Tyson Foods and Kemin open new manufacturing operation; Alliance producing flavor-enhanced ingredients for pet foods

DES MOINES, Iowa. – Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and Kemin Industries, Inc. today announced the opening of a new manufacturing operation that is producing pet food flavor enhancers known as palatants under the Palasurance™ brand.

The manufacturing initiative is the result of an alliance Tyson and Kemin formed in 2008 to develop, manufacture, market and sell liquid and dry palatants to pet food companies. The goal is to provide cost competitive, high quality pet food palatants from the sourcing of ingredients to the food bowl.

The new palatant operation is housed at Tyson’s flagship animal protein facility in Scranton, Arkansas, which is centrally located to Tyson’s Arkansas chicken processing plants. Production began in March and will be a 24 hour operation supported by the Scranton staff and may require jobs to be added in the future. The Scranton facility employs 250 people.

“The startup of this operation represents another milestone in our core strategy of increasing the value of our by-products,” said Leland Tollett, interim president and CEO of Tyson Foods. “It also demonstrates Tyson’s continued commitment to the pet food industry.”

“The Scranton facility is located near several of our largest poultry processing plants,” said Jeff Webster, group vice president and general manager of Tyson’s Renewable Products division. “This gives us excellent access to the fresh raw materials needed to manufacture high-performing palatants for some of North America’s largest pet food makers.”

The new operation boasts state-of-the-art equipment and automated controls designed to produce palatants with performance and safety in mind.

“In addition to fresh raw materials and advanced formulations, top quality palatants require strict process control from reception of raw materials until the storage of finished product,” Webster said. “Scranton employs the latest technologies designed to enhance flavor and ensure pet food manufacturers receive consistent high quality products.”

“The strategic alliance offers Kemin customers a completely integrated, reliable and safe supply chain with complete product traceability,” said Dr. Chris Nelson, president of Kemin Industries. “Kemin is committed to providing high-quality, fresh and safe ingredients to the pet food industry.”

Kemin Industries, Inc. has been developing and manufacturing premium palatability enhancers for the pet food industry for 20 years. The company now has factories dedicated to Palasurance™ in the U.S., Brazil, and Europe.

“The addition of this plant in North America furthers Kemin’s strategy of becoming the number one supplier of palatants to the global pet food industry,” said Giuseppe Abrate, President of Kemin’s pet food ingredients business. “With our plants in South America and Europe, the new manufacturing facility allows us to serve the three largest pet food markets in a consistent manner with our Complete Palatability Assurance program which includes our expertise in freshness and shelf-life extension.”