Nestlé Purina PetCare, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis, is spending $115 million to expand a manufacturing plant in Bloomfield, Mo., that makes Tidy Cats litter.
The half-million-square-foot Bloomfield plant about 150 miles south of St. Louis has 340 employees. The new 110,000-square-foot expansion of the plant will add 30 jobs by mid-2020, the company said Thursday. The Bloomfield facility is led by factory manager Jeff Goodmanson.
Tidy Cat’s 18 percent sales growth over the past four years prompted the expansion to significantly increase production of Tidy Cats LightWeight cat litter and Tidy Cats scoop cat litter, according to Purina, a unit of Swiss-based Nestlé SA. Recently, Nestlé has invested heavily in its high-growth food and beverage categories.
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“Tidy Cats is a significant growth driver for Purina’s U.S. business as more and more pet owners demand a trusted, high-performing litter product,” Vicki Felker, vice president and general manager of Purina’s Litter Division, said in a statement. “This expansion reflects an investment in our local operations and our commitment to continue delivering innovative and highly effective pet care products for cat owners.”
Purina, which makes Dog Chow, Friskies and other products for pets, invested $475 million in its U.S. factories in 2018, including $215 million in Missouri over the past four years, where it employs more than 3,500 people.
“Purina’s job growth in Missouri for 125 years proves the company’s commitment to the state and the people who call it home,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. “Expansions and job growth like this are essential for Missouri moving forward, and we appreciate Purina’s significant investment in the state.
As the parent company looks to focus on its most profitable businesses, Purina is growing in St. Louis.
In 2017, Purina announced plans to open a $320 million pet food distribution facility in Hartwell, Ga., its first new U.S. plant in two decades. The Hartwell plant, which will open later this year, is expected to create 240 jobs by 2023.