Nestlé Purina Picks Ohio as Part of Broad Growth Plan

The Challenge

Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Nestlé had a broad growth plan for Purina and wanted to expand production of its leading dry dog and cat food brands, including Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE, and Dog Chow. This plan included the construction of at least one new factory in the Midwest region to meet increasing demand for its high-quality, nutritious pet foods. 

The Solution

In early 2022, Purina announced plans to build two new factories in the United States, including a state-of-the-art facility in Williamsburg Township’s South Afton Industrial Park 30 miles east of Cincinnati. The 1.2 million-square-foot factory would apply the latest automation technologies to manufacture pet food, and create hundreds of jobs in the region.

Purina’s new operations would be designed with sustainability at the forefront, including a commitment to send zero waste for disposal, and production processes that recover and reuse heat and water.

Key factors in choosing Ohio included:

• The company’s established history statewide: Nestlé employs more than 3,000 people across nine facilities in Ohio, including its corporate offices, research and development, and manufacturing sites for Nestlé USA and Nestlé Professional

• Strong existing relationships with partners at the state and local levels

• Distribution advantages for food production companies in Ohio, thanks to proximity to suppliers based nearby

• Ohio’s business-friendly tax laws

• Ohio’s ideal centralized location, which is only a day’s drive from 60% of the populations of the United States and Canada

• A local workforce that’s highly skilled and industrious

The Results

• Jobs Created: 300

• Total Payroll: $12,542,400

• Total Investment: $550 million

• Economic Impact: Purina is a top brand known around the world—historically No. 1 in pet food sales, volume, and market share. Attracting a project of this enormity was significant not just for the 300 jobs it created, but also for the broader impact it had on the entire region.

• Strategic Advantage: Nestlé Purina’s $550 million investment was substantial, allowing the company and the facility itself the ability to grow well into the future.

Southwest Ohio was an excellent location for Purina’s new factory thanks to the region’s distribution advantages, a workforce with great potential, and strong community values. We had a unique opportunity to bring all our best technical and innovative manufacturing thinking under one roof as we constructed the facility from the ground up.

-Nolan Terry, Chief Technical Officer, Purina