ASHVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards and County Director of Development Bill Daly say an international pet food manufacturer and distributor could soon be coming to Chautauqua County to set up operations. Last week the two met with officials from Saturn Petcare, Inc. to discuss the German-based company’s interest in buying the AFA Foods Inc. plant in Ashville.
Edward said that as soon as AFA Foods announced in July 2012 that it would be closing, Daly and the County Industrial Development Agency immediately began to work on marketing the site and Chautauqua County is now a contender to be the site of Saturn Petcare’s expansion project.
Saturn Petcare is a wholly owned subsidiary of a family run German group of companies active in meat processing, fine food, and pet food sectors, as well as importing and exporting food in the German and international markets. The company is planning on establishing a manufacturing facility for pet care products in the United States and they are looking at either purchasing the site in Ashville or in Michigan.
IDA Officials have been working with the Western NY Regional office of Empire State Development to coordinate local and State incentives to enhance the opportunities for the selection of the Ashville site by saturn. If the company does purchase the building, they will spend $20 million on equipment and upgrades to the plant, and will create 100 jobs within five years.
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