Nestlé Purina: CHF 157 million for Thai plant

Nestlé is investing more than CHF 157 million (around €167 million) to expand Purina's pet food manufacturing site in Rayong, Thailand. According to the company, the additional capacity will be used for pet food and treats under the Felix, Friskies, Pro Plan and Purina One brands and will supply both the domestic market and export markets. Nestlé has not disclosed a timeline or the planned increase in output.

Remy Ejel, CEO of Nestlé's Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA), said pet food accounted for around 21% of group sales and described the investment as a sign of confidence in the category's long-term potential in the region and beyond. Hubert Wieser, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare, put the number of pet cats and dogs in the AOA zone at more than 350 million. The growing pet population and the tendency to treat pets as family members were driving demand for functional and specialised…