Deluxe Feeds Inc., a division of Kent Nutrition Group (KNG) in Muscatine, Iowa, will expand its Sheldon, Iowa, location, allowing the plant to better serve customers and offer a wider variety of products and services.
The expansion will provide Deluxe Feeds with new innovations and products that will bring value to the Deluxe Feeds and KNG customers in this market. The plant will increase capacity and versatility by adding five new pellet mills, two separate processing lines, high-efficiency packaging equipment, robotic palletizers, grain cleaning and packaging innovations and a 50,000-square-foot warehouse.
“This investment and expansion reflects our deep commitment to the industry. We are focused on providing innovative products and solutions to address the challenges and opportunities our customers face both today and in the future,” said Gage A. Kent, chairman and CEO of Kent Corp.
“This is the fourth expansion to the Sheldon plant since 2003,” said Dan Paca, general manager of Deluxe Feeds Inc. “We looked closely at what this area needed and
considered what was best for the swine, dairy and beef operations in this market. Our ongoing investments are customer-focused and demonstrate our commitment to quality and service.”
Growing business
In September, Kent Nutrition Group, a division of Kent Corporation, based in Muscatine, Iowa, announced the acquisition of Deluxe Feeds. Since the acquisition, KNG has continued to operate Deluxe Feeds, with a singular focus of serving the customers of northwest Iowa, southeastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.
“As one of the top commercial animal-producing regions in the country, this expansion will allow us to grow our business in order to be more responsive to our customers’ changing needs and provide them with trusted brands, quality products and outstanding service. We are excited to grow our capabilities in Sheldon, Iowa, and increase our presence in this important agricultural area,” said John Thorpe, president, Kent Nutrition Group.
The city of Sheldon is taking steps to award Deluxe Feeds a full five-year tax rebate for the expansion project. “We are thrilled with the investment that Deluxe Feeds and Kent Nutrition Group continue to make in our community. The expansion is projected to add 15 new jobs to the city of Sheldon and to increase the value of taxable property in the city, and we welcome the new advancements and capabilities that come with that investment,” said Curt Strouth, Sheldon community development director.
The project is expected to take 18 to 20 months to complete. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held later in 2017 to celebrate the expansion.