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The short answer: Fromm Gold wins by 12 points (A/90 vs B/78). The matchup is grain-inclusive whole-grain heritage A-tier against grain-free air-dried B-tier variant. Fromm Gold leads with duck (unusual #1 animal protein), chicken meal, and chicken followed by brown rice and oatmeal — conventional whole-grain carbohydrate base. Wellness CORE Air-Dried leads with deboned turkey and deboned chicken followed by chickpeas, peas, gelatin, and vegetable glycerin. The 12-point gap reflects the grain-inclusive vs legume-base structural difference plus 117 years of zero-recall Wisconsin family-mill manufacturing on the Fromm side.

The scores

Wellness CORE Air-Dried Tender Bites Air-Dried Original Turkey & Chicken: B (78/100) — Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chickpeas, Peas, Gelatin.

Fromm Gold Adult: A (90/100) — Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Brown Rice.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two brands:

Wellness CORE Air-Dried: Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chickpeas, Peas, Gelatin

Fromm Gold: Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Brown Rice

The 12-point gap (Fromm Gold wins by 12 points) shows where the v15 rubric weights ingredient breadth, protein density, and supplement depth differently.

Where Wellness CORE Air-Dried pulls ahead

Air-dried production method: Wellness Air-Dried uses low-heat air-drying that preserves more nutrition than the 220–250°F extrusion Fromm Gold uses. Production-method format-quality benefit on the Wellness side. Shop on Amazon →

Higher fat density: Wellness Air-Dried runs 21% crude fat vs Fromm Gold’s 16% — meaningfully higher caloric density for active or working dogs.

Higher moisture for tender-bite palatability: 20% moisture vs Fromm’s standard kibble 10% — gives the tender-bite texture preferred by some picky eaters who reject crunchy extruded kibble.

Where Fromm Gold holds its own

117 years of Wisconsin family-mill heritage: Fromm Family Foods has operated since 1904, five generations, zero-recall track record across more than a century. Wellness Pet Food is a larger corporate parent with broader product portfolio. For owners who weigh manufacturing transparency and multi-generational track record heavily, Fromm has the heritage credential. Shop on Amazon →

Grain-inclusive whole-grain carbohydrate base: Brown rice at #5 and oatmeal at #4 supply whole-grain carbohydrate structure — pre-FDA-DCM-watchlist. Wellness Air-Dried’s chickpea + pea + gelatin + vegetable glycerin structure carries FDA grain-free DCM-investigation concern in primary supporting positions.

Duck-led protein diversity: Duck at #1 is unusual — supplies amino-acid variety not matched by chicken-led formulations. Wellness CORE Air-Dried leads with deboned turkey and deboned chicken; both are common poultry proteins. For dogs with chicken sensitivities or owners seeking less-common animal proteins, Fromm has the structural advantage.

The bottom line

Fromm Gold and Wellness CORE Air-Dried represent two opposite philosophies of premium kibble. Fromm earns A/90 with 117 years of Wisconsin family-mill heritage, duck-led protein diversity, grain-inclusive whole-grain carbohydrate base, and named multi-strain probiotic depth. Wellness CORE Air-Dried earns B/78 with air-dried low-heat production, higher fat density, and tender-bite palatability — but the legume-and-binding-agent carbohydrate base creates 12 points of rubric deduction. For owners who want maximum heritage credibility with grain-inclusive whole-grain structure, Fromm Gold. For owners specifically seeking air-dried format and higher caloric density and willing to accept the legume-base structural trade-off, Wellness CORE Air-Dried.