Blue Buffalo Company, the nation's leading maker of natural dog and cat food, opened its new 416,000 square foot Heartland Pet Food Manufacturing complex on 34 acres in Joplin, Missouri. The complex includes a state of the art dry pet food manufacturing plant and an attached full-service distribution center.

"This is a very big day for Blue Buffalo," said Chairman/Founder Bill Bishop. "We now have the most modern manufacturing facility in the pet food industry. And we are proud to have created 150 full time jobs which will contribute to Joplin's great recovery from the catastrophic tornado in 2011."

Kurt Schmidt, Blue Buffalo's C.E.O. said the positive attitude and work ethic of Joplin's residents was a key factor in the company's decision to locate there. "The way the people of Joplin pulled together after the tornado was really impressive," said Schmidt. "When a devastating event like that happens you can either feel sorry for yourself or you get to work fixing things. And the way this town responded made the entire country proud."

Blue Buffalo Company, located in Wilton, Connecticut, is the nation's leading natural pet food company, and provides a complete line of healthy and holistic natural foods and treats for dogs and cats. Blue Buffalo products are sold nationwide exclusively in pet specialty stores.