Freshpet Inc., a market-pioneering provider of fresh, refrigerated pet food, has chosen engineering, architecture and construction company CRB to develop the company's third kitchen in Ennis, Texas.

"Our third Freshpet Kitchen in Ennis is the perfect location to help us drive new innovation while making our food in a way that's best for pets, people and the planet," said Billy Cyr, CEO of Freshpet.

CRB, a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction and consulting solutions, reported its ONEsolution service will allow Freshpet to significantly scale production capacity and meet consumer demand as buyers increasingly turn to fresh and natural food products for their pets. The first phase of the new kitchen in Ennis is expected to provide 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space and open in fall of 2022, with a second 200,000 square feet expansion phase to follow. When at full capacity, the facility will allow Freshpet to produce enough pet food to exceed $1 billion in total revenue by 2025 and employ more than 400 people in the area, nearly doubling Freshpet's workforce.

Through ONEsolution, CRB will provide Freshpet a single source of responsibility, transparent communication and streamlined coordination across the project's lifecycle -- from architectural, engineering development and design through to construction and commissioning, officials said. The project will incorporate layout efficiencies, hygienic segregations, equipment, conveyance, cleaning and inspection designs that are indistinguishable from human food processing facilities.

"Freshpet understands that pets are members of the family, and they put as much care into the manufacture of their pet food products as they would for their human counterparts," said Ryan Schroeder, President of CRB. "Our ONEsolution approach will enable Freshpet to take advantage of innovative design elements and a truly end-to-end project delivery model as they set a new standard in pet food manufacturing."

The Ennis facility continues a successful relationship between Freshpet and CRB, which provided design and engineering services on its 140,000-square-foot refrigerated pet food expansion at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. CRB provided design of power, utility, ammonia refrigeration and HVAC systems, along with other critical and support functions.