Arkansas Economic Development Commission issued the following announcement on Sept. 22.
Latest Investment Builds on $145 Million Expansion Announced in January 2021 to Meet the Growing Demand for Wet Dog and Cat Food
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 23 million (one in five) households have welcomed new pets[1]. As many people's daily routines have shifted to keep them at home more regularly, an increasing number of pet parents are looking to offer their pets more variety in food options. As a result, there has been an increased demand in the wet food category with sales up nearly 18 percent compared to last year2. So today, Mars Petcare is announcing an investment of $117 million in its Fort Smith, Ark., manufacturing facility, just months after the $145 million investment announced earlier this year.
“Pet parents are at the center of everything we do, and at Mars Petcare, we’re committed to answering their evolving needs as a trusted partner for pet parents,” said Ikdeep Singh, Regional President of Mars Pet Nutrition North America. “The role of pets in our lives has grown even stronger during the pandemic, and our latest investment in Fort Smith enables us to deepen our commitment to our Associates and the City of Fort Smith while also living our purpose: A Better World For Pets.”
This latest investment will further expand the facility’s manufacturing operations with the addition of two production lines, support construction of a new warehouse, allow for updates to existing equipment and create more than 140 new full-time Associate positions – on top of the more than 120 jobs announced in January.
Collectively, Mars Petcare has invested a total of nearly $540 million in its Fort Smith facility, and today’s announcement represents a continued commitment to manufacture its products where they’re sold and invest in the people and communities where the company operates. Mars Petcare Associates help improve the lives of pets and pet parents and will play a key role in the success of this expansion.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Arkansas Economic Development Commission
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