Round-up: Pet food producers ramp up investment in capacity and innovation

The latest projects reflect an industry-wide focus on strengthening production capabilities while advancing product development and sustainability initiatives. 

VAFO Group

The Czech-based pet food manufacturer has injected €14 million ($16M) to convert a former fish cannery in Poland into a wet pet food production facility. The move builds on the company’s long-term VAFO 2030 strategy, which focuses on expanding production capacity, particularly in the growing wet pet food segment.

Located in Słupsk, about 480 km northwest of Warsaw, the site will specialize in flexible pouch production. The plant, located on a 12-hectare site, will have an annual production capacity of up to 100 million units in its first phase. 

The facility will produce both VAFO Group’s own brands and private label products for international partners. It is located near the Port of Gdynia, one of the region’s key logistics hubs, as well as the Carry Pet Food production facility, which the group says is the European Union’s only manufacturer of handmade dog chews.

The plant will use energy-efficient technologies that focus on energy recovery, resource efficiency and minimizing its environmental footprint. Operations are scheduled to begin by the end of 2027.

Champion Petfoods

Mars-owned Canadian pet food maker Champion Petfoods has opened a CA$32 million ($23.4M/€20.4M) Global Innovation and Discovery Centre at its NorthStar Kitchen in Acheson, Alberta.

The state-of-the-art pilot facility will enable the company to develop, evaluate and refine new recipes, proprietary technologies and product concepts for its ORIJEN and ACANA brands before scaling them for commercial production.

In addition, the center aims to support the local economy by sourcing fresh ingredients from regional and national suppliers while advancing sustainable upcycling through ingredient and processing innovations, including freezing fish at the source and extracting oils.

The producer plans to invest further CA$15 million ($11M/€9.6M) in its Canadian plants over the next 5 years to enhance production, packaging and sustainability. 

“This facility empowers our associates to push the boundaries of pet nutrition, developing nutrient-rich foods with the speed, safety and scientific rigour that pet lovers expect from us,” says Stacey Osborn, President of Champion Petfoods.

Cargill

The multinational food corporation is strengthening its European research and development (R&D) capabilities in Belgium with a €5.4 million ($6.1M) investment in a new extrusion pilot plant at its food innovation center in Vilvoorde, about 11 km north of Brussels.

The plant supports a range of applications, including dry pet food, treats and other extruded products. It enables teams to rapidly test formulations, adjust processing conditions and develop representative prototypes, helping accelerate innovation across the food, feed and pet food sectors.

Elena Fraccaroli, Senior Technical Account Manager for Feed at Cargill, told GlobalPETS that the facility also enhances the company’s ability to evaluate ingredient functionality and collaborate with customers on selected development projects before industrial scale-up.

The expansion is part of Cargill’s broader €56 million ($63.6M) investment in Belgium, which also includes a €30 million ($34.1M) expansion of its gourmet chocolate production site in Mouscron (at the French border) and a €21 million ($23.9M) upgrade of its edible oil bottling facility in Izegem (in West Flanders).