Nestlé Purina is significantly expanding its pet food manufacturing capabilities in Bük, Hungary, marking a pivotal moment in its five-year development strategy within Central Eastern Europe (CEE). This expansion includes the construction of a new pet food production facility designed to produce over 50,000 tons of pet food annually and generate 130 new jobs in the region.

Péter Noszek, the managing director of Nestlé Hungária, announced the culmination of a five-year development journey for the Bük facility. This period is characterized by an ambitious HUF 300 billion investment, noted as the largest in Hungary's food industry sector. This investment forms part of a broader HUF 382 billion (around $1.07 billion USD) development initiative launched in 2020 to bolster operations in Bük, with HUF 325 billion (approximately $906.2 million USD) allocated to the Purina pet food production campus alone. In 2023, the company dedicated HUF 90 billion (about $250.9 million USD) to enhancing its pet food production capabilities in Hungary.

Nestlé's production in Hungary, which amounted to roughly 200,000 tons of pet food in 2019 and was exported to over 50 countries, is set to see a significant increase. The new manufacturing unit, alongside further investments in the Purina brand, is poised to double the company's annual pet food production capacity to 500,000 tons.

The construction of the new plant began in January, with plans to install production lines later in 2024 and kickstart production in 2025. Nestlé is committed to sourcing domestic raw materials to support local farmers and agricultural producers, with nearly half of the raw materials for its Bük operations currently supplied by Hungarian providers—a figure expected to rise after the new plant becomes operational.

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and trade, emphasized Nestlé's contribution to both the quantitative and qualitative growth of Hungary's economy through constant modernization and significant industrial innovations. He noted the Hungarian government's support for this investment, including infrastructure improvements to roads and water networks that will benefit the region's residents.

With 2,800 employees across three factories and offices in Budapest, including the pet food division, Nestlé continues to play a vital role in Hungary's economic and industrial landscape.