LEWISBURG — Royal Canin U.S.A. Inc. will soon break ground on a new $390 million factory in Preble County expected to bring 224 new jobs and $11.5 million in new payroll to the area.
In a release, Royal Canin North America President Cecile Coutens said this investment in Preble’s new manufacturing facility will allow the company to meet the ever-growing needs of pets and their owners.
“As industry leaders in pet health, we have a tremendous responsibility to make a healthier life for pets through our tailored nutrition, in partnership with pet professionals who share our same purpose,” she said. “We recognize that pets make our life better and this has been more evident recently with the support pets have provided families throughout the pandemic. Our new site will help ensure we can serve more pet owners and bring our nutrition to more cats and dogs than ever before.”
The factory will manufacture Royal Canin and Eukanuba dog and cat food lines and will be built to meet leading-edge environmental standards, pursuant to LEED Silver Certified upon completion.
“We are excited to expand our presence in the Lewisburg area and continue to partner with the State of Ohio to invest in U.S. manufacturing and the local community,” said Roland Hooley, Vice President of Value Chain Operations for Royal Canin North America. “This expansion fuels the local economy and allows us to further invest in communities like Lewisburg where we are proud to call home.”
The Lewisburg location will join Royal Canin’s five other manufacturing sites across the United States and Canada. The company recently announced a $200 million expansion at its Lebanon, Tennessee facility.
“We and our partners at the Dayton Development Coalition welcome Royal Canin North America’s newest manufacturing facility in Lewisburg, which will be its first in Ohio and one of five in the United States,” said J.P Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “Royal Canin is a global leader in pet nutrition, and we look forward to 224 Ohioans producing its high-quality products that will benefit the health of pets and the happiness of their owners throughout the North American market.”
Construction of the 450,000 square foot facility is set to begin in May 2021 with a groundbreaking to be held in the coming weeks, and operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2023.
“We are grateful to Royal Canin for choosing to expand in Preble County,” said Brenda Latanza, Director of Economic Development for the Preble County Development Partnership. “This incredible new manufacturing facility will bring 224 jobs to Lewisburg. Royal Canin is an amazing community partner for Harrison Township, the Village of Lewisburg and all of Preble County. This exciting opportunity will have a huge impact on our overall economy – a meaningful win for all involved. The Preble County Development Partnership looks forward to continuing to assist Royal Canin’s economic development and workforce development needs as they grow and prosper here in Preble County.”
The new factory will be located on the same property as Royal Canin’s Pet Health Nutrition Center, a global research and development hub for the company, at 6574 OH-503.
State Representative Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) said this announcement shows that Preble County is becoming a leader in attracting business investment in Ohio.
“I am thrilled to see Royal Canin expand their operation in our region and hire the talented individuals in our community,” he said. “I sincerely thank JobsOhio, Preble County Development Partnership, Dayton Development Coalition and Royal Canin for their effective collaboration in making this important project happen.”
A subsidiary of Mars, Inc., Royal Canin was founded in 1968 and manufactures and supplies cat and dog food.
This expansion was one of seven economic development proposals approved Monday by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority, creating a total of 992 new jobs and $64 million in new payroll across the state. Royal Canin was approved a 1.521 percent, 10-year Job Creation Tax Credit for this project.
