DELANO, MINN. — Tuffy’s Pet Foods, Inc., a KLN Family Brands company, announced Dec. 17 the grand opening of its new 174,000-square-foot pet treat processing facility in Delano. The facility is now operational after more than a year of construction.

Construction of the facility began in August 2019 and was spearheaded by CRB, a global consulting, design and construction firm based in Kansas City, Mo. The facility was built with sustainability, food safety and flexibility in mind. For example, it was designed to achieve a Green Global Certification for sustainable practices, Tuffy’s reported.

The plant includes two extrusion lines with the capacity to produce 9,000 lbs of semi-moist pet treats per hour, as well as six packaging lines for filling stand-up, resealable pouches. Additionally, the facility features an on-site warehouse and shell space for future expansions.

“Since 1964, Tuffy’s has been committed to producing great products for our beloved fourlegged family members,” said Charlie Nelson, president and chief executive officer of KLN Family Brands. “The new plant will allow us to expand our offerings and meet consumer demand for healthy treats that are made lovingly and produced safely. The City of Delano and its business community have been incredibly welcoming to us. We are committed to adding to the quality of life in Delano and the surrounding area.”

The pet food and treat company currently employs 40 people at the new facility and expects to employ between 100 and 125 people when it reaches full capacity.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Tuffy’s Pet Foods chose Delano for its new plant,” said Delano Mayor Dale Graunke. “The company has an unparalleled reputation for quality, community service and employee benefits. Their commitment is a vote of confidence in Delano and a great win for our residents.”

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