Special Dog Company has released new information about its R$300 million (US$59 million) manufacturing facility under construction in Mateus Leme, Minas Gerais, updating the startup schedule and providing additional details about the plant's role in the company's national expansion.
The company now expects the facility to begin operations during the first quarter of 2027. This replaces the second-half 2026 startup timeline previously reported by Petfood Industry in March.
The updated plans were presented as Special Dog marked its 25th anniversary and prepared for a new phase of growth beyond its traditional manufacturing base in São Paulo.
According to the new information, the Mateus Leme plant will add up to 10,000 metric tons of monthly pet food capacity and support Special Dog's expansion into Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, the Center-West, North and Northeast regions of Brazil.
The facility will be Special Dog's first manufacturing operation outside Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo. It will produce dry pet food and include infrastructure for snacks, treats and functional formulations, supported by automated systems and Industry 4.0 technology.
Capacity set to grow 38%
Special Dog also disclosed that its São Paulo industrial complex currently produces approximately 26,000 metric tons per month and is operating close to full capacity. The site includes production lines for dry food, wet food and biscuits.
Once the Mateus Leme plant reaches full production, the company's combined monthly capacity could rise to approximately 36,000 metric tons, an increase of about 38%.
The location in Minas Gerais is expected to reduce transportation distances and improve service to markets where Special Dog is seeking to increase distribution and market share. Rio de Janeiro was identified as a particularly important opportunity, while the new plant will also improve access to Espírito Santo, Bahia and the Center-West.
The company also provided new details about its product strategy. Launches planned for the second half of 2026 include additional flavors and protein combinations for the Ultralife and Bionatural lines, as well as new biscuits, snacks and treats.
Special Dog said the new products were developed using palatability studies and will include differentiated ingredients, functional benefits, formats and textures designed to encourage repeat purchasing.
The updated information shows that the Mateus Leme project is not only a capacity expansion. It is intended to relieve pressure on the company's existing operations, strengthen distribution and give Special Dog a broader manufacturing base from which to compete nationally.
