Guanajuato, Mexico – Swiss food giant Nestlé recently announced a $225 million expansion of its pet food factory in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. This investment signifies Mexico’s central role in Nestlé’s Latin American growth strategy.
The expansion includes new production lines for both dry and wet pet food, boosting capacity by 25% and 40% respectively. The Silao plant, already Nestlé’s largest in Latin America, will become the region’s biggest pet food producer after the expansion.
This project is expected to create 94 new jobs at the factory, which currently employs 600. The investment adds to the over $770 million USD Nestlé has poured into the Silao facility over the past decade.
Mexico’s importance to Nestlé’s pet food business is underscored by the fact that it’s the top Purina market in Latin America, accounting for 45% of regional sales and ranking fourth globally.
“Mexico is at the center of our growth strategy in the region,” Laurent Freixe, director of Nestlé’s Latin America region, said in a statement.
Pet food, Nestlé’s second-largest business segment after beverages, generated $20.83 billion globally in 2023, with Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, and Friskies leading the growth.
