ENNIS, TEXAS — Construction firm Stellar shared March 15 it has broken ground on an expansion of Freshpet’s pet food manufacturing facility in Ennis. The pet food company has chosen Stellar to head the project, marking the first partnership between both companies.

In 2020, Freshpet announced its plans to construct a facility in Ennis. The 400,000-square-foot facility was built by construction firm CRB and was completed in the fall of 2022. During its presentation at the 2023 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference on Feb. 22, the company detailed that the plant was officially up and running.

As a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration and mechanical services firm, Stellar has helped create food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, other commercial facilities and even military facilities.

Stellar is in charge of Freshpet’s expansion project, which will add 200,000 square feet to the existing facility. Through the expansion, Stellar will provide building design and construction services, as well as partial design and the installation of processing equipment. The firm will add two new production lines and expand the facility’s ammonia refrigeration system.

The expanded facility will include processing, packaging, dry and refrigerated storage, and welfare areas, as well as space for future expansions. According to Stellar, its expansion will enable Freshpet to grow its production capacity in order to meet increasing consumer demand for fresh pet food. According to Freshpet, the expansion is expected to help drive its annual revenue, which is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2025.

Following completion of the expansion, the Ennis facility will represent Freshpet’s largest Kitchen.

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