Premium Foods to reopen pet food plant in Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa — General Mills is finalizing the sale of its former Blue Buffalo pet food manufacturing plant in Independence to a company planning to reopen it, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Independence city officials.

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IEDA spokesperson Kanan Kappelman said the buyer, Independence Premium Foods, is “an offshoot company” of United Premium Foods in Woodbridge Township, N.J., and plans to hire workers, make substantial investments and manufacture pet food.

“We’re thrilled,” Kappelman said. “It’s getting a new lease on life with the jobs and investment. It’s a win-win.”

The move marks the revival of a facility, at 812 Third St. NW, that’s been an economic driver for decades in this Buchanan County city of 6,100.

Independence Mayor Brad Bleichner said General Mills expects to close the sale Dec. 1 and noted the plant could be up and running soon after that.

The new owner anticipates it will hire 229 people and make at least a $15 million investment in the plant, according the IEDA.

The IEDA board approved $1.5 million in assistance for the buyers on Nov. 17, contingent on the new owner meeting investment and employment benchmarks. The aid is in the form of a $750,000 forgivable loan and a five-year, $750,000 zero-interest loan through the High Quality Jobs Program.

The city will provide a match of $300,000, which could be met through cash, sewer improvements, tax abatement or in-kind contributions.,

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“The city is very excited to have this group coming in and is happy with the outlook they have for the city,” Bleichner said. “We told them they have big shoes to fill.”

Most of the 217 workers employed at Blue Buffalo lost their jobs Oct. 6, with a half-dozen still employed through Dec. 1, according to Iowa labor records.

The mayor said former Blue Buffalo plant employees have been offered jobs at Independence Premium Foods.

A posting on the plant’s front door said Independence Premium Foods is working to hire approximately 100 employees, including “salaried staff, production staff and maintenance technicians.” Some will begin working in December, with production expected to start in January.

General Mills spokesperson Mollie Wulff said the company had no updates to share at this time. United Premium Foods executives did not immediately respond to a voicemail or email.

Plant’s history

Iowa Ham was housed in the plant for more than 50 years before it closed in 2006. Tyson Foods bought the property and started to produce pet food there in 2010.

General Mills took over the plant, later named Blue Buffalo, in the summer of 2021 as part of a $1.2 billion deal to acquire Tyson’s production of its pet food Nudges, True Chews and Top Chews products. General Mills already owned the pet food line known as Blue Buffalo.

Buchanan County Economic Development Commission documents show the facility was built in 1955, with an addition in 2001 and upgrades in 2021.

The processing plant and two storage facilities sit on 8.43 acres.

The new owner’s investments include retrofitting manufacturing equipment to expand production capabilities to a “wide range” of pet food products, according to the IEDA.

IEDA documents suggest some construction will get underway as soon as December. Testing and pilot production will start in January. Another phase of building improvements and equipment is planned for November 2026.

‘Pretty quiet’

Angie Weltzin, who has lived across the street for two years, spoke highly of General Mills and its employees.

“It was pretty quiet, not a lot of traffic,” she said. “Of course, you heard some machinery, but it wasn’t loud or nothing.”

Weltzin said one of her neighbors was among the employees laid off from the plant.

“It’s good to have an employer right here,” she said. “Not everyone can drive.”

Weltzin is hopeful the community can “depend on it” going forward to provide lots of people with job security.