EU production scale-up: Josera, Inspired Pet Nutrition and Kemin

GlobalPETS highlights the latest developments in production capacity expansion across the continent. 

Inspired Pet Nutrition

UK-based pet food maker Inspired Pet Nutrition unveiled its new distribution center (DC) on 28 October as part of its £6 million ($7.7M/€7.1M) investment to support the company’s infrastructure and long-term growth.

The new DC, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, will boost Inspired’s supply chain resilience and capacity to support its growth in the UK and Europe. It was launched alongside its new head office in Thirsk, Yorkshire.

“These are investments in our people, our brands and our future,” says Arthur Van Benthem, CEO of Inspired Pet Nutrition. “These developments reflect our commitment to our purpose to create happiness.” 

The company, which acquired French firm Sopral earlier in the year, manufactures dry and wet pet food under various brands, including Harringtons and Wagg. Currently, it operates across 5 manufacturing sites and offices in the UK, France, Poland and Spain.

Josera

After almost 2.5 years of construction, German pet food maker Josera opened its newest dry food factory in Nowy Tomyśl, Poland, about 370 km from Warsaw.

Unveiled earlier in September, the new 40,000-square-meter facility will manufacture products under the flagship Josera brand as well as Josi, Green Petfood and Bavaro. GlobalPETS learned that the new plant has a production capacity of over 100,000 tons of dry pet food per year.

“Our pet food products are already available in 90 countries, and our long-term goal is to strengthen our international presence. To this end, we have decided to substantially increase our pet food production capacity,” a company spokesperson told GlobalPETS.

The facility has been designed to accommodate the installation of additional production lines. According to Josera, this could increase capacity by up to 50%.

The plant is equipped with advanced production processes, automation and quality control systems, an in-house research laboratory and an integrated logistics and management system supported by artificial intelligence.

In addition, it operates its own gas-fired power plant, which reduces the company’s ecological footprint. 

Kemin Industries

American pet food ingredient manufacturer Kemin Industries opened a new regional headquarters and state-of-the-art research laboratory for Kemin Nutrisurance in Veronella, Italy, on 9 October. The new facility is located approximately 500 km from Rome.

Kemin Nutrisurance is the company’s business unit dedicated to developing ingredients and solutions for the pet food and rendering industries.

The new regional headquarters covers 3,400 square meters, including 1,000 square meters dedicated to research. It will support regional growth in Italy, which currently contributes around 30% of Kemin Nutrisurance’s global revenue and has achieved an average annual growth of over 11% over the past 5 years.

Founded in Iowa, Kemin Industries serves customers in over 120 countries and has manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.