A pet food manufacturer is taking over the former MillerCoors plant in Eden and pledging to create 300 jobs, the N.C. Department of Commerce said Wednesday.
In exchange, Nestlé Purina Petcare will get a large incentive package from the state and local governments, N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger said in a news release. The company, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Nestlé, plans to invest $450 million to turn the former brewery into pet food manufacturing plant.
“Eden is Purina’s first manufacturing operation in North Carolina, and through this expansion we build on our more than 90-year history of making science-based dog and cat foods that pet owners trust,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, President, Nestlé Purina U.S. “Despite the challenging times we have all been living in, Purina has remained resilient. This strategic and long-term investment demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality nutrition for pets. We’re thankful for the great partnership at the state and local levels, and we are excited to be a part of this community now and for many years to come.”
The average job would pay $42,000 a year, according to the news release.
The state’s Economic Investment Committee approved a $24.6 million incentive package for the jobs. Eden and Rockingham County will also contribute $24.4 million worth of incentives for a total of $49 million.
The state said Eden was competing with locations in Ohio and Kentucky.
“North Carolina’s manufacturing workforce is strong, and this announcement is an important new phase in Nestlé Purina’s growth,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This company’s global reputation for quality products, innovation, sustainability, and corporate citizenship fits well with our state’s workforce, economy, and the business community.”
MillerCoors closed the Eden brewery in 2016, after saying it needed to streamline its operations amid a drop in demand for its products, the News & Record of Greensboro reported. At the time, it was the county’s third-largest employer, behind Walmart and Unifi.
