Nestle expands Hungarian pet food plant into “one of the largest in Europe”

13 Nov 2017 --- In the past seven years, Nestlé has spent around US$160 million on developing its plant in Bük, Hungary, transforming the unit of Nestlé Purina into one of the largest pet food manufacturing plants in Europe. The newest 5,000 square-meter manufacturing hall was inaugurated by Mihály Varga, the Minister for National Economy recently. It has 900 employees and more than 90 percent of its output is made for export. 

Nestlé Hungária Kft, the largest Swiss investor and employer in Hungary has further strengthened its market position with its latest investment. The fully-automated new manufacturing unit employs a globally unique technology to process high-quality local agricultural produce into one million products every day. 

More than 50 truckloads of pet food a day leave the factory, destined for 42 countries around the world. The new 5,000 square-meter manufacturing hall includes two new filling and packaging lines.

Mihály Varga spoke highly of the commitment of Nestlé Hungária Kft. to Hungary. Such commitment is, he said, reflected in the development projects in the country.

This new manufacturing unit is another step forward, the Minister added, because it strengthens the economic ties between Switzerland and Hungary, brings stability and new opportunities to the almost 2,000 domestic suppliers of the company, and also plays a significant role in the development of County Vas.

“60 percent of the agricultural produce used in our Bük factory – more than 78,000 tons - comes from Hungarian producers,” Kai Herzke, the director of the Nestlé Purina plant in Bük stresses. “Over the past ten years, the Nestlé Group has purchased cereal crops in excess of 900,000 tons from Hungarian farmers.”

More than 90 percent of the plant’s output is exported to foreign markets, and the company has exported pet food worth more than HUF 380 billion (US$1.4 billion) from Bük since 2006. 

“Our products reach cats and dogs living in more than 40 countries around the world,” says Bernard Meunier, CEO, Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, Middle East & North Africa.

“Thanks to the extension projects of the Bük plant the number of Bük-based employees has tripled in the past 10 years,” adds Kai Herzke, Factory Manager.