OAK CREEK, WIS. — Freeze-dried food manufacturer Thrive Foods, owned by Entrepreneurial Equity Partners and Mubadala Capital, announced its new facility on Sept. 8. According to Entrepreneurial Equity Partners, the 341,000-square-foot facility will be one of the largest freeze-drying facilities in North America.

Located in Oak Creek, the facility will support Thrive’s freeze-drying capabilities for pet treats and probiotics. The state-of-the-art facility will feature best-in-class freeze dryers to expand the company’s capacity, as well as additional warehouse space and packaging capabilities. The facility is expected to begin operations in the summer of 2023 and will employ more than 250 people.

“We are excited to enhance our processing capabilities and geographic presence with this new facility,” said Steve Palmer, chief executive officer of Thrive. “This was a targeted location from early on and will allow us to continue providing customers with the highest quality freeze-dried products that they’ve come to expect from Thrive. This modern facility provides us even more capacity and expanded service capabilities to further meet the market's growing need for high-quality pet treats and probiotics. We look forward to continuing to drive growth in the Midwest and beyond.”

The new facility follows Thrive’s acquisition of Freeze Dried Foods, based in Albion, NY. According to the company, the new facility and acquisition represent its dedication to serving its customers from coast to coast and its drive to become a global leader in freeze drying. The expansions allow the company to add wet processing to its existing operations.

Currently, Thrive operates facilities in Modesto, Calif., American Fork, Utah, and Albion, NY. The company’s freeze-dried portfolio includes produce, proteins, pet treats, probiotics, enzymes and prepared meals.

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