DES MOINES, IOWA — Independence Premium Foods, a division of New Jersey-based United Premium Foods, is setting up shop in Independence, Iowa. The company plans to acquire and retrofit a former Blue Buffalo manufacturing site in the area for the purpose of contract manufacturing various food products.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced Nov. 17 it provided Independence Premium Foods $1.5 million through its High Quality Jobs (HQJ) platform. The funds will support Independence Premium Foods as it invests $14.8 million into purchasing and refurbishing the former Blue Buffalo plant in Independence, where it will produce a range of food items, primarily human-grade dog food, according to Kanan Kappelman, marketing and communications team lead at IEDA.
According to IEDA, the facility acquisition is expected to close in November, with retrofitting occurring in December, and testing and pilot production wrapping up in January 2024. By November 2026, Independence Premium Foods will have undergone a second phase of site improvements and equipment installations at the Independence plant.
The project is expected to bring 229 jobs to the area, with a qualifying wage of $25.90 per hour. IEDA expects the investment by Independence Premium Foods will result in roughly $15 million in new investment capital for the state of Iowa. The company is currently hiring for production, maintenance and salaried positions starting as early as December.
In early October, General Mills laid off 211 employees at the Blue Buffalo manufacturing plant in Independence, according to the Iowa Workforce Development Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN), as it prepared to shutter the facility by the end of the year. Six additional layoffs are planned for Dec. 1.
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