These pet players are scaling up their production capabilities

In the final quarter of 2025, pet food players announced new investments to boost production, research and development (R&D) and retail infrastructure in Europe, the US and Asia.

MiAlgae 

Scottish biotech firm MiAlgae will improve its sustainable algal omega-3 production with a new scale-up facility in Grangemouth, about 47 km from Edinburgh. The plant will be backed by a joint investment of up to £3 million ($3.8M/€3.5M) by the UK and Scottish governments.

Expected to start operations in the second quarter of 2026, the new site will boost MiAlgae’s supply of fish-free omega-3 oils for the global pet food industry by more than tenfold.

Located close to raw material suppliers and major customers, it will support a low-carbon supply chain for pet nutrition manufacturers across the UK, EU and US. 

According to MiAlgae, increased capacity will enable manufacturers to incorporate premium DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) into dry, wet and supplement formats without relying on wild-caught fish oil. 

The company says it also has the potential to save 6 billion fish annually by replacing marine-sourced omega-3 and to recycle 36.1 million liters of whisky by-products through MiAlgae’s circular process.

Elanco

Elanco, an American animal health company, has invested $400 million (€370M) into expanding its R&D capabilities at its new Indianapolis global headquarters and the surrounding OneHealth Innovation District.

The investment will also support innovation at the company’s Kansas monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing facility, particularly the development of immunotherapeutics for pets.

According to the company, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted an accelerated pathway for conditional approval of a novel immunotherapeutic that has the potential to become a first-in-class pet health blockbuster, expected within the next 2 to 3 years.

Mamidocder

In Korea, pet food producer Mamidocder Co is investing ₩6.7 billion ($5M/€4.6M) to secure an additional 85,353 square meters of land adjacent to its existing factory in Moga-myeon (approximately 60 km from the capital Seoul). 

By 2028, the company will also expand its production lines and strengthen its R&D infrastructure.

The investment follows a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Mamidocder and the city of Icheon in Gyeonggi Province to attract new investment. 

This is part of the city’s plan to form an investment attraction task force, expedite permits and approvals and implement a customized investment cooperation officer system for companies.

“Mamidocder’s investment will also contribute to diversifying Icheon’s industrial structure,” says Mayor Kyunghee Kim. “We will continue to focus the city’s capabilities on creating an environment where companies can trust and invest.”

According to local media, the pet food manufacturer was founded in 1995. It produces customized pet food and nutritional supplements and currently holds a 25% share of the domestic premium pet food market. 

Farmina Pet Foods

Italian producer Farmina Pet Foods is investing €20 million ($22M) in its factory in Inđija, Serbia, 50 km from the capital Belgrade.

The investment, to be injected over the next 2 years, will expand its production capacity and introduce new lines for dog dental treats and cat creams.

Since its establishment in Serbia in 2010, Farmina has invested over €50 million ($55M). Currently, it exports 97% of its production to markets across Europe, the US, Canada, Brazil, Chile, the Middle East, Russia and Japan.

The factory in Inđija currently employs 415 workers with an annual revenue exceeding €170 million ($187M). 

“With the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, bilateral agreements have been established with more than 50 countries, enabling us to export to all continents,” says Angelo Russo, Director of Farmina Pet Foods.

MHP Pet Food

Ukraine-based player MHP is set to open a new wet pet food factory in Croatia in the first quarter of 2026, following a €40 million ($44M) investment.

The facility will mark the company’s entry into the sector under the brand MHP Pet Food and will manufacture its own brands as well as private-label products for partners. It will initially focus on Southeastern Europe, with a strategic outlook toward broader European markets.

Located near Zagreb, the factory will source its ingredients from MHP’s poultry processing facilities in Croatia and Slovenia, with fresh chicken supplied by Perutnina Ptuj, the leading poultry producer in the region.