Nestlé Purina commemorated
the opening of its newest distribution center in Hartwell, Georgia,
during a ceremony May 19. The site is also the future home of the
company's 21st manufacturing facility, where popular and high-quality
Purina pet food brands will be produced beginning in mid-2019.
The 190,000-sq ft distribution center currently employs more than 40
people and distributes Purina dog and cat food to retailers throughout
the southeast region. Purina's leading brands in the U.S. include
Purina ONE, Tidy Cats, Beneful, Friskies, Fancy Feast and Purina Pro
Plan.
"We're thrilled to have the leading pet food company in the U.S. make
this kind of investment in Hartwell," said Brandon Johnson, Mayor of
Hartwell. "Purina's expansion here reinforces our actions to support
industry, agriculture and our continuing emphasis on workforce
development."
Pat Masching, Purina's Vice President & Director of Manufacturing,
said, "We're excited to mark the completion of the first phase of this
project. Pet care is a growing part of Nestlé's business, and the
opening of the distribution center in Hartwell represents the first
step in Purina's journey to expand production capacity into Hartwell,
which will help us meet consumer demand."
Purina's expansion in Hartwell is one example of how the company is
making investments to grow the business and advance pet care. In 2018
alone, Purina will invest $500 million into its factories across the
U.S. for projects that support innovation and expansion.
With a total expected investment of $320 million by 2023, Purina's
Hartwell site will be among the most modern pet food factories and
feature best-in-class production equipment. Hartwell is Purina's
second facility in Georgia, where the company also employs 300 people
at its Atlanta pet food factory.
"Hartwell is a great place for Purina to grow as we continue
delivering best-in-class quality and nutrition and driving innovation
that helps pets live happier, healthier lives," said Rachel Miller,
Site Manager for Purina in Hartwell. "We're grateful for the support
of the community, our new employees and their families as we
officially begin our operations here."
In Hartwell, Purina will employ approximately 240 people by 2023.
Future job openings include positions in administration, production,
engineering, maintenance and more. Job seekers can visit
PurinaJobs.com/HartwellOpening to learn more and be among the first
notified when new positions are posted.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare Company Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes
responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond
between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet
products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a
global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
