CLINTON, Iowa – There are more big plans in the works for the Nestle Purina PetCare Company in Clinton.
The company recently announced plans for a $110 million investment in the Clinton facility to build a 90,000-square-foot building to support an expansion at the facility. The investment, announced in a news release, includes adding an automated warehousing technology to the facility and creating 15 new jobs.
Company officials did not state when the new technology and new jobs would be added to the Clinton facility, and were not available for comment today, Jan. 3.
“Nestle Purina PetCare Company’s continued investment in the Greater Clinton region is proof that our area boasts a business-friendly environment with the infrastructure and resources necessary to be successful,” said Andy Sokolovich, president and CEO of Grow Clinton, a tourism, community and economic development organization located in Clinton. “The company hosts a positive culture focused on the well-being of its team, our community, and the manufacturing of quality pet food. I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with their staff, supporting yet another milestone for the Clinton facility.”
The announcement of $110 million in upgrades and more jobs in Clinton is the latest expansion news for the area factory. In October, the company celebrated the completion of a $156 million expansion that will lead to the hiring of nearly 100 more workers as part of that project.
“The pet care business is strong. … We are always looking ahead to what’s next,” Justin Wilkinson, factory manager of the Nestle Purina Clinton plant, said during the Oct. 5 celebration.
That expansion project, which began in early 2020, includes:
- New cooking and packaging lines that will be used to make a variety of pet food brands, including Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets.
- A new 3,800-square-foot technical training center in Clinton that supports Purina’s investment in digital tools and technology to enhance collaboration and innovation in manufacturing.
- Purina also purchased a building adjacent to the factory and retrofitted it for the packaging and storage of two unique Purina brands. They include: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements, including Calming Care and FortiFlora, the No. 1 probiotic brands recommended by veterinarians that contain beneficial strains of bacteria that promote calm behavior and support digestive health, respectively.
- The expansion results in 96 new positions at the factory, which now employs about 570 workers.
“Purina is proud to invest in our brands, our employees and the community here in Clinton,” Mr. Wilkinson said in a news release in October. “The Clinton factory plays a unique role at Purina with the production of over 190 formulas, many of which are exclusively made in Clinton. We value our team here and their future, and we are grateful that the Clinton community has supported our growth here for more than 50 years.”
During the October event, company officials added that the words “continued growth” are key to the Clinton company. At the ceremony, several officials hinted that the community should expect more growth in the years to come. For instance, John Bear, Purina’s chief technical officer, said: “We are not done. Stay tuned.”
And Mr. Wilkinson added: “We have big plans. We’re going to continue to grow.”
Purina employs approximately 1,370 people across Iowa. In addition to the factory in Clinton, Purina has operations in Fort Dodge and Davenport.
