Integrity Owned. Community Grown. Vitality Shared.
Three generations of Perham, Minnesota families crafting healthy pet food since 1964.
As a boy, founder Darrell Nelson took a tumble that would have sent most kids to the doctor. Instead, he brushed himself off and kept playing, earning the nickname “Tuffy.”
A vintage family portrait of four Nelson generations: Albert with Charlie on his lap, Darrel “Tuffy” Nelson, and Kenny.
The name stayed with him, and in 1964, Darrell and his son Kenny launched Tuffy’s Pet Foods.
Tuffy’s reflects the heart of Perham and small towns everywhere: compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility guide every decision we make. As a family-owned company, we focus on what matters most to our employees, our community, and the pets families trust us to nourish.
After the Nelson family sold Tuffy’s in the 1970s, Kenny Nelson never lost sight of what the company meant to Perham or to the family’s original vision. In 2001, he brought Tuffy’s back home preserving the plant, protecting local jobs, and carrying forward the legacy his family helped build.
In 2002, Charlie Nelson joined his dad, Kenny, helping carry KLN Family Brands into its third generation of family ownership.
Under Charlie’s leadership, NutriSource® grew beyond its original foundations, expanding into dry food, wet food, treats, toppers, and more while also building out new category platforms through PureVita, Choice, and the Element Series.
(Photo from left to right is Tina and Chase Rasmussen— President and Megan and Charlie Nelson — CEO.)
In 2016, our Perham pet food facility continued to evolve as Tuffy’s Pet Foods expanded both the plant and warehouse, creating the space needed to support future growth and innovation.
By 2018, that growth took another step forward with construction beginning on a new mill project at Tuffy’s Pet Foods, a major investment in our manufacturing capabilities and long-term future.
In 2020, our love of treats expanded to Delano, Minnesota, with the opening of a new NutriSource® facility dedicated to producing canned pet food and treats.
“When we meet face-to-face and shake hands, the commitment to our trusted partners goes beyond business. We know we’re working for the same great product quality that keeps pet parents coming back.”
Charlie Nelson—NutriSource® CEO
Our Promise in Every Bag
The NutriSource® brands, NutriSource®, PureVita, Choice and Element Series, are committed to the long-term health of family pets. That promise drives our focus on quality, safety, and nutrition in every bag.
As a family-owned company rooted in Perham, Minnesota, we value compassion, integrity, and community. Those principles guide every decision we make, from the products we create to the partners we work with.
We believe great things happen when pet lovers support local pet supply stores. That’s why we stand behind our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If your pet doesn’t love a formula, return it to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund or help finding the right one.
What Guides Our Promise
As a family-owned and operated company, we are guided - everyday - by the values that shape how we work and what we make: people, quality, spirit, moxie, tradition, and community. Those beliefs are at the heart of our company and at the center of every recipe, decision, and partnership.
People
People are at the center of NutriSource®. As a family-owned company, decisions are made with employees, customers, and retail partners in mind, always with the goal of doing what’s best for the people behind the brand and the families who trust it.
Quality
Quality is reflected in safe, high-quality pet foods, careful formulation, and a commitment to making nutrition that pets can thrive on every day.
Spirit/Moxie
Spirit and Moxie suggest a blend of energy, confidence, and grit, the kind of mindset that keeps the company moving forward while staying true to its values.
Tradition
Tradition comes through in the Nelson family legacy, Perham roots, and the multi-generational story that continues to shape the company today.
Community
Community remains a core part of who NutriSource® is, from supporting local retailers and rescue organizations to investing in the people and places that have helped the company grow.
We believe caring goes beyond the bowl.
Through our SuperStars Giving Program, we support pet rescues, shelters, humane organizations, service dog efforts, children’s hospitals, and community causes that make life better for people and animals alike.
Every purchase helps us give back in a way that reflects who we are: a family business committed to enriching the world around us.
“What good are we if we aren’t trying to make a difference?” — Charlie Nelson, NutriSource® CEO
When you visit the region, we hope you’ll stop and discover what makes Perham and Delano, Minnesota so special. As Charlie would say, it’s the strength of families working side by side for generations dedicated to producing pet food that supports the long-term health of the pets we all love.
Family-owned means our decisions prioritize employees, our town, and family pets above all.
The strength of our past to nourish your pet's future.
Discover our formulas. See what sets us apart. Join the families who know that what’s inside, matters.
