Nestlé Purina is to invest CHF 520 million (£478m) in a new factory in Italy to expand production of pet food.
The facility in Mantova will combine a plant producing super-premium wet pet food for cats and dogs with a high-tech logistics hub serving Purina as well as other Nestlé brands.
The investment will bring the number of Purina production sites in Europe to 15. Petcare now accounts for 29% of Nestlé sales in Zone Europe and continues to deliver strong growth for the company. Wet cat food is a particular growth driver, with the segment growing by 8% in Europe in 2025, reports the company.
The new facility will include a range of environmental measures to reduce emissions, lower logistics-related traffic, save water, and recover energy, with production expected to start in 2029.
The development in Mantova follows Nestlé’s announcement earlier this year of a CHF 370 million (£340m) investment in a new wet pet food factory in Brazil.
Rafael Lopez, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, said: “Petcare is one of Nestlé’s four focus businesses, and this investment is a clear signal of our continued growth ambition for the category.
“Super-premium wet pet food is particularly attractive right now. It offers a variety of textures and sensory experiences combined with great nutrition for dogs and cats, all things that people are looking for as they welcome pets into the heart of their families.”
Marco Travaglia, president and CEO of Nestlé Italy, added: “The new Purina plant for wet pet food and the distribution platform strengthen our presence in Italy and at the heart of European transport corridors, enabling us to serve customers and consumers better and faster.”
