Petsource by Scoular has completed a $75 million expansion at its plant in Seward, Nebraska, delivering additional capacity to help existing customers grow and space to accommodate new customers seeking production at its state-of-the-art facility.
The company said the tripling of capacity also allows customers to better introduce new products to market, with the expansion providing an additional 70,000 square feet of freeze-dried pet food ingredient manufacturing space. Freeze-dried products are among the fastest growing pet food categories.
“Petsource has identified a need in the market to help brands expand their freeze dried product offerings,” Chad Kucks, director of commercial operations at Petsource’s Scoularexplained to Petfood Industry. “Freeze-dried manufacturing capacity is generally limited, but Petsource is also adding premium capacity because of the high level of service and food safety practices deployed in every product produced.
“Companies need to feel good about protecting their brands and consumers,” Kucks continued. “New customers are looking for both Petsource’s integrated production process, and its food safety and quality standards, another factor that sets it above many competitors.”
The expansion of Petsource’s Seward facility create 75 new jobs, with hiring planned. Petsource now employs more than 150 people, making it one of the top 10 largest employers in Seward County, a business hub in southeast Nebraska, Scoular said. Petsource is an indirect, wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Scoular.
Petsource was among the first in the country to consolidate the manufacturing steps of freeze-dried pet food products under one roof when it opened in 2020.Scoular
Freeze-dried pet food products
According to the company, Freeze dry offers the high nutritional impact found in popular fresh and frozen raw diets with the convenience that the products are not shelf stable and have a long shelf life.
The company says it has become a leader in streamlining the manufacturing of freeze-dried pet food products. Petsource was one of the first countries to integrate manufacturing steps when it opened in 2020 – providing everything from recipe development to raw meat processing, freeze-drying, and packaging – creating the end -to-end solution for brand owners to help support their growth initiatives, said Petsource president Amy Patterson.
“We are excited to be able to deliver additional capacity for our customers, both current and future, and support their growth plans,” said Patterson. “Strong demand, growth in our customers’ businesses, and our desire to continue to provide them with high-quality, innovative solutions drove the project.”
New customers are looking for both Petsource’s integrated production process, and its own food safety and quality standardsanother factor that sets it above many competitors, says Paul Maass, CEO.
“Scoular thriving both in helping our valued customers grow and in helping our communities thrive,” said Maass. “We are proud to continue to invest in the state we have called home for more than 130 years.”
Scoular has partnered with pet food manufacturers for decades and will continue to invest to support marketplace growth, Kucks said Petfood Industry. Petsource’s expansion is an important part of larger growth plans supporting the pet food industry.
“Petsource is a freeze-dried contract manufacturer, so any pet food brand looking to add freeze-dried products will benefit from Petsource’s capabilities and capacity,” Kucks said.
“Scoular and Petsource focus on adding high-value capabilities to the pet food industry that will enable the brands to grow and thrive,” said Kucks. “The Petsource freeze dry facility expansion is the first of many ways Scoular and Petsource will continue to be a valuable partner in the pet food industry.”
Kucks said Petsource will continue to evaluate market needs and the needs of their customers to enable growth, food safety and product innovation.
