Central Garden & Pet to close Henrico facility, laying off 94

Central Garden & Pet will soon close its eastern Henrico County dog treat manufacturing facility and lay off 94 employees as it consolidates operations.

The facility operates as part of the company’s TDBBS pet treat business, which Central acquired in 2023.

The company notified the state of the layoffs in a letter sent on April 14 to comply with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Central Garden & Pet said it was permanently closing its facility at 5701 Eastport Blvd., near Richmond International Airport. The phased closure will be complete by June 30.

Friederike Edelmann, a vice president with the company, said Central Garden & Pet is shifting its Richmond-area production to an existing plant in Neptune, New Jersey, part of an effort to consolidate its dog treat business. She called the consolidation “a natural next step” that will improve efficiency and allow the company to scale by integrating TDBBS into its broader platform.

The Henrico site, which has operated since 2008, produces natural dog chews and treats sold under brands including Best Bully Sticks, Barkworthies and Paw Love. Central acquired TDBBS to expand its presence in the growing dog treats category and strengthen its e-commerce capabilities.

Most production roles at the Richmond facility will be eliminated, though the company expects to retain about 15 employees who worked in remote roles.

Affected workers will receive severance and transition support.

Headquartered in California, Central Garden & Pet makes and sells products for pets and lawn and garden care. It employs more than 6,000 people and operates over 100 locations, primarily in the United States.