Nestlé Purina PetCare Company plans to invest $550 million to expand its year-old Hartwell pet food manufacturing facility. The expansion could create up to 130 jobs in Hart County.
Governor Brian Kemp announced the expansion project today. It comes just one year after the factory’s grand opening in November 2019.
“It’s a pleasure to see a world-renowned company like Nestlé Purina expand their operations in the Peach State,” said Kemp. “I’m excited for what this will mean for Hart County and the surrounding region.”
In 2017, Purina announced plans to open a wet pet food factory in Hartwell. The company committed to invest $320 million and employ 240 people by 2023. To meet growing demand, the facility is expanding to add processing, packaging, and warehouse capacity.
The governor’s office says the expansion in Hartwell is part of a broader growth plan for Purina, which also includes new factories recently announced in other U.S. locations.
Hart County Industrial Building Authority Chairman Bill Leard called the planned expansion “exciting news.”
“The company not only provides excellent career opportunities but also has significant involvement in the local community,” says Leard.
Purina supports local pet shelters and rescue efforts as well as education and hunger relief programs. The company also donated $20,000 to the Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence as part of its Purple Leash Project.
Purina brands feed 49 million dogs and 66 million cats every year, and the Hartwell location produces several of the company’s flagship brands, including Fancy Feast.
