A Midlands pet-food manufacturer is increasing its production of pet treats, a $128.6 million expansion that will add 277 jobs in stages over the next five years.
The company’s expansion will more the triple the payroll at Mars Petcare on the south edge of Columbia, company officials said.
Plans call for adding 290,000 square feet to the plant, one of 15 the company operates. About 250 new jobs will be at the facility.
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The other jobs will be at a regional distribution center slated to open at an undetermined site in the Midlands area that will be leased.
“This is helping us meet growing demand,” company spokeswoman Julie Lawless said.
Workers at the plant produce several brands of pet food sold nationwide, such as Pedigree.
The company’s expansion is happening with the help of $1.5 million in aid from state commerce officials for site development and property tax breaks from Richland County.
County Council announced the plan after giving final approval to its incentives late Tuesday.
The expansion is a partnership between the company and state and local officials, said Luc Mongeau, president of Mars Petcare North America.
It is the first expansion of manufacturing at the plant since it was acquired in 1998 by Mars, better known for candy and a variety of food on supermarket shelves.
Staff writer Dawn Hinshaw contributed to this story.
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