Nestlé Purina is investing €55 million through 2029 to upgrade its 40-year-old pet food production facility in Portogruaro, Italy, to meet growing demand for super-premium pet nutrition and improve its European manufacturing capabilities.
- Investment amount: €55 million (US$64 million) through 2029 at Portogruaro, Italy facility
- Key upgrades: Modernization for super-premium pet food production and construction of new wastewater treatment plant
- Factory milestone: Facility celebrates 40th anniversary and produces Purina Pro Plan and Purina One brands
- Strategic expansion: Part of broader Italian strategy including new factory in Mantova to strengthen European manufacturing network
- Production continuity: Upgrades will proceed progressively while maintaining ongoing production operations
Nestlé Purina PetCare announced it is investing €55 million (US$64 million) through 2029 to upgrade its pet food production facility in Portogruaro, Italy, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Venice. The announcement coincides with the factory's 40th anniversary.
The company said the investment will support growing demand for super-premium and specialist pet nutrition and strengthen its European manufacturing network.
The project includes two components. The first will upgrade and modernize the site to meet demand in the super-premium pet food segment. The second focuses on building a new wastewater treatment plant, an internal facility that will allow the factory to manage wastewater treatment directly rather than relying on external plants.
Upgrades will be made progressively across the entire factory while production continues, according to the company.
Founded in 1986, the Portogruaro factory produces dry dog and cat food, including Purina Pro Plan and Purina One. The site's work includes dry pet food production, quality control and the industrialization of new products.
Italian development strategy
The Portogruaro investment is part of Purina's broader industrial development strategy in Italy, which also includes a recently announced new factory in Mantova. The company said the two sites will serve as complementary production hubs within its European manufacturing network.
"With Portogruaro and Mantova, Purina confirms a clear choice: to continue investing to support the growth of pet care in Europe," said Fabio Degli Esposti, managing director of Purina Italy and regional director, Southern Europe. "The new investments upgrade a site that, for 40 years, has contributed to the quality and innovation of Purina's portfolio, strengthen our expertise in the super-premium segment and the strategic role of both Portogruaro and the new factory that will be built in Mantova within Purina's European manufacturing network."
Rafael Lopez, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, marked the anniversary in a LinkedIn post.
"What makes this milestone especially meaningful is the people behind it," Lopez said. "For four decades, generations of colleagues have built the skills, passion and commitment that continue to make Portogruaro one of the most advanced sites in our European network."
