From Railcar to Pet Food Bowl
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Norfolk Southern photo.
As activist sharks circle Norfolk Southern’s Atlanta headquarters in anticipation of the May 9 proxy vote, the railroad has a landed a new customer in North Carolina whose products are literally going to the dogs (and cats, too).
Nestle Purina PetCare located a new factory on the NS main line in Eden, N.C. on the site of a former brewery. The $450 million plant, described as “a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation for multiple pet food lines,” received its first railcars loaded with feedstock ingredients on April 25.
“This collaboration exemplifies the power of partnership, driving progress not only in pet food delivery but also in sustainable practices,” NS said. “Nestle Purina is strategically aligned with Norfolk Southern when it comes to lowering our nation’s overall carbon footprint. The pet food leader is aiming for zero waste and all renewable electricity for this facility by 2025, not to mention the carbon emissions savings achieved shipping by rail rather than truck. Locating this facility adjacent to Norfolk Southern’s main line underscores the importance of safe, reliable rail service to their supply chain. In North Carolina alone, customers have reduced their carbon footprint by approximately 66.5% shipping by rail—the equivalent of removing 1.4 million trucks from the highway.”
U.S. pet ownership, NS noted, “has jumped significantly over the past three decades. According to the American Pet Products Association, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet, an increase of 56% compared to 1988. Last year alone, Americans spent $147 billion on pets, whether it was pet food, veterinary services or other supplies. In 2024, experts project a total of $150.6 billion in industry sales. Pet food and treats represent the most significant portion of consumer spending habits.
Nestle Purina has transformed a former brewery into. The new facility will create more than 300 jobs and represents a $450 million investment by the company. This underscores the company’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for pet food products with quality and innovation.
