United Petfood is expanding its North American manufacturing network with a deal involving a pet food production facility in Decatur, Arkansas, strengthening the Belgian group’s ability to manufacture closer to customers in the US market.

The private-label pet food manufacturer announced the development on 22 September 2026 as it continues to build its production footprint outside Europe.

The Decatur operation adds another important manufacturing location to United Petfood’s North American network, following its earlier move into the US through the acquisition of a production facility in Mishawaka, Indiana.

That Indiana deal, completed in 2024, marked United Petfood’s first manufacturing operation in the United States. The company had previously built much of its international business through a large European production network serving retailers and pet food brands across multiple markets.

The Arkansas expansion is particularly relevant for supermarket and private-label buyers because it increases United Petfood’s ability to support North American customers from regional manufacturing capacity rather than relying principally on production and exports from Europe.

United Petfood specialises in private-label dry and wet pet food, treats and snacks, making manufacturing scale and proximity increasingly important as retailers seek reliable supply, shorter lead times and greater flexibility around own-brand ranges.

The company has steadily expanded through acquisitions, creating a multi-factory network spanning major European pet food markets before accelerating its North American strategy.

Its acquisition of the Mishawaka facility from Wellness Pet Company in 2024 was an important first step. United Petfood said at the time that producing locally would allow it to serve American customers more effectively.

The latest development pushes that strategy further.

A broader regional manufacturing base can give private-label suppliers greater flexibility around production planning, transport costs and customer-specific formulations, particularly in a category where retailers increasingly compete through premium, functional and specialist pet food ranges.

Pet food has also become an important private-label growth area for major grocery groups. Rather than treating own-brand pet food solely as a lower-price alternative to established brands, retailers increasingly use tiered ranges covering mainstream, premium, natural, grain-free and specialised nutrition.

For manufacturers, that raises the value of having production capacity close to the retailer and consumer markets being served.

United Petfood has grown into one of Europe’s significant private-label pet food manufacturing groups through a combination of organic expansion and acquisitions.

Its network covers multiple production formats and markets, allowing the business to supply retailers and branded pet food operators across a broad geographic area.

The Decatur expansion also continues a relationship between United Petfood and Wellness Pet Company.

United Petfood’s original US entry came through the acquisition of Wellness Pet’s Mishawaka plant in Indiana. At the time, Wellness said it had moved production towards its substantially larger Decatur operation in Arkansas.

The latest transaction therefore represents another notable shift in the manufacturing relationship between the two businesses.

For grocery buyers, the key development is not simply the addition of another factory.

United Petfood is building a manufacturing structure that increasingly mirrors the regional production model already established by larger multinational food suppliers — placing capacity closer to customers while using a wider factory network to support product development and supply continuity.

That could strengthen its position when competing for large supermarket private-label contracts in North America.

United Petfood’s expansion also comes as private-label manufacturers face greater pressure from retailers to combine scale with manufacturing flexibility.

Large grocery groups increasingly expect suppliers to support different pack sizes, recipes, price tiers and market-specific requirements without sacrificing availability.

Additional regional capacity can help manufacturers respond to those demands while reducing some of the logistical exposure associated with long-distance supply.

United Petfood has not indicated that the Arkansas development changes its European manufacturing strategy.

Instead, the expansion reinforces a broader international model in which the company can support customers through production facilities positioned across several major pet food markets.

For supermarket buyers assessing long-term private-label partners, that growing manufacturing footprint could become an increasingly important part of the company’s proposition.

GTN has previously profiled United Petfood in its guide to private label pet food manufacturers in Europe.