SILOAM SPRINGS, ARK. — Simmons Pet Foodstuff, personal-label and contract producer of wet pet foods, is continuing its multi-calendar year cash financial investment system to extend its presence in the soaked pet meals house by introducing canning ability to its Emporia, Kan., and Dubuque, Iowa, plants and opening a new pet food items distribution facility in Edgerton, Kan. The company announced the new projects July 18, which are the newest in its three-year $500 million progress strategy. Previously in the year, the enterprise shifted its concentrate solely to damp pet foods as it done its exit from the dry pet food stuff and pet treats classes.
“We developed a new technique as we went into 2021, and with that system, we had planned on, and are now fulfilling, a determination to $500 million in capacity investments,” said Scott Salmon, president of Simmons Pet Food. “And by the middle of 2024, we will have met that intention.”
“We’ve accomplished a series of investments that are major that hopefully demonstrate our commitment to the communities, to our staff, to the industry and, most importantly, to the animals we like,” Salmon included.
Foremost the progress strategy will be the addition of a fourth significant-pace canning line at the company’s Emporia plant. The new line will have the capacity to generate 60,000 lbs of moist pet foodstuff for every hour — including 23 million cases of 3-oz product and 5 million situations of 13-oz product or service by early 2024.
The company’s Emporia facility has been in procedure considering the fact that 1998, beginning with one line and using 250 people. Now, the operation includes a Flex plant which produces pet food items in pouches, cups and tubs, in addition to the canned pet foodstuff plant. The merged Emporia operation now employs far more than 1,500 people.
In addition to the new fourth line, the company has created a $15 million investment in the Emporia plant to raise the velocity of its 3-oz canning line by 50% by January 2023 and improve the velocity of its cup packaging line in its Flex plant by 50% by May 2023.
“We imagine in the accelerated development of the marketplace for damp pet food items,” Salmon explained. “As pet mothers and fathers go on to appear to humanize food, as they turn out to be more engaged in the feeding of their pets, they’re involving additional soaked pet food in the every day meal plans of their canine and cats.”
Additional instant enlargement will just take location within the subsequent month as Simmons adds a second line to its Dubuque canning plant. The 275,000-square-foot facility opened in July 2021 pursuing a $100 million expense by the firm. Every line will have the potential to make 30,000 lbs of canned product per hour.
To much better meet the desire for multi- and wide variety-packed pet food solutions, Simmons also options to open up a 750,000-square-foot distribution heart in Edgerton, Kan. The heart is set to open up afterwards this yr.
“We are thrilled to establish a 750,000-sq.-foot distribution hub in nearby Edgerton, Kan.,” claimed Chad Morris, senior vice president of Supply Chain at Simmons. “Edgerton is an ideal locale for new warehouse capability and automated packaging operations to streamline the distribution of merchandise to our consumers during the US.”
The new Emporia and Edgerton assignments symbolize a $115 million investment by Simmons and will generate 177 jobs in the condition of Kansas.
“Simmons’ final decision to develop their by now considerable functions and hire 177 much more Kansas staff is excellent for Emporia, Edgerton and the overall state,” reported Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “More and extra companies are picking out to develop in this article in Kansas — showing that our get the job done to make Kansas the most professional-business point out in the state is spending off.”
“Emporia and the condition of Kansas have been superb partners for Simmons,” Salmon mentioned. “We are grateful for their support as we develop our business, offer possibilities for group members and have out our vision to be the most dependable associate in the marketplace for foodstuff that nourishes and delights the pets we like.”