Wattie’s has completed a multi-million dollar upgrade of its Hastings pet food manufacturing site, positioning itself for future growth in the pet food industry.

The pet food manufacturing facility in Tomoana, Hastings produces one of New Zealand’s leading household cat food brands Chef® as well as other pet food brands Gourmet®, Champ® and a range of pet food products for export.  

The main focus of the upgrade was an investment in a new canning retort capability designed to increase reliability and productivity through state-of-the-art equipment that will underpin growth within the category by providing the means and space to substantially scale-up production.

Neil Heffer, Managing Director of Heinz Wattie’s Limited says the Tomoana facility upgrade is a reflection of our commitment to champion New Zealand made products and the benefits this brings to the local economy.  Wattie’s is proudly one of the largest producers of canned pet food in New Zealand.

“Chef® is a pioneering brand that has been loved by Kiwis and their pets for more than 50 years – Catisfaction Guaranteed!  We are proud of the heritage of the Chef® brand and this significant investment in its future to know we will continue producing pet food for Kiwi cats and dogs for many years to come.”

According to information published by the New Zealand Petfood Manufacturers Association, “64% of households own at least one companion animal, with a total pet population of 4.35 million. … This is the second highest rate of pet ownership in the world.”[1]

The upgrade to the Tomoana facility marks a new era of pet food production for Wattie’s which comes at a time when there are shortages of pet food, mainly due to global shipping delays, clearly impacting New Zealand.

To signify Wattie’s continued support to the local community, it has made a donation of Chef cat food to Nourished for Nil[2], a food mission in the Hawke’s Bay, to help those in challenging times care for their pets.  

Nikki Gardner, Sustainability Officer at Nourished for Nil says they are so grateful to companies giving back and supporting the local community.

“When people are facing hardship, having a pet to feed can add extra pressure to an already stressful situation. This donation will help many to continue caring for their pets in any situation, so thank you Wattie’s for supporting the Hawke’s Bay community! “

The facility was officially opened by Hastings’ Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst on June 1^st signifying the Council’s ongoing support of the facility and the future of pet food manufacturing in Hastings.  

The significant investment supports the Council’s ambitions to help facilitate the growth of other businesses in Hawke’s Bay, bringing employment opportunities and further investment to the region.

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[1] New Zealand Petfood Manufacturers Association https://www.petfoodnz.co.nz/

[2] https://www.nourishedfornil.org/