TAUMARUNUI, NEW ZEALAND — On Jan. 20, King Country Pet Food announced its investment in a new production facility in New Zealand. The facility will specialize in co-manufacturing premium kibble and will have a capacity of more than 40,000 tonnes (44,092 tons) across 4.7 hectares (11.6 acres).

Located in rural New Zealand, King Country’s new facility will produce premium pet food, including diets that incorporate freeze-dried or air-dried ingredients. The facility will include a Wenger Thermal Twin-Screw extruder constructed to handle high levels of fresh meats, and high-speed automated packaging equipment capable of handling various packaging sizes.

“New Zealand is renowned for its premium produce, and the facility has been designed with the goal of making the most of these ingredients,” said Jono Cox, sales and marketing manager for King Country.

Dedicated to premium pet health and wellness, the company’s new facility will provide easy access to grass-fed, free-range meats, sustainably sourced seafood, and superfoods like fresh, green-lipped mussels and manuka honey.

The facility will begin production in June 2022 and will be one of the largest pet food processing facilities in New Zealand, according to King Country Pet Food.

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