Pet food companies around the world continue to invest in production and workforce expansions.
Montego powers pet food factory with solar energy
South Africa’s Montego Pet Nutrition has invested about R11 million (US$600,000) to install solar panels to power its factory in Graaff-Reinet, in the country’s Eastern Cape Province. The latest project brings the company’s total investments in enabling the plant to run on renewable energy to some R33 million, local news site Iol.co.za reported.
“Comprising over 2,000 550W panels and covering more or less the entire roof of our head office in Graaff-Reinet, the new upgrade takes it a step further,” said Kallie Venter, the engineering manager at Montego Pet Nutrition. The business has “integrated and digitized the solar energy plants to allow remote monitoring and control of the entire system, online, in real-time,” he said.
Under the plan, the pet food producer is to install photovoltaic systems at all its production facilities, starting with the Centurion factory early next year.
Kormotech to invest in Lithuanian production capacities
Ukrainian petfood maker Kormotech has unveiled plans to ramp up its production capabilities in Kėdainiai, Lithuania. The company aims to add a further 200 employees to its Lithuanian workforce. Owing to the project, Kormotech will invest more than €60 million (US$64.2 million) in four production phases to be implemented in the years 2025 to 2028.
“While we plan to build new production facilities in Ukraine once the war is over, Lithuania currently serves as our gateway to the world,” said Rostyslav Vovk, CEO and co-owner of Kormotech, in a statement released by the country’s foreign investment agency Invest Lithuania. “The plant has proven to be a reliable support system, consistently operating at full capacity and bridging the gaps when our Ukrainian plants experience disruptions.”
Kormotech manufactures wet and dry food for cats and dogs. The company’s factory in Kėdainiai specializes in wet pet food production, and its current annual capacity is 20,000 tons, according to data from the statement.
Darya Glushenko, a spokesperson for Kormotech, told Petfoodindustry.com that, in the second quarter of 2023, Kormotech completed a 25% capacity increase at its Lithuanian production facility. In an earlier interview with Petfoodindustry.com, Vovk said that this year, Kormotech is focusing its efforts on developing its position in a number of foreign markets. These include the U.S., Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Moldova, among others.
United Petfood plans to boost French factory’s output capability
Belgian pet food producer United Petfood is planning to ramp up its manufacturing capacities at the plant in Saint-Martin-des-Noyers, in France’s northwestern region of Pays de la Loire.
The French production facility is currently able to produce about 34,000 tons of dry pet food per year. Once the company completes its designed expansion project in Saint-Martin-des-Noyers, the factory’s output capability will be raised to approximately 75,000 tons annually, according to information obtained by local daily “Ouest France.”
The investment is expected to serve United Petfood’s sales in France, as indicated by United Petfood. “A minimum of 83% of [the plant’s] production is intended for the French market. This could be raised to up to 88%,” the company said in a statement.
Set up in 1994 and headquartered in Gent, in Belgium’s northwestern part, United Petfood specializes in making private label dry pet food, wet pet food, treats and snacks. The Belgian family business runs a total of 22 pet food manufacturing facilities located in several European countries, selling its products in more than 95 markets across the world, according to data released by the manufacturer.
