Expanding pet food production: Purina, Trouw Nutrition, J.M. Smucker, MicroHarvest

Pet firms are accelerating investments in manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure, spanning pet food, treats and accessories, as they position for continued growth across regional markets.

Trouw Nutrition

Dutch pet food company Trouw Nutrition opened a new pet-dedicated premix plant in Griñón, 35 km south of Madrid, Spain, in March.

The new facility is the company’s second pet-dedicated production site in Europe, complementing the existing plant in Ashbourne, UK. The site is equipped with a full traceability system and operates as a zero-CO₂-emissions facility powered entirely by renewable electricity.

“This new pet-dedicated facility enables us to deliver high-accuracy, consistent premix formulations across all types of pet food,” says Vicky Brierley, Pet Technical and Nutrition Manager at Trouw Nutrition. “It represents an important step forward for our customers and for the future of pet nutrition.”

Nestlé Purina

Nestlé Purina has unveiled a R$2.5 billion ($463M/€400M) pet food factory in Vargeão, 1,600 km from the Brazilian capital Brasília, marking the giant’s largest investment in the South American market to date.

The new facility, which nearly doubles Purina’s wet pet food production capacity in Brazil, is equipped with robotics, AI and an Integrated Operations Center.

The plant complements the existing site in Ribeirão Preto and will boost export capacity, with initial shipments to Chile and gradual expansion planned across other South American markets.

The site is also the first manufacturing facility in Latin America to run on 100% renewable energy, using a biomass-powered boiler and electricity generated from renewable sources, the company claims.

“The new Vargeão plant strengthens our global strategy to expand premium wet pet food, offering a variety of textures and sensory experiences that elevate nutrition for dogs and cats,” says Marcelo Melchior, CEO of Nestlé Brazil. “This investment reflects our commitment to innovation, the well-being of pets, and Brazil as one of the most strategic markets for the growth of the pet business.”

J.M. Smucker

US pet food manufacturer J.M. Smucker has invested $20.5 million (€19M) into expanding its manufacturing facility in Topeka, Kansas. The investment includes $17.8 million (€16.5M) in real property and $2.7 million (€2.5M) in equipment.

The expansion is carried out in partnership with the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) board of Topeka and Shawnee County, as well as GO Topeka, the region’s economic development organization.

“We are excited to continue expanding our operations in Topeka to support the consumers who rely on our brands, including Meow Mix and Milk-Bone, and the dedicated workforce that delivers these products,” says Luke Livingston, Director of Operations at J.M. Smucker.

MicroHarvest

In February, German biotech firm MicroHarvest announced plans to build its first large-scale production plant in Industriepark Leuna (Saxony-Anhalt), located 184 km south of Berlin, with operations expected to begin within 2 years.

The planned facility is designed for an annual capacity of 15,000 tons, supported by a “mid- range double-digit million euro investment,” the company says. It also received a grant of €5.46 million ($6.3M) from Germany’s Federal Funding Programme for Energy and Resource Efficiency in Industry to invest in energy- and resource-efficient manufacturing.

With the new site, the company aims to scale fermentation-based production to support a more resilient European protein supply. Its offerings include pet food, aquaculture and human food.

“This project is about strengthening European supply resilience by adding a new, scalable protein ingredient pathway that is independent of seasons and climate volatility,” says Katelijne Bekers, Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest. “Leuna provides the industrial backbone and regional ecosystem needed to execute.”