Nestlé is set to invest €472m ($507m) in a new pet-food factory in northern Italy, according to the country's government.

The facility will be located in the Valdaro industrial area in Mantua and will produce wet pet food, Adolfo Urso, Italy's Minister of Business and Made in Italy, said today (10 April).

The site will encompass an area of roughly 180,000 square metres and 300 jobs will be created. The Italian ministry added it is due to be completed by 2027.

Marco Travaglia, the president and CEO of Nestlé's business in Italy, said: “The great teamwork with the ministry has led to this important result which sees the strategic role of Italy for Nestlé recognised in this rapidly developing sector.”

Urso added: “The desire to strengthen its presence in Italy by a significant multinational such as Nestlé confirms the renewed centrality of our country for the production sites of important global companies. The realisation of this project is the result of a great support work by Mimit towards the investor, who has been assisted by the ministry in every phase up to now.”

Just Food has contacted Nestlé for further details.

Earlier this year, Nestlé announced a second round of investment for its Purina pet-food factory in Hungary.

Last October, the food giant announced it was investing around Ft90bn ($247m) to open two new production units at its site in Bük, which would increase output by 66% annually from approximately 150,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes.

The commissioning of the new factory unit will conclude the five-year development cycle that began in 2020, taking the company’s overall investment in the Bük factory to Ft300bn.

In 2023, Nestlé’s' PetCare division turned over SFr18.9bn ($20.7bn) compared to SFr18.1bn the previous year. The Swiss group said it “was the largest contributor to organic growth, with strong momentum across all channels”.

Underlying operating profit grew from SFr3.7bn in 2022 to SFr3.9bn, with brands including Purina One, Purina Pro Plan and Friskies all performing well.