Nestlé Purina PetCare announced Wednesday that its new pet food factory in Batavia, Ohio, will hold its official grand opening this August.
The event will bring together company leadership, local and state officials, community partners and associates to celebrate the facility's transition to full production.
The $550 million investment represents the company's first ground-up factory construction since 1975.
"We are looking forward to officially opening the doors of our Batavia factory and celebrating this historic moment for our team," said Mike Ferritto, Purina Batavia’s factory manager, in a statement. "As one of the largest investments Nestlé has made in a Purina manufacturing facility to date, this facility represents the future of pet food manufacturing. The factory combines world-class innovation with the talented workforce here in Clermont County."
The Batavia facility is already producing dry cat and dog food from Purina's portfolio of brands including Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Dog Chow. The factory currently employs more than 340 associates, with plans to grow to more than 500 when fully operational. The facility taps into the region's manufacturing tradition as part of the Cincinnati area's broader food manufacturing ecosystem of more than 300 food and flavoring companies.
"By investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing infrastructure and partnering with committed communities like Clermont County, we're building a facility that will serve pet owners and their beloved companions for generations to come," said Nina Leigh Krueger, Purina CEO and president. "Our new Batavia factory will play a vital role in strengthening our supply chain and ensuring families across the country have access to the trusted Purina products their pets thrive on."
The new factory will become the 24th Purina factory in the U.S.
