Simmons Pet Food Announces New Projects as Part of $500 Million Growth Plan

Siloam Springs, AR (July 18, 2022) - Today, as part of the company's $500 million strategic growth plan, Simmons Pet Food announced plans for a fourth high-speed canning line at its Emporia, Kansas, facility; a new pet food distribution facility in nearby Edgerton, Kansas; and the start-up of the second line of canned pet food at its Dubuque, Iowa, facility. Earlier this year, the company completed its exit from the dry pet food and pet treats categories as part of a strategic plan to focus solely on wet pet food.

"The fourth line in Emporia will be capable of producing 60,000 pounds per hour and will expand the total annual plant output to more than 70 million cases (1.6+ billion units) by early 2024," said Scott Salmon, president of Simmons Pet Food. "As we set the Emporia plans in motion, we are on the eve of also starting operations of our second line of production at our Dubuque facility."

In addition to the new canned pet food capacity in Emporia, the company also announced it is investing in packaging automation and a new distribution hub in Edgerton, Kansas, to better meet the growing demand for multi- and variety-packed pet food products. The distribution center will open later this year.

"We are thrilled to establish a 750,000 square foot distribution hub in nearby Edgerton, Kansas," said Chad Morris, senior vice president of Supply Chain at Simmons. "Edgerton is an ideal location for new warehouse capacity and automated packaging operations to streamline the distribution of product to our customers throughout the U.S."