United Petfood Agrees to Acquire Arkansas Dry Pet Food Plant

United Petfood has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a dry pet food production facility in Decatur, Arkansas, from Wellness Pet Company. The companies announced the transaction on September 22 and said they also signed a long term supply agreement connected with the proposed acquisition.

The Decatur operation would become United Petfood’s third production site in North America. The Belgian private label manufacturer already operates facilities in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Drummondville, Quebec.

United Petfood did not disclose the purchase price or a closing timetable in its announcement. Describing the agreement as definitive establishes that terms have been signed, but it does not by itself mean ownership has already transferred.

The accompanying supply arrangement is strategically important because it connects the asset sale with continuing production work for Wellness Pet Company. Neither company disclosed the agreement’s volume, duration beyond calling it long term, or financial value.

For United Petfood, the plant adds domestic dry food capacity in the United States and broadens a North American network that previously covered the Midwest and eastern Canada. That footprint can reduce the distance between production and customers while giving the group more flexibility across sites.

Chief executive Dries Eeckhout said the Decatur facility would provide additional capacity and flexibility to respond to customer needs. He also linked the purchase to the group’s strategy of combining local production with the capabilities of its wider international manufacturing network.

The deal illustrates how private label pet food manufacturers can expand through existing assets rather than relying only on new construction. Acquiring an operating plant can add capacity and customer relationships more quickly, although execution still depends on completing the transaction and integrating the site.

The main questions now are when the acquisition will close, how much production United Petfood will allocate to the supply agreement, and whether the Decatur site supports further customer growth beyond that relationship. Those details were not included in the September 22 disclosure.