United Petfood has entered the U.S. market by purchasing a production facility in Mishawaka, Indiana, from Wellness Pet Company. This purchase is a big milestone for United Petfood as it's their first factory in the U.S.
Wellness Pet Company plans to transition production to another of its facilities.
United Petfood specializes in private labeling dry pet food, wet pet food, treats and snacks. The Belgian family-owned business operates pet food manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Romania and Turkey. The group also runs five production facilities in France, three in Poland, three in the UK and six in the Netherlands. United Petfood sells in more than 95 countries.
This strategic move to establish local production in the U.S. signifies a pivotal step in solidifying its presence in this key market, said Elodie Fleury, United Petfood vice president Americas.
"We are excited to take our first steps into the U.S. market with the acquisition of the Mishawaka facility," said Fleury. "This acquisition allows us to better serve our American customers with locally produced, high-quality pet food. We see tremendous opportunities for growth and collaboration and are excited about the potential for synergies between our operations across different continents."
Wellness Pet to move production
For its part, Wellness Pet CEO Reed Howlett is pleased to see the ownership of the Mishawaka facility in United Petfood's hands.
"This will ensure a smooth transition for our team members who have been working at the facility and part of the Wellie family for many years," said Howlett. "We are proud to have been Mishawaka community members for almost two decades.”
Wellness Pet acquired a substantially larger facility in 2022 in Decatur, Arkansas, which it said is well-suited to support the company’s growth in the near and medium term. A global supplier of premium pet food and treats and headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, Wellness Pet has additional facilities in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., and the Netherlands.
United Petfood continues acquisition trend
According to Petfood Industry's Top Companies data, United Petfood has been on a decade-long acquisition spree. In January, the company signed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of Vital Petfood Group in Ølgod, Denmark. Vital Petfood Group produces dry and semi-moist cat and dog food for private labels and its own brands, Go Care and Go Care Royal.
In December, 2023, the company acquired Dutch company De Haan Petfood. De Haan, located in Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands, specializes in the production of wet dog and cat food in the form of high-quality meat chunks in gravy.
In February 2023, the company acquired a stake in Turkey-based Lider Pet Food, which remains independently managed. Lider Pet Food was established in 2009 in Salihl, Turkey. The company’s annual revenue in 2021 was US$98,000,000, according to Petfood Industry’s Top Companies Current Data.
United Petfood history
2024 (January): United Petfood acquired Vital Petfood Group in Ølgod, Denmark.
2023 (December): United Petfood acquired De Haan Petfood based in Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands.
2023 (February): United Petfood acquired a stake in Turkey-based Lider Pet Food.
2022 (April): United Petfood acquires Neodis Mornac, a French producer of dry pet food for dogs and cats.
2021 (October) United Petfood acquires Teeling Petfood, a Dutch producer of wet food for dogs and cats.
2021 (March): United Petfood acquires the UK's Cambrian Pet Foods.
2020 (June): United Petfood acquires Jonker Petfood.
2020 (April): United Petfood acquires the IAMS Europe pet food plant in Coevorden, Netherlands, from Spectrum Brands.
2020 (January): United Petfood acquires Effeffe Petfood.
2019: Acquisition of production site in Pieve Porto Morone, Italy. Acquisition of a factory in Radom, Poland.
2018 (July): United Petfood acquires Bynsa Group.
2018: United Petfood opens a new factory in Biskupice, Poland. Acquisition of a production site in Coevorden, the Netherlands, a new factory in Zaragoza, Spain, and a new factory in Buftea, Romania
2017: Acquisition of Crusty Food in France; development of 95% organic pet food
2016: United Petfood obtains growth capital from Waterland Private Equity Investments.
2015: Acquisition of a production site in St. Martin (Nantes), France
2014 (July): United Petfood acquires Petfood Plus à Yzeure, a production plant in France, bringing its total number of manufacturing facilities in France to three, and five overall.
2013 (July): United Petfood announces its takeover of Continentale Nutrition's dry pet food business in France, including a dry pet food plant and a biscuit plant.
2003: The company opens a production site in Ghent, Belgium.
