Nestlé invests US$636M in Italy pet food plant as European demand accelerates

ITALY – Nestlé Purina will invest CHF520 million (US$636 million) to build a new wet pet food manufacturing plant and logistics hub in Mantova, Italy, expanding production capacity to meet rising demand for premium pet nutrition across Europe.

The facility, expected to begin operations in 2029, will manufacture super-premium wet pet food for cats and dogs under key Purina brands and serve as a logistics platform for Purina and other Nestlé businesses. 

The investment will increase Purina’s European manufacturing network to 15 production sites.

Nestlé said the project will strengthen its supply chain, improve transport efficiency and enhance service to retail customers across Europe.

“Petcare is one of Nestlé’s four focus businesses, and this investment is a clear signal of our continued growth ambition for the category,” said Rafael Lopez, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe.

He noted that super-premium wet pet food remains one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments as pet owners increasingly seek nutritious products with a variety of textures and flavours.

According to Nestlé, petcare now accounts for 29% of the company’s sales in Europe and continues to deliver strong organic growth. 

Across the region, the pet population has reached approximately 111 million cats and 91 million dogs, driving demand for premium nutrition.

Wet pet food has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing categories, particularly for cats, with the wet cat food segment expanding by 8% in 2025. 

The overall European pet food market is estimated to be worth nearly CHF30 billion (US$36.7 billion).

Marco Travaglia, President and CEO of Nestlé Italy, said the new facility would strengthen the company’s manufacturing footprint and improve distribution across Europe.

“The new Purina plant for wet pet food and the distribution platform strengthen our presence in Italy and at the heart of European transport corridors, enabling us to serve customers and consumers better and faster,” he said.

The Mantova site will incorporate environmental measures to reduce emissions, lower logistics-related traffic, conserve water, and recover energy as part of Nestlé’s broader sustainability strategy.

The investment follows Nestlé’s earlier announcement of a CHF370 million (US$453 million) investment in a new wet pet food factory in Brazil, highlighting the company’s continued expansion of global pet food production to meet growing demand.

Nestlé strengthens sustainability leadership

Separately, Nestlé has appointed Antonia Wanner as Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, effective September 1, 2026.

Wanner, who currently serves as Chief Sustainability Officer, will join the Group Executive Board and oversee both sustainability and corporate communications.

Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil said that combining the two functions would strengthen stakeholder engagement and better align communications with the company’s strategic priorities and long-term value-creation objectives.

Wanner joined Nestlé in 1996 and has held senior leadership roles across procurement, sales and sustainability. 

She succeeds Lisa Gibby, who is returning to the United States after six years leading the company’s communications function.

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