This post is part of an ongoing series of manufacturer profiles. The blogs will cover some of the many manufacturers in the state of Nebraska. Check back later for more posts in the series. To see previous posts in the series, click here.

Milt, an electrician celebrating 50 years of service with the company said “I’m proud to work here. It doesn’t seem like it’s been 50 years, but I’m proud of it!” “The growth in business has allowed the site to add many new jobs, some with advanced skills and enhanced compensation,” adds Dan Neil, the logistics manager. When the employees of a manufacturer are adamant that the job is valuable, meaningful, and rewarding, it’s a good sign that the company is doing something right.

You can hear more testimonies about what it’s like to work in manufacturing, specifically for Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, in a video but today we’re quite proud to highlight a manufacturer in Nebraska doing good work for the community as well as for the pet care industry.

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a premier global manufacturer of pet products and part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health, and wellness. If you have a dog or a cat, chances are high that you’ve seen some of Nestlé Purina’s manufactured products like dry dog and cat food, wet dog and cat food, snacks, and litter on the shelves of your local pet store.

The Crete, Nebraska, facility locally produces a variety of canned dog and cat food products, including Purina® ONE®, ALPO®, Friskies®, Purina Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets®, and Purina Pro Plan®. In addition to manufacturing pet food, Crete is also home to one of Purina’s nine distribution centers across the United States.

Purina’s history dates back to 1894, when founder William H. Danforth created the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company in St. Louis, Missouri. While its original focus was feed for horses and mules, Purina expanded into cereals and health foods for humans, and was renamed Ralston Purina in 1902. Pet products were added in the 1920s. In the late 1950s, Purina Dog Chow––the first extruded dry food––was introduced, and Purina Cat Chow followed in 1962.

Over the years, Purina added numerous brands to its array of pet products, including Purina Puppy Chow®, Purina Kitten Chow®, Purina ONE®, Pro Plan®, Beggin’ Strips®, and Tidy Cats®. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company was created when Nestlé acquired Ralston Purina Company in December 2001. This acquisition added such brands as Friskies®, ALPO®, Mighty Dog®, and Fancy Feast® to Purina’s stable of products.

“Having grown up on a farm in Nebraska, I know that Nebraskans have a great work ethic and take pride in their work. The people make it a great place for us to do business,” says Stephanie Billups, Manager of Manufacturing Operations at Nestlé Purina’s Crete facility. Hence, we are delighted to share that the Crete facility will continue to grow in 2016.

Back in 2013, we posted an announcement that the company was hiring for workers in Nebraska, and Purina has shared with NeMAC that in 2016, they will be expanding again to accommodate a need for an additional capacity and growing business. Nestlé Purina offers great benefits and competitive pay, and they’ll be adding at least 40 new jobs across all areas of the plant, from forklift and equipment operators, to office positions and automation, robotics, maintenance, production and distribution. (Those interested can find job listings at ).

Nestlé Purina has experienced tremendous growth in Crete over the last eight years, not only physically, with expansions to their lines and buildings, but their staff has also grown by 33 percent. Nestlé Purina continues to invest in Crete, and hiring continues year-over-year.

At NeMAC, we are so proud to have an extraordinary business like Nestlé Purina located here in Nebraska, and look forward to watching their continued growth. If you’re looking for a manufacturing job, consider learning more about Nestlé Purina.

Questions? Comments? Want to learn more? Leave them in the section below, any time!

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