BLAYNEY, AUSTRALIA — Nestlé unveiled an $90 million expansion of its Purina wet pet food facility in Blaney, on April 8. According to Nestlé, the expansion will significantly increase its production, meeting the growing demands for pet food within the Australian and global markets.

As well as expanding the facility, Nestlé also added 20 new employees to the facility’s team to aid in the production of its Felix, Fancy Feast, Pro Plan and Purina One brands.

The facility expansion boasts new, state-of-the-art, high-speed manufacturing technology and will use local ingredients, including meat and grains, to create wet cat food formulas. Originally, the Blayney facility began its operations in 1989 and has since expanded to feature several world-class manufacturing capabilities.

“We are proud to produce quality Purina pet food for our much-loved furry friends across Australia and around the region, right here in Blayney,” said Charlene De Wit, Blayney factory manager for Nestlé. “Our expanded facilities will allow us to scale up production of single serve wet cat food by over 120% – as well as the dry cat and dog food we already produce.”

This latest expansion of the Blayney facility increases Nestlé’s total investment in the plant to more than $200 million. The manufacturing plant has expanded significantly in the past 10 years to improve production and provide enhanced capabilities. Blayney’s wet cat food plant originally opened in 2014 to manufacture premium pet food with a strong palatability for cats, while using simple ingredients.

Nestlé’s expansion of the wet cat food facility will allow the company to serve as a key supplier for wet and dry pet foods, exporting its products to New Zealand, Thailand and Japan.

With this latest expansion, the Blayney facilities employ more than 300 people, supporting more than 60 local businesses and contractors.

“We have an incredibly dedicated and highly skilled team here at Blayney,” De Witt said. “By bringing leading technology to our factory and continuing to use high quality ingredients in our product, we are even more confident that we will continue to enrich the lives of pets and the people who love them for years to come.”

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