Nestle invests 38M Swiss francs to double pet food production at its Purina PetCare factory in Russia's Kaluga region

Cindy Allen

LAUSANNE, Switzerland , August 23, 2011 (Nestle) – Nestlé today announced it will invest more than CHF 38 million (RUB 1.3 billion) to double pet food production at its Purina PetCare factory in Russia’s Kaluga region.

The investment in the new manufacturing building at the factory - located in the village of Vorsino - follows the installation of a new production line earlier this year.

Creating around 60 new jobs, it will enable the factory to produce almost the entire range of Purina pet food products for sale in Russia and for export to other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

Laurent Freixe, Executive Vice President for Nestlé and Head of Zone Europe, revealed the expansion plans at an inauguration ceremony for the factory’s recently opened distribution centre.

He said: “We are proud to announce this new investment in our pet food business, which is developing successfully in Russia and other CIS countries.

“The new production line at the Vorsino factory has already expanded the range of products produced here, while the new distribution centre is ensuring their improved delivery all over Russia.”

“With this latest investment, we expect to double wet pet food production within the next three years.”
L. Freixe and M. Akimov cut the ribbon OFFICIAL OPENING: Laurent Freixe, Executive Vice President for Nestlé and Head of Zone Europe (left) and Maxim Akimov, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region (right) cut the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony of the new Purina distribution centre in Vorsino, Russia.

Mr Freixe was joined by Maxim Akimov, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga region; Stuart Irvine, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Russia; and Yana Mikhailova, Director of Nestlé Purina PetCare Russia, Ukraine and CIS.

Other members of Nestlé management and local authority representatives were also present.

Nestlé Purina PetCare has been a leader in the scientific advancement of pet care and pet nutrition for more than 80 years. Its product range is designed to give pets and their owners the best possible choice of recipes and formats, for every life stage and lifestyle.

As a committed member of the wider pet care community, Nestlé Purina PetCare works closely with the communities in which it works and operates, while promoting responsible pet ownership worldwide.

Nestlé Purina PetCare in Russia

Nestlé Purina PetCare offers a wide range of pet food products in Russia, including Friskies, Darling, Felix, Gourmet, Pro Plan, Dog Chow, and Cat Chow.

The company opened its first local factory in Vorsino in 2007 to produce its Friskies and Darling brands.

In 2009, Purina expanded the factory with an investment of more than CHF 29 million (RUB 1 billion) to produce wet pet food under the Friskies brand.

Earlier this year, it opened both a new production line and a new distribution centre at the Vorsino site.

The distribution centre was built with an investment of almost CHF 15 million (RUB 500 million), and employs around 50 local people.

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