Success Stories
There has been a pet food plant west of Aurora since 1984 when Iams Company first opened a 27 employee plant with one mill tower and two packing lines. Since then the company has changed ownership a couple of times and gone through several improvement and expansion projects. According the the Aurora News Register the company produces 200,000 tons of pet food per year making both Iams and Pedigree dog food products. Currently 150 Mars associates work at the Aurora manufacturing plant. Over $80 million have recently been invested in the facility including updates for offices and warehouse operations to support the addition of the Pedigree product line. Improvements include a new grinding tower, equipment for screening and coating the product as well as more automation and equipment for safety initiatives.