US confectionery major Mars is to spend US$200m on expanding a pet food facility in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Mars plans to increase the production of products sold under dog and cat food brands Royal Canin and Eukanuba. The expansion will add more than 90 jobs and is scheduled for completion in 2022.
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With the investment, the facility will add more than 108,000 sq ft of new working space with five additional highly automated production lines, doubling the plant capacity.
Cecile Coutens, regional president for Royal Canin, said: “We have experienced tremendous growth and the expansion at our Tennessee site confirms our commitment to meet the needs of the growing number of pets we serve. We are industry leaders in pet health and we have a responsibility to our pets, our pet owners, our associates and the pet professionals and communities we serve. We are beyond excited about our investment in our Lebanon site.”
In January, Mars revealed plans to spend $145m to expand its pet food facility in Fort Smith in the US state of Arkansas. There are 14 Mars pet care sites in the US.
In the same month, it was reported Mars was planning to invest in pet-food manufacturing in China.
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