allow me to put in my 2 cents worth...
i have used science diet since 1988 and am quite familiar with the history of the brand in the country...
way back then, the only dogfoods available in the market in Manila were: SCIENCE DIET and PURINA DOG CHOW. Purina was available in groceries while Science Diet had to ordered from vet clinics.
in cebu, there was some Purina and then there was WOOF CHUNX (which is a CEBUANO brand! the only locally produced dogfood in the country).
science diet was often used in the UP Diliman Teaching Hospital and recommended for its patients because of its excellent quality. It always solved the problem of poorly growing puppies or convalescing patients. resident veterinarians at the hospital also admired the fact that it recognized the need for different diet formulations for patients with various diseases. since Science Diet was available there, i used to lug a bag with me for our dobermans and great dane when i came home to cebu for vacation.
In the manila market, Science Diet was the brand to beat.
A few years after, in the early 90's, Pedigree came in as well as a german brand that did not last long. Then a few more years after, came Alpo, Eukanuba, etc.
When it was still a question of Pedigree vs Science Diet vs Purina Dog chow, there was no question about which one was the better brand.
However, when the other and more expensive brands came in, the market for higher end dogfood became divided and the marketing wars began. Science diet was labeled as an expensive dogfood made from inferior ingredients. Science diet however, did not change its marketing strategy because it was well endorsed by veterinarians here and abroad and as they say... the results that Science Diet produced spoke for itself.
Unfortunately over the years, despite its quality and the fact that it is the preferred brand of most veterinarians (who are in the real medical service business, not in the merchandising business), bad publicity eroded the market and reputation of the brand. the fact that its supply was always erratic did not help much either.
so that is the history of the much maligned Science Diet.