EMPORIA, Kan. (WIBW) — A pet food company announced an expansion to its Emporia facility that is expected to bring approximately 100 new jobs to the community.
Simmons Pet Food, Inc., held the groundbreaking Wednesday for its new $38 million Flexible Packaging Facility. The company expects the 200,000 sq. foot expansion to be up and running in 2019.
“Emporia is the place we call home and we are proud to be part of helping this community grow through job creation,” said Jason Beyer, Vice President of Operations, Simmons Pet Food, Inc. in Emporia.
Simmons, a leading supplier of custom and private label pet foods in the U.S. and Canada, says they already employ approximately 500 people at the Lyon Co. facility.
The company says it is also building a Care Clinic for people who work there that is expect to open in Winter 2018. The clinic will offer comprehensive family care, including preventative services, acute and general health care, and treatment of chronic conditions, at no cost.
Simmons says a spike in the demand for cup, tub, and pouch packaged pet foods spurred the expansion. They expect it to increase their annual output to 12.4 million cases of wet pet food cups and 2.4 million cases of tubs by 2022.
“The expansion of our operations in Emporia represents a story about the strength of good people doing great work, strong performance and dependable partnerships,” Beyer continued.
