Today, Nestlé Purina PetCare announced an estimated $450 million investment to open a new factory in Eden, North Carolina, to meet increasing demand for its pet foods.
 
The expansion is part of a broader growth plan for Purina that began last year with the grand opening of the company’s newest wet pet food factory and distribution center in Hartwell, Georgia. The new factory in Eden will join Purina’s network of 21 existing manufacturing locations across the U.S., and is anticipated to begin operation in 2022.
 
“Eden is Purina’s first manufacturing operation in North Carolina, and through this expansion we build on our more than 90-year history of making science-based dog and cat foods that pet owners trust,” Nina Leigh Krueger, president of Nestlé Purina U.S., said. “Despite the challenging times we have all been living in, Purina has remained resilient. This strategic and long-term investment demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality nutrition for pets.”
 
The new factory will revitalize a former brewery, transforming it into a pet food manufacturing facility to produce dry dog and dry cat food brands, including Purina Pro Plan, Purina One, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. Purina plans to employ more than 300 people at its new factory location by 2024, while also increasing its use of third-party employment. Many of the jobs at Purina’s new factory will include professional staff, production operators, technical staff, and engineers.
 
“North Carolina’s manufacturing workforce is strong, and this announcement is an important new phase in Nestlé Purina’s growth,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. “This company’s global reputation for quality products, innovation, sustainability, and corporate citizenship fits well with our state’s workforce, economy, and the business community.”
 
The factory will be approximately 1.3 million square feet in size, and will be built on a 1,300-plus acre parcel near the border of North Carolina and Virginia. The company has plans to commit to zero waste for disposal, and production processes designed t recover and reuse heat and water. Additionally, the company plans to make the facility 100% powered by renewable energy by 2030.