Barrett Petfood Innovations (BPI), a pet food manufacturer specialized in premium dog and cat food, broke ground Aug. 12 at its second production facility.

The 160,000 sq. ft. facility located in Little Falls, Minn., is expected to be completed in June 2020 and will more than double the company’s production and employee numbers.

BPI said it has continuously expanded its Brainerd, Minn., location since production began in 2006 and is currently running at capacity 24 hours a day, five days a week. Recently, the firm secured additional space at the Brainerd Industrial Complex to support the Brainerd plant through storage and logistics.

Construction of the new facility will feature innovations and streamlined processes developed at the Brainerd plant. In addition to current capabilities, BPI said the new facility will include a state-of-the-art production line designed and built by Wenger Manufacturing of Sabetha, Kan. The Wenger TT3630 Thermal Twin will be a first of its kind by any contract manufacturer in North America, the company said, which will allow BPI to produce diets extremely high in fresh meat, fruits and vegetables.

In addition to conventional extrusion, the new facility will also allow for baked pet food production, BPI said, and the Little Falls facility has been designed to easily accommodate additional expansion, with the potential to triple current production numbers in years to come.

The Little Falls facility is expected to create at least 85 jobs in the next three years, the company said.

The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development invested $450,000 from the Minnesota Investment Fund and $175,000 from the Job Creation Fund into the project.

Following the announcement, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said, “Barrett Petfood Innovations is a rapidly growing company in central Minnesota, with customers located around the world. I congratulate Little Falls and Barrett Petfood Innovations on this new expansion.”

The city of Little Falls has also been supportive of the project, unanimously approving the sale of a city-owned, 52-acre lot through tax-incremental financing.

BPI is a family-owned company founded in 1982 by Mike Barrett. BPI produces more than 150 formulas for dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, fish and livestock, with products sold in all 50 states and around the world.