French producer Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food, a direct-to-consumer business, plans to increase its production capabilities amid rising sales, according to a senior company representative.
Matthieu Wincker, president and founder of Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food, said Petfoodindustriya.com the business continues to increase sales of its brand, Ultra Premium Direct, every year.
This year, the company will launch a project to add 750 square meters (8,073 square feet) to its office, but also expand the floorspace of its factory in Estillac, in the southwest of the country, Wincker said.
“On the plant side, the fourth expansion project will begin in 2024, bringing the total surface area to 13,000 square meters,” he said. “Our current production lines allow us to absorb a volume that could generate sales of €150 million a year.” This translates to approximately US$163.5 million.
In addition, Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food aims to build a new extrusion plant by 2026. Other plans include boosting the company’s online sales, Wincker said.
“We continue to build our e-commerce business,” he said, adding that the company is also investing in strengthening its brick-and-mortar retail presence.
“We are focusing on our physical retail store development in France and our online growth,” said Wincker, adding that the company has eight stores in France with the goal of launching 10 to 20 stores per year.
Polish pet food producer to launch new factory
Polish pet food maker Petmex Company has obtained permission to open a new factory in Polanka, in the country’s southern Malopolska region, where the business already operates other production facilities.
The new plant is located in the Kraków Technology Park (KTP) where the company has been active since 2019.
“For the fourth time, Petmex will take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Polish Investment Zone program and build a new factory where it will produce wet food for dogs and cats,” KTP said in a statement.
As part of the upcoming project, the business will invest more than PLN 28 million (US$7 million) to build the designed plant and create 10 new jobs. Petmex will also use a portion of the funds to upgrade existing production facilities and warehouses and purchase new machinery. Petmex now has a workforce of approximately 130 employees.
In addition to Poland, “the company also operates in European markets. One of the important directions of development in which the company is currently focusing is the North American markets,” according to the statement.
Founded in 2014, the business is owned by local entrepreneurs Krzysztof Napora and Damian Napora. Krzysztof Napora is also the president of the manufacturer’s management board.
Australian pet food subscription service is investing in new facility
Sydney-based fresh pet food subscription service Lyka has expanded its presence in Victoria, creating more than 100 local jobs in the country’s south-eastern state.
Earlier this year, the manufacturer committed AUD$16 million (US$10.5 million) to open a new pet food plant and national distribution center in Melbourne’s Dandenong South suburb, the Victorian State Government said in a statement.
“The new facility includes new production lines and advanced, automated equipment that is the first of its kind in Australia, improving efficiency and nutrient retention,” the statement said. “The facility includes a national distribution center that will allow up to four times the current product distribution, improving delivery times, reducing food miles and increasing the company’s ability to supply food by pets across Australia.”
