Nestlé Purina PetCare announced a $550 million investment to build a factory in Williamsburg Township, OH.
The Williamsburg Township location will join Purina’s network of 21 existing manufacturing locations across the U.S. and be the company’s first new factory built from the ground up since 1975. It’s the second new plant Purina has announced in 2020 after the company revealed plans in late September to convert a former brewery into a pet food factory in Eden, NC.
The factory will produce dry dog and cat food brands, including Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Dog Chow. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will sit in Williamsburg Township’s South Afton Industrial Park. Purina plans to employ more than 300 people at its new factory location by 2024. Many of these jobs will include professional staff, production operators, technical staff and engineers. Construction will begin this fall, and the factory is expected to be operational in 2023.
“Purina is excited to be building two new factories in the U.S. over the next few years. This growth is a testament to strong consumer demand for our high-quality nutrition that helps pets live longer, healthier lives,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, president, Purina. “Our new Ohio factory will build on our more than 90-year history of making science-based dog and cat foods that pet owners trust. We are grateful for the partnership at the state and local levels, and we’re excited to call Clermont County home and support this great community for a long time.”
The facility “will be Purina’s most technologically advanced pet food factory, utilizing robotics and innovative digital tools and featuring a training center to promote learning and development,” according to a press release from the company.
The new operations “will be designed with sustainability at the forefront, including a commitment to send zero waste for disposal, and production processes designed to recover and reuse heat and water,” the release explained.
“Purina also is striving to make the facility 100 percent powered by renewable electricity in the shortest practical timeframe, while supporting the company’s ambition for zero environmental impact in company operations by 2030.”
Purina received proposals from state and local agencies, including Williamsburg Schools, Williamsburg Township and the Port Authority, with support from Clermont County Commissioners. This support provides the opportunity for Purina to expand its pet food operations while retaining and attracting top talent over the long term. The Ohio Development Services Agency approved a Job Creation Tax Credit to support the project.
The new factory announcement in Ohio is another step in Purina’s continued growth that began last year in Hartwell, GA – the company’s first new factory to open in 20 years. The company has also committed to capital investments this year in Clinton, IA, and Mechanicsburg, PA. In the last five years, Purina has invested $1.5 billion in its U.S. operations.