Headwinds for Terra Canis: The Munich-based luxury pet food startup is planning to build a factory in Petershausen, near Munich. However, residents and local politicians seem unenthusiastic about the project. The plans for the production facility will first be thoroughly reviewed.
Business with premium pet food for dogs and cats appears to be doing well. Terra Canis is looking to expand, and founder Birgitta Ornau is planning to build a production facility in Petershausen that will produce up to 10,000 tons of pet food annually.
Wastewater and parking spaces as points of criticism
But in the town, 40 kilometers from Munich, these plans are viewed with suspicion. Both residents and politicians are skeptical. One of the reasons: The targeted production volumes would generate around 10,000 cubic meters of wastewater. This could potentially overload the local sewage treatment plant. The construction of employee parking lots is also causing unrest in Petershausen. as reported by the Süddeutsche ZeitungThese are problems that Ornau and Terra Canis perhaps hadn't anticipated. Now, an expert report will be conducted to precisely examine the biological footprint the feed factory would leave behind.
Start of production planned for 2019
For Ornau and Terra Canis, this is not the first stumbling block in the company's history. Only in spring 2017 a shitstorm to the startup when its takeover by the controversial food manufacturer Nestlé was announced. Whether the Petershausen-based company will warm up to the company and how the plans for the new production facility can be implemented remains to be seen. The fact is: the schedule is tight. Production of the delicacies for four-legged friends is scheduled to begin in Petershausen in January 2019.
