Nestlé Purina will see a significant capacity investment with a new CHF (Swiss Francs) 520 million plant in Mantova, Italy, as the company looks to meet continued demand growth for pet food. The facility will combine a wet pet food plant with a highly efficient logistics platform serving Purina as well as other Nestlé brands.
The plant will produce super-premium wet pet food for cats and dogs, for key Purina brands. The investment will bring the number of Purina production sites in Europe to 15, serving a total population of around 111 million cats and around 91 million dogs across Europe. Petcare now accounts for 29% of Nestlé sales in Zone Europe and continues to deliver strong organic growth led by real internal growth.
Rafael Lopez, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, said, “Petcare is one of Nestlé’s four focus businesses, and this investment is a clear signal of our continued growth ambition for the category. Super-premium wet pet food is particularly attractive right now. It offers a variety of textures and sensory experiences combined with great nutrition for dogs and cats, all things that people are looking for as they welcome pets into the heart of their families.”
The European market for pet food is estimated at close to CHF 30 billion. The pet population has grown strongly in recent years and people are spending more on their pets. Wet pet food is one of the fastest-growing segments, offering a variety of flavors and formats including convenient premium single-serve options. Wet cat food is a particular growth driver, with the segment growing by 8% in Europe in 2025.
The new logistics platform will serve retail customers more efficiently, support more sustainable transport flows and strengthen supply chain resilience for Purina products as well as other categories.
“The new Purina plant for wet pet food and the distribution platform strengthen our presence in Italy and at the heart of European transport corridors, enabling us to serve customers and consumers better and faster,” said Marco Travaglia, president and CEO of Nestlé Italy.
The project will be developed and integrated over the coming years, with production expected to start in 2029. The facility will include a range of environmental measures to reduce emissions, lower logistics-related traffic, save water, and recover energy.
Petcare is also an important growth driver for Nestlé globally. Accounting for 21% of the Group’s global sales, the category is expected to continue growing, supported by rising pet populations, increasing demand for super-premium nutrition and the premiumization of wet cat food.
The investment in Mantova follows Nestlé’s announcement earlier this year of a CHF 370 million investment in a new wet pet food factory in Brazil, underlining the company’s long-term commitment to meeting growing demand for pet nutrition worldwide.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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