BEWITAL Opens First Production Plant Outside Germany in China

German pet food manufacturer BEWITAL has opened a new wet pet food plant in Weihai, Shandong, marking its first production facility outside Germany as the company expands its manufacturing presence in China.

The facility, which officially opened on August 16, produces premium wet food for dogs and cats exclusively for the Chinese market. BEWITAL expects the site to employ around 50 people by the end of 2026 and says the factory operates with a high level of automation. 

The investment reflects BEWITAL’s growing focus on its Chinese business. According to the company’s project partner FE Beteiligungsgesellschaft, BEWITAL, FE and Chinese distributor Megapet decided in 2023 to establish a modern wet food production facility in China. BEWITAL subsequently took responsibility for the technical development of the Weihai plant, while modern production equipment was purchased and installed in 2025. Production began in 2026. 

BEWITAL said increasingly difficult export conditions from Germany and import conditions in China were among the reasons for establishing local production. Manufacturing closer to Chinese customers is intended to provide more reliable supply and allow the company to respond faster to local market requirements. 

The new plant does not represent a relocation of BEWITAL’s German manufacturing operations. The company continues to invest in production capacity at its headquarters in Südlohn-Oeding. A separate new facility for wet dog and cat food, known as Werk 6, is scheduled to begin operations there in September 2026. 

For the international pet food industry, BEWITAL’s move illustrates a broader supply-chain strategy: maintaining established manufacturing in Europe while adding local production capacity in a major overseas market. For manufacturers and exporters, the approach can reduce dependence on cross-border shipments while bringing production closer to customers and regional demand.