Marleybones vs Years: Which Pantry Fresh Dog Food 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 the Pantry Fresh® preparation format.

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

Years

Years is a Nottingham-based fresh dog food brand founded by Darren Beale. Meals are steam-cooked in airtight trays, keeping them shelf-stable for up to three months without preservatives.

Every plan includes a Breed Health+ supplement blend, which is added at serving. Recipes are vet-formulated, use 60% meat, and are grain and legume free. Years is stocked in selected pet stores and holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from over 5,500 reviews.

Marleybones vs Years: A Detailed Comparison

Food Format: Both Pantry-Fresh, Different Approaches

Marleybones

Marleybones meals come in recyclable Tetra-style cartons that are shelf-stable until opened. Open the carton and serve — no prep, no measuring, no additional steps. 

Years

Years meals come in steam-cooked airtight trays that are also shelf-stable until opened. At serving, a portion of the supplement blend is added to the meal.

Summary: Both brands are pantry-stored and require no freezing. Marleybones is ready to serve straight from the carton. Years involves adding the Breed Health+ supplement blend at each meal. 

Ingredients & Nutrition

Marleybones

Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods, including chicory root - a natural prebiotic. These are baked into every recipe as standard, with no separate supplements needed. No artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers.

Years

Years recipes use 60% meat alongside seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Functional nutrition — for example probiotics, omega oils — is delivered through the Breed Health+ supplement blend rather than the meal itself.

Summary: Both brands use high-quality natural ingredients with no nasties. Marleybones builds functional nutrition including natural prebiotics into every recipe as standard. Years delivers its supplement later separately via the Breed Health blend.

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.

Years

Years uses recyclable airtight trays with a reusable Stay Fresh lid. 

Summary: Both brands use recyclable packaging. Marleybones is also plastic neutral certified.

Availability: Where Can You Buy It?

Marleybones

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. 

Years

Years is available online via subscription and one-off orders, and is also stocked in pet speciality stores across the UK. 

Summary: Marleybones is available online and in premium retailers including Waitrose, Ocado, and Whole Foods. Years is available online and in Just for Pets stores.

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 simplicity of a no-prep, no-freezer format. Customer service is consistently praised as responsive and helpful.

Years

4.7/5 on Trustpilot from over 5,500 reviews. Customers highlight the visible quality of the ingredients, improvements in digestion and coat condition. 

Summary: Both brands are highly rated by customers. Years has a significantly larger review base reflecting its longer track record; Marleybones holds a marginally higher rating, with customers consistently highlighting the simplicity and convenience of its format.

Which Is Right for You?

Marleybones may suit you better if:

• You want fresh nutrition, including natural prebiotics, built into every meal with no extra steps
• Your dog has a sensitive stomach - natural prebiotics in every recipe actively support gut health
• You want broad retail availability across the UK including Waitrose, Ocado, and Whole Foods
• You want a plastic neutral certified brand that works out more affordable per day for smaller and medium-sized dogs

Years may suit you better if:

• You want a breed-specific supplement system tailored to your dog's health needs
• You want chef-cooked meals with a fine-dining-style positioning
• You prefer the tray format with a Stay Fresh lid for easy portion management

“Such a relief to see her enjoying her food”

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FAQs

Is Marleybones or Years.com cheaper?

Both Marleybones and Years.com provide personalised plans tailored to your dogs specific needs, which are priced accordingly. Marleybones generally works out cheaper for most dogs, with the difference most notable for smaller and medium-sized dogs. 

Does either Marleybones or Years.com require any preparation?

No. Marleybones meals are ready to serve straight from the carton with no preparation of any kind. Years meals are also shelf-stable and require no cooking, but the Breed Health+ supplement blend is added at each serving.

Is Marleybones or Years 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. Years includes probiotics and prebiotics in its Breed Health+ supplement blend, tailored to each dog's needs.

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. Customers can complete a short quiz to receive a personalised plan, or buy individual recipes directly.

Which has better Trustpilot reviews — Marleybones or Years?

Marleybones holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 750+ reviews. Years holds a 4.7/5 from over 5,500 reviews. Both brands are highly regarded by customers.

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. 

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