The family-owned BEWITAL Group, based in Südlohn-Oeding, opened its new plant in Weihai, China, last Sunday. At the new location, BEWITAL will produce high-quality wet food for dogs and cats specifically for the Chinese market.
China has been an important growth market for BEWITAL for many years now. “Demand for our products in China has been growing very positively for years. At the same time, exporting from Germany and importing into China have become increasingly difficult. That is why we have decided to take the next step by establishing our own plant in China so that we can expand reliably on the ground,” explains Managing Director Dr. Jürgen Wigger.
With its new production facility, BEWITAL aims to offer its Chinese customers greater supply reliability, a broader product range, and even closer proximity to the market. At the same time, the company will be able to respond more quickly to the specific requirements and requests of Chinese customers in the future.
BEWITAL was particularly impressed by the speed with which the project in Weihai was implemented. “The construction of the plant—including obtaining permits, ordering the machinery, and commissioning—took less than a year. That really impressed us,” emphasizes Jan Philip Petershagen on behalf of the management of the BEWITAL Group.
The new plant is equipped with state-of-the-art production facilities and features a high degree of automation. By the end of the year, BEWITAL plans to employ approximately 50 people at its Weihai location.
This investment is expressly not linked to a relocation of existing production from Germany. “In China, we will produce exclusively for the Chinese market. In all other markets, our BELCANDO and LEONARDO brands will continue to stand for ‘Made in Germany,’” emphasizes Bernd van der Linde, Managing Director of BEWITAL petfood.
In China as well, BEWITAL intends to continue offering products manufactured in Germany, to the extent permitted by the regulatory framework. The product line from Germany and the products manufactured in Weihai are intended to complement one another.
With its investment in Weihai, BEWITAL is laying the groundwork for further growth in one of Asia’s most important markets, combining the family-owned company’s many years of experience in manufacturing high-quality pet food with a stronger local presence.
“2026 is a significant year of growth for us—and not just in China. In fact, we are also investing continuously and heavily in our corporate home of Südlohn-Oeding. The current expansion of Plant 6 is a clear example of this,” said Dr. Jürgen Wigger on behalf of the BEWITAL Group.
About the BEWITAL Group:
For over 60 years, BEWITAL has stood for quality, tradition, and innovative solutions from the Münsterland region. The family-owned group combines experience with state-of-the-art technologies and forward-thinking ideas for sustainable progress. Three specialized companies with over 620 employees across more than 100 professions develop, produce, and deliver solutions for customers in over 60 countries—with a clear commitment to excellent quality, innovation, and sustainable practices.
• BEWITAL agri – A technology leader in the development and production of high-quality specialty animal feed for the agricultural sector that specifically and sustainably supports animal health.
• BEWITAL petfood – Specialist in super-premium pet food produced in-house, with a focus on natural, carefully selected ingredients, balanced recipes, and gentle manufacturing processes.
• westrans – A logistics service provider that transports over 325,000 metric tons of freight annually for a wide variety of customers across Europe.
