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Nestlé Purina PetCare Company

Nestlé Purina PetCare
Subsidiary
Industry Pet food
Predecessor Ralston Purina
Founded December 12, 2001; 16 years ago (2001-12-12)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Headquarters 800 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Joseph R. Sivewright (CEO)
Products
  • Dog food
  • Cat food
  • Animal health products
  • Pet snacks
  • Cat litter
  • Dog litter
Brands
Revenue $11.2 billion (2013)
Number of employees
17,500 (2012)
Parent Nestlé S.A.
Website purina.com

Nestlé Purina Petcare is a St. Louis, Missouri-based subsidiary of Nestlé. It produces and markets pet food, treats and litter. Some of its pet food brands include Purina Pro Plan, Purina Dog Chow, Friskies, Beneful and Purina ONE. The company was formed in 2001 by combining Ralston Purina, which was acquired by Nestlé for $10.3 billion, with Nestlé's Friskies Petcare Company. As consumers became willing to spend more money on their pets, the company grew. As of 2012, it is the second-largest pet food company globally and the largest in the United States.

In 2007, Nestle Purina voluntarily recalled some of its products after a widespread contamination was discovered in the pet food industry, due to ingredients from China. The company has been recognized for sustainability practices in its manufacturing and sponsors many pet-related charities and events. It markets its pet food through crowd-sourced competitions, sponsorship, mobile apps, and television advertising.

In 1894, William H. Danforth, partnered with George Robinson and William Andrews, entered the business of feeding farm animals by founding the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company. The name was changed to Ralston Purina in 1902.

Nestlé Purina Petcare was formed in December 2001, when Nestlé acquired Ralston Purina for $10.3 billion and merged it with Nestlé's pet food business, Friskies PetCare Company. Ralston had marketed the Dog Chow, Cat Chow and Pro Plan pet food brands, while Nestlé produced Friskies and Alpo brand pet foods.

The merger was opposed by consumer advocates, such as the Consumer Federation of America, due to anti-trust concerns. The two companies combined would become the largest pet food brand by market-share with a 45 percent share of the cat food market. The Federal Trade Commission approved the merger after the Meow Mix and Alley Cat brands from Ralston were sold to J.W. Childs Equity Partners, creating the separate Meow Mix Company. Ralston's St. Louis, Missouri location was chosen as the new company's North America headquarters.


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