Mars Petcare Builds Fort Smith Facility

Mars Inc. will be bringing an $80 million, 250,000-SF manufacturing facility to Fort Smith that will create 110 jobs, which will likely double within five years to about 200.

But the plant won’t be turning out snacks for people.

Rather, it will produce pet food, specifically, the Cesar Canine Cuisine brand, a gourmet soft food designed for smaller dogs.

The company recently confirmed Tennessee-based RFW Construction Group to design and build the plant. Construction costs will be about $20 million, said George Huelsman, vice president of manufacturing and engineering for Mars Petcare.

Mars Petcare had considered several other locations for the plant, including sites in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kansas. Fort Smith won out for several reasons.

One deciding factor was the package of tax and infrastructure incentives and potential incentives, which totaled about $21 million.

Some of the perks are conditional, and depend on the factory’s income.

“Over time, we’ll find out how many of those we can use,” Huelsman said of the incentives.

Another big plus as far as the company was concerned is the area’s educational system, from the public schools to the professional training available through the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.

“What was interesting was [UAFS’] willingness to custom design or build curriculum that would meet our needs,” Huelsman said.

The plant will be designed to be expandable to accommodate possible future growth.

But it will be built initially with twice the space that will be needed, so the company can increase capacity without having to start new construction.

Wages for plant workers will run from $11 an hour at the low end to $24 an hour for more highly trained maintenance positions.

Mars Petcare announced the plant in mid November.