Marleybones vs Scrumbles: Which is Right for Your Dog?

At a Glance

Brand Overviews

Marleybones

Founded in London by Josephine and Mikala, and named after their golden cocker spaniel Marley, Marleybones is a female-founded, vet-backed fresh dog food brand built around a distinctive approach to food preservation.

Meals are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack using the Pantry Fresh® format, making them shelf-stable without preservatives and ready to serve straight from the carton. Customers complete a quiz to receive a personalised plan tailored to their dog's size, weight, and needs, or can buy as they go. Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven superfoods including chicory root, a natural prebiotic that supports gut health as standard. Plastic neutral certified, Marleybones has delivered over 2 million meals and holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating.

Scrumbles

Scrumbles was founded in 2018 by Aneisha Soobroyen and Jack Walker after their cat Boo developed digestive problems and they struggled to find a suitable food. The brand built its range around gut health, using added probiotics and slippery elm for digestive support across every recipe. 

Scrumbles offers wet food and dry kibble using natural ingredients with no additives, and all recipes are hypoallergenic. Scrumbles is B Corp certified, and donates 1% of sales to environmental and social causes.

Marleybones vs Scrumbles: A Detailed Comparison

Food Type: Fresh Food vs Natural Wet & Dry

Marleybones

Marleybones is genuinely fresh dog food, made from whole ingredients, sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack with minimal processing and no preservatives. The minimal processing approach means ingredients retain their natural nutritional integrity from the moment they're sealed to the moment they're served. Meals are shelf-stable and ready to serve straight from the carton. 

Scrumbles

Scrumbles offers natural wet food and dry kibble. Wet food comes in pouches and trays; dry kibble uses single-source protein with gluten-free grains. Both formats are more processed than fresh food but are free from artificial additives and formulated with gut health in mind.

Summary: Marleybones is a minimally processed fresh food, shelf-stable and ready to serve. Scrumbles is a natural wet and dry processed food. 

Gut Health: Natural Prebiotics vs Added Probiotics

Marleybones

Marleybones supports gut health through natural whole ingredients baked into every recipe, no additives required. Chicory root, a natural prebiotic, is present in every meal as part of the seven-superfood blend, supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria as a direct result of the food itself. Hemp seed, linseed, and chia seeds provide additional omega fatty acids and digestive fibre.

Scrumbles

Scrumbles takes an additive approach to gut health — probiotics and slippery elm bark are added to support stool consistency and reduce flatulence. This is Scrumbles's central brand claim and is reflected in customer reviews.

Summary: Both brands are well positioned for dogs with digestive sensitivity. Marleybones delivers gut support through natural whole-food prebiotics as an intrinsic part of the recipe. Scrumbles uses added probiotics and functional ingredients. 

Ingredients & Nutrition

Marleybones

Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods, including chicory root, chia seeds, hemp seed, linseed, quinoa, and rosemary. No artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers — ever.

Scrumbles

Scrumbles wet food uses up to 70% freshly prepared white fish or poultry, with vegetables and natural ingredients. Dry kibble uses around 60% chicken from British and Irish sources. All recipes are hypoallergenic. 

Summary: Both brands use high-quality natural ingredients with no artificial nasties. Marleybones's whole-food superfood blend is built into every recipe. Scrumbles's hypoallergenic credentials are suited to dogs with food allergies.

Personalisation

Marleybones

Every Marleybones customer completes a short quiz covering their dog's breed, age, weight, and activity level. The result is a personalised plan with the right recipes and portion sizes for that specific dog. Recipes are also available to buy individually without a subscription.

Scrumbles

Scrumbles does not offer personalised plans. Owners choose from a range of products based on their dog's life stage and dietary needs. The deliberately limited recipe range reduces ingredient complexity and potential allergens.

Summary: Marleybones builds personalisation into the plan from the start. Scrumbles offers a focused range of recipes by life stage and dietary need for owners to self-select from.

Sustainability & Packaging

Marleybones

Marleybones uses recyclable Tetra-style aseptic cartons and is plastic neutral certified — removing as much plastic from the environment as it unavoidably uses.

Scrumbles

Scrumbles is B Corp certified, uses recyclable packaging, and donates 1% of all sales to environmental and social causes. 

Summary: Both brands have strong sustainability credentials. Marleybones is plastic neutral certified; Scrumbles's B Corp certification and 1% giving programme reflect a broad ethical commitment.

Availability: Where Can You Buy It?

Marleybones

Marleybones is available primarily via a personalised subscription quiz online, and as one-off orders. Marleybones is also stocked in selected retailers across the UK including Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods and online at Pets at Home. 

Scrumbles

Scrumbles is available from its own website, and is also stocked in major supermarkets, online and pet speciality retailers. 

Summary: Marleybones is available online, in pet speciality and in premium retailers including Waitrose, Ocado, and Whole Foods. Scrumbles is available in major supermarkets and pet speciality retailers. 

Customer Satisfaction

Marleybones

4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 750+ reviews. Common themes: fussy dogs clearing their bowls, improved digestion and coat condition, and the convenience of a no-prep, no-freezer fresh food format.

Scrumbles

4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 3,700 reviews. Customers frequently highlight improved digestive outcomes — firmer stools and reduced flatulence — often within weeks of switching. Value for money and supermarket accessibility are also frequently mentioned.

Summary: Marleybones holds a higher Trustpilot rating. Scrumbles larger review base reflects its broader mass-market base and longer track record. 

Which Is Right for You?

Marleybones may suit you better if:

• You want fresh food made from whole ingredients with minimal processing
• You want a personalised plan tailored to your dog's size, weight, and needs
• You want gut health support built naturally into every recipe through natural whole-food prebiotics

Scrumbles may suit you better if:

• Your dog has specific food allergies — Scrumbles's hypoallergenic recipes exclude the most common allergens
• You want a B Corp certified brand available in major supermarkets
• You're looking for a natural option at a more accessible price point than fresh food

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FAQs

Does Marleybones need to be frozen or refrigerated?

No. Marleybones meals are Pantry Fresh® and shelf-stable — stored in a cupboard until opened, with no freezing or thawing at any point. Once open, keep any unused portion in the fridge and serve within a couple of days.

Is Marleybones or Scrumbles better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Marleybones includes chicory root, a natural prebiotic, in every recipe as standard, supporting gut health through whole-food nutrition. Scrumbles uses added probiotics and slippery elm specifically formulated to support digestion. 

Does Marleybones offer a personalised plan?

Yes. Marleybones customers complete a short quiz covering their dog's breed, age, weight, and activity level. The resulting plan includes the right recipes and portion guidance for that dog. Recipes are also available to buy individually without a subscription.

What's the difference between Marleybones and Scrumbles?

Marleybones is genuinely fresh food — made from whole ingredients, sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack with no artificial preservatives, ready to serve from the carton. Natural prebiotics are included in every recipe. Scrumbles is a natural wet and dry processed food with added probiotics and slippery elm for gut health. 

Is Marleybones suitable for all breeds and life stages? 

Yes, all Marleybones recipes are vet-formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs of all breeds and life stages. 

Where can I buy Marleybones?

Marleybones is available via a personalised subscription quiz online, as one-off orders and is stocked in selected retailers across the UK including Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods and online at Pets at Home. 

“A complete game changer!!”

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