Simmons Pet Food plans to expand its wet pet food production and distribution facilities as part of the company’s US$500 million growth plan.
In Edgerton and Emporia, Kansas, USA. Simmons will invest approximately US$115 million in the pet food manufacturing plants and other facilities. The plant expansions are expected to create 177 jobs. Simmons will build a 750,000-square-foot distribution hub in Edgerton.
“Edgerton is an ideal location for new warehouse capacity and automated packaging operations to streamline the distribution of product to our customers throughout the U.S.,” said Chad Morris, senior vice president of supply chain at Simmons, in a press release.
In Emporia, Simmons will add a fourth high-speed canning line to their pet food production facility. The company’s Emporia facility has been in operation since 1998, beginning with one line and approximately 250 people. Today the operation produces pet food in pouches, cups and tubs, in addition to the canned pet food plant. The combined operation has grown to employ more than 1,500 people.
“The fourth line in Emporia will be capable of producing 60,000 pounds per hour and will expand the total annual plant output to more than 70 million cases (1.6+ billion units) by early 2024,” Scott Salmon, president of Simmons Pet Food, in a press release. “As we set the Emporia plans in motion, we are on the eve of also starting operations of our second line of production at our Dubuque facility.”
Simmons also plans to start-up the second line of canned pet food at its Dubuque, Iowa, facility.
More about Simmons Pet Food
According to Petfood Industry’s Top Companies Current Data, Simmons Pet Food is a North American private-label and contract manufacturer of wet pet food. Annual revenue in 2021 was approximately US$1 billion.
The company produces both premium and value-focused offerings, supplying top brands and retailers in various product and packaging formats. Simmons is a family owned company in business for 70 years and is headquartered in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, USA. Simmons Pet Food operates two wet pet food production facilities. Simmons Pet Food is owned by Simmons Foods Inc. & Affiliates.
