EU approves €60m state aid for Nestlé pet food plant in Italy

Agriland

13-05-2025

The Italian division of the Swiss food and drink giant Nestlé has been approval to receive €60 million in state aid funding from the government in Italy to support the construction of a pet food plant.
The European Commission granted approval to Nestlé Italiana for the measure under EU state aid rules.
It is understood that the new production plant for wet pet food will be based in the municipality of Mantua, Lombardy in the north of Italy.
Nestlé
The commission said that the aid will take the form of a direct grant for the construction of the factory and the production line.
'The measure will help promote a smart, competitive, resilient and diversified agricultural sector that guarantees long-term food security.
'It will also support environmental protection and climate action, contribute to EU climate goals, and help strengthen the socio-economic fabric of rural areas,' the commission said in its assessment.
The commission added that the aid will run until June 30, 2029.
The commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, and in particular under the guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas.
It also assessed the proposal under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union which allows member states to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions.
The commission found that the measure is 'necessary, appropriate and proportionate to contribute to a sustainable growth of the agricultural sector'. On this basis, the commission approved the scheme.