Royal Canin USA’s Pet Food Manufacturing Facility, North Sioux City, South Dakota, US

Royal Canin USA started construction on a new pet food manufacturing facility in North Sioux City in June 2016.

Royal Canin Medium Junior dog feed medium-sized puppies. Credit: Bartosz Senderek.

The new plant will support Royal Canin’s plan to donate 10,000lb of pet food in the US. Credit: The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.

In June 2016, the division of Mars Royal Canin broke ground for the construction of a new pet food manufacturing plant at its existing facility in North Sioux City in Union County, South Dakota, US.

Developed in multiple phases, production from the first phase is expected to commence in April 2019. This first phase will be built with an investment of approximately $100m.

The new manufacturing plant will allow the company to better serve the increasing demand for pet food in the US. It will also support Royal Canin’s effort to donate 10,000lb of pet food to the Siouxland Humane Society and Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue to help meet the critical needs of cat and dog shelters.

North Sioux City plant

The existing factory in North Sioux City was owned by Menu Foods until Mars purchased it for $26.3m in October 2007. It was initially operated under the Mars Petcare brand but re-branded to Royal Canin in 2011.

The new project will add a 45,000ft² pet food manufacturing plant to the old site, which spans 100,000ft² and employs 185 people. Royal Canin will spend roughly $60m to procure state-of-the-art equipment for the new facility.

When in operation, the plant will produce Royal Canin’s wet cat and dog food products using sustainable raw materials. The products will be made of nutritional formulae developed by Royal Canin in collaboration with a team of nutritionists, breeders, and veterinarians.

Pet food production process

In the first stage, high-quality ingredients are received, mixed, and processed in the kitchen. They are then formed into kibble.

The completed product will undergo final safety checks, which help ensure quality and safety. They are packaged in bags filled with nitrogen and shipped to pet speciality stores and veterinary hospitals across the US.

Sustainability of pet food manufacturing plants

The new facility in North Sioux City is designed to be environmentally sustainable to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

In addition, Royal Canin aims to incorporate leading-edge environmentally sustainable features in the plant.

About Royal Canin

Founded in 1968 in France, Royal Canin is engaged in producing and supplying nutritional food for dogs and cats. The company has a geographical presence on five continents with 12 production facilities.

Headquartered in St. Charles in Missouri, Royal Canin USA owns and operates two pet food manufacturing plants, one in Missouri and the other in South Dakota. It produces a range of wet and dry products for pets based on their age, breed, size, and lifestyle.

US-based privately held food-processing company Mars took over Royal Canin Health Nutrition food in 2002 and has invested $1bn in its facilities and operations in the US since 2011.