J.M. Smucker Co. announces $20.5 million Topeka plant expansion

J.M. Smucker Co. announced February 12 it would spend a total of $20.5 million expanding its Topeka, Kansas pet food factory. According to the website for Go Topeka, an economic development group that facilitated the investment, the project will involve capital expenditures of $17.8 million in property and $2.7 million in new equipment. The money will go towards expanding the Big Heart Pet Brands, Inc. factory Smucker acquired in 2015, which produces Milk-Bone, Meow Mix and other brands of pet food.

According to Go Topeka, the expansion will “support” the plant’s existing workforce, but the company did not announce any plans to hire additional employees.

To help facilitate the expansion, the Joint Economic Development Board of Topeka and Shawnee county reportedly approved $383,000 in economic development incentives. In a statement, GO Topeka Rhiannon Friedman said those funds would create future opportunities for industrial growth in Topeka.

 What people are saying

“We are excited to continue to expand our operations in Topeka to support the consumers who count on our beloved brands, including Meow Mix and Milk-Bone, and the dedicated workforce that works diligently to continue to deliver these high-quality products,” said Luke Livingston, Director, Operations, The J.M. Smucker Co. “Our facility has been part of the Topeka community for more than 55 years and this investment represents our commitment to continue to grow together.”  

“This significant investment by an industry leader in Smucker represents a major step forward for Topeka’s manufacturing sector,” said Rhiannon Friedman, President of Go Topeka. “This investment enhances our industrial base and creates further opportunities for sustained economic growth and we’re proud to partner with a company that shares our vision for a thriving community.” 

Manufacturers investing in Kansas

General Motors invests $4B to expand gas and electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee
The new investment gives GM the ability to assemble more than two million vehicles per year in the U.S.