Redbarn Pet Products Announces Plans for Move to Great Bend

When Jeff Baikie and Howard Bloxam founded Redbarn Pet Products in the 1990s, they had no idea how successful their company would be or that they would eventually be moving to Central Kansas. Redbarn Pet Products, Inc. would like to announce that they will be moving their operations from Long Beach, California to Great Bend, Kansas in the building formerly occupied by Great Bend Packing.

Over a decade ago, lifelong friends Jeff and Howard moved from Canada to Long Beach, California to start manufacturing premium pet foods and treats. Shortly thereafter, their products were being carried in major retailers all over the country. Today with the convenience of the internet, pets all over the world are begging their owners to purchase Redbarn Pet Products.

Announcement Ready - Howard Bloxam, co-owner of Redbarn Pet Products, stands before the crowd of press and Great Bend residents that were gathered at the official press conference on Jan. 7, 2010 at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. Also pictured are co-owner Jeff Baikie and Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development President/CEO Jan Peters.

“We are currently operating out of a handful of different buildings to keep up with production demands,” co-owner Jeff Baikie says. “We look forward to being able to consolidate all areas of production into one building, as that will help streamline our operations significantly and even give us room for expansion in the future.”

The plant on South Highway 281 where the pet food company will be moving was formerly owned by Smithville Foods. The purchase of the 60-year old facility was closed on December 31, 2009. "We're excited that Redbarn Pet Products has chosen to expand its operations to Great Bend," said Kansas Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton. "When a global leader like Redbarn chooses Kansas, it speaks volumes about our workforce, our business climate and our renowned animal health infrastructure. Kansas is already a huge part of the Global Animal Health Corridor, and announcements like this only strengthen our leadership role in the industry."

Redbarn Pet Products, which will eventually employ between 175 and 200 people, will begin hiring in January, with hopes of ramping up to full production by March. “The fact that we were able to bring in a national company to occupy our manufacturing facilities less than 6 months from the time it was vacated says a lot about our state’s business practices,” Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development President/CEO Jan Peters says. “The cooperation between the Kansas Department of Commerce, the City of Great Bend, Barton County, and our office was key in getting Redbarn here in such a short time.”

Anyone interested in applying for a job with Redbarn Pet Products should send their resume to Great Bend Area Community Employee Recruiter Renee Richmeier at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development, 1125 Williams, Great Bend, KS  67530, or via email to rrichmeier@greatbend.org. Interested job seekers can also fill out an application by stopping in the Chamber office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Jan Peters at 620-792-2401.

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