-based ALA) and salmon oil (marine EPA/DHA), covering both omega-3 pathways. Annamaet includes flaxseed but relies on the salmon meal for its marine omega-3 contribution rather than adding a dedicated fish oil.
Product range: Fromm offers an extensive lineup spanning grain-free, grain-inclusive, and limited-ingredient formulas. If your dog's needs change, Fromm has options. Annamaet's lineup is smaller and harder to find, limiting flexibility. Shop on Amazon →
Where Annamaet holds its own
Protein efficiency: Two named protein meals in positions 1 and 2 is the most efficient protein delivery possible in a kibble. Both chicken meal and salmon meal are concentrated — no water weight inflating their position. You know exactly how much protein you're getting at the top of this formula. Fromm's duck at #1 is roughly 70% water, so its actual protein contribution after processing is significantly less than its label position suggests.
Ancient grain selection: Ground millet is a standout. It's a gluten-free ancient grain that's rarely seen in commercial dog food — high in B vitamins, magnesium, and phosphorus, with a lower glycemic index than rice or oatmeal. Combined with cracked pearled barley, Annamaet's grain base is more nutritionally interesting than Fromm's oatmeal-and-barley combination.
Marine omega-3 from protein: Because salmon meal is the second ingredient (not a minor addition), the omega-3 contribution from the protein itself is substantial — you're getting EPA and DHA as a natural byproduct of a primary protein source, not just from a small addition of fish oil late in the formula.
Heritage: Annamaet has been making dog food since 1986 — nearly four decades of consistent quality from a small Pennsylvania company. They've never had a Class I recall, and their formulas are used by competitive sled dog teams who depend on consistent, high-performance nutrition. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Fromm wins on breadth — more protein sources, more vegetables, more product options — and the 8-point gap reflects that broader ingredient profile. Annamaet wins on protein efficiency — dual concentrated meals up front and ancient grains that are nutritionally superior to the standard fare. The gap is wider than you'd expect between two quality brands, driven largely by Fromm's greater protein diversity and richer supplementation. Both are the kind of dog food that pet store employees quietly recommend over the big names, but Fromm earns the higher score.