dsm-firmenich has opened NextGen Itatiba, a pet nutrition premix facility in Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil, developed in collaboration with Globalfood, a toll manufacturing partner with more than 30 years of food technology and ingredient expertise.
The facility focuses on vitamin and mineral premix production for domestic cats and dogs and will serve as dsm-firmenich's primary manufacturing and supply hub for pet nutrition in South America. Located approximately 100 kilometers from São Paulo city, the site is positioned to access regional infrastructure and distribution networks serving pet food brands across the continent.
The opening follows dsm-firmenich's recent launches of dedicated pet premix facilities in Haag, Austria, and Tonganoxie, Kan., giving the company three connected pet-dedicated production sites across Europe, North America and South America.
Under the operational agreement, Globalfood acts as toll manufacturer while dsm-firmenich retains responsibility for formulation, raw material sourcing, quality control and product release. The facility is built to food-grade certification standards with no production for other animal species on-site.
"We are immensely excited to expand our successful partnership with dsm-firmenich as it brings its world-class pet nutrition solutions closer to customers in Brazil, South America and beyond," said Victor Hasserodt, general manager at Globalfood. "As part of our certified food ingredients campus, NextGen Itatiba benefits from well-established sustainability infrastructure including solar energy generation, water reuse systems and reforestation initiatives. With the combination of dsm-firmenich's category-leading innovation focus and our responsible manufacturing expertise, we expect NextGen Itatiba to deliver incredible successes for pet food brands across South America."
The facility is equipped to blend dry powder ingredients, allowing manufacturers to customize recipes to individual brands, target markets and the nutritional requirements of specific pets.
"This new facility opening forms part of a coordinated, long-term strategic commitment to pet nutrition as a priority growth category, backed by world-class formulation science and a global innovation pipeline," said Francisco Fienga, president, Brazil, at dsm-firmenich.
Jose Fernandes, vice president, regional sales, pet food, LAM, at dsm-firmenich noted South America represents one of the fastest-growing markets for pet nutrition on the world stage.
Fernandes said, "By establishing a dedicated facility at the heart of this high-growth market, dsm-firmenich is reinforcing its long-term commitment to this continent, and to the manufacturers, pet owners and — most importantly — the beloved pets that call it home."
