Nestlé Purina has announced that it will expand its Clinton, Iowa, pet food manufacturing facility as part of a $140 million investment that will allow Purina to meet growing demand from pet owners for nutritious, science-based dog and cat foods using high-quality and trusted ingredients.

Purina, which employs 360 people in Clinton, established local operations in 1969. The expansion will add new processing and packaging lines for the production of "dry," or kibble-based, pet foods and lead to total job growth of more than 60 positions. Purina has had a presence in Iowa since 1927 and also operates pet food manufacturing sites in Ft. Dodge and Davenport, Iowa, with approximately 1,000 employees across the state.

Purina is the largest dry dog and cat food maker in the U.S. Purina's dry dog food business has grown 7% in the past year, which is twice the rate of the category overall, the announcement said.

With a total investment of $140 million in this expansion by 2023, Purina's Clinton factory will significantly increase the production of high-quality and nutritious brands that feed millions of pets each year, the announcement said. Purina's Clinton location plays a unique role in the company's network of 21 sites across the U.S., as the location is a hub for innovation and design of new products, in addition to producing flagship brands like Purina ONE and Purina Pro Plan, both of which are experiencing double-digit growth.

Purina said its expansion in Clinton is one example of how the company is making investments to grow the business and advance pet care. In 2019, Purina invested more than $500 million in its factories across the U.S. for projects to help grow and sustain the business, including investments of more than $30 million in Iowa operations alone.

Future job openings at the factory primarily include positions in production and maintenance. Job seekers can sign up to be among the first to hear about new opportunities in Clinton via https://purinajobs.com/joinclinton.

Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. As a premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Switzerland-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.