Nestlé Purina announced that it will invest CHF 200 million to expand its pet food factory in Silao, Mexico. The expansion includes the addition of a third line for wet pet food and a fourth line for dry pet food, making the plant the largest pet food plant in Latin America, the company said.
The Mexican market is Purina's most important market in Latin America, accounting for 45% of Purina's total sales in the region. It is also Purina's fourth largest market in the world, underscoring the growing importance of emerging markets to the pet food business.
Laurent Fréchet, CEO of Zone Latin America, said: “Mexico plays a fundamental role in our operations in Latin America, as an important market and strategic location for Nestlé. Mexico is central to our growth strategy in the region, and we are committed to its development and success. I'm proud to be contributing.
The Silao factory currently produces 125 types of dry pet food and 45 types of wet pet food. The plant currently directly employs nearly 600 people, and the expansion is estimated to create up to 94 new jobs. An additional 48 hectares of land adjacent to the site has been acquired to allow for future factory expansion and the construction of a distribution center for local markets and exports.
Nestlé announced that it has invested over CHF 700 million in the Purina factory in Silao over the past 10 years. Since 2022, the factory uses 100% renewable energy. It also promotes water recycling through treatment plants that can reuse water in factory cooling towers.