ATLANTA, GA — Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. will invest $550 million to expand its Hartwell, GA, pet food manufacturing facility, creating up to 130 jobs in Hart County.
The expansion comes just one year after the factory’s grand opening in November 2019.
In 2017, Purina announced plans to open a wet pet food factory in Hartwell, with a commitment to invest $320 million and employ 240 people by 2023. The facility is expanding to add processing, packaging and warehouse capacity, for a total of $870 million committed to the company’s Hartwell operations.
The expansion is part of a broader growth plan for Purina, which also includes new factories recently announced in Williamsburg Township, OH, and Eden, NC. Purina brands feed 49 million dogs and 66 million cats every year, and the Hartwell location produces several of the company’s flagship brands, including Fancy Feast.
“Purina is thrilled to be expanding our operations in Hartwell,” said Purina Factory Manager Winston Silva. “Through this investment, we will continue delivering the science-based nutrition pet lovers have come to trust for more than 90 years, with a continued commitment to safety and sustainability in our operations. We’re proud to be a part of the Hartwell community and look forward to expanding our Purina family while also continuing to make a positive impact for pets and people in Northeast Georgia.”
With the expansion, Purina now expects to employ up to 370 people at its Hartwell facility by the end of 2025. Purina also currently employs more than 400 people at its dry pet food factory in Fairburn, GA. New jobs in Hartwell will include positions in manufacturing and assembly from the associate level through management opportunities.
“It’s a pleasure to see a world-renowned company like Nestlé Purina expand their operations in the Peach State,” said Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp. “Our highly skilled workforce of hardworking Georgians has been critical to attracting new jobs and investment to every corner of the state. I’m excited for what this will mean for Hart County and the surrounding region, and I’m grateful for Nestlé Purina’s continued investment in Georgia.”