The French pet food brand Royal Canin is expanding its production of cat and dog food in North Sioux City. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced the company plans to spend $185 million to expand its existing building and create 149 full-time positions.
About 2% of the money Royal Canin is committing to the South Dakota facility will be offset with a Reinvestment Payment Program Grant approved by the state's Board of Economic Development in the amount of $3,950,145.
Pet ownership quickly increased during the pandemic. More people with pets means a bigger demand for food to feed them. President of Royal Canin North America Cecile Coutens says the facility investment is a direct result of this demand.
“Over the past two years, the country experienced a boom in pet ownership and heightened focus on pets’ health. Royal Canin is seeing significant growth as a result," Coutens says. "We want to continue to invest in our business to support these pets, their owners, and our professional partners. We already know what an incredible place the North Sioux City community is and are thrilled to expand our presence here.”
The five-year-old South Dakota facility is one of the company's two production plants in the United States.