How Next Level Pet Food Accelerated Production with Advanced Pet Food Packaging Machinery

When two veteran pet food entrepreneurs needed packaging equipment for their new facility during unprecedented supply chain challenges, they turned to BW Flexible Systems for a solution that aligned with their values of hard work, integrity, and accountability.

Watch: Play the video below to hear Next Level Pet Food's account of their collaboration with BW Flexible Systems.

The Challenge

A Mission to Produce Pet Food the Right Way

For Next Level Pet Food co-founders Scott Glover and Antoine Albin, building the Next Level brand wasn't just about starting another business, it was about creating a company that reflected their core values.

"If we're going to do something, we're going to do it right or not at all," said Antoine. "That's what pet food takes."

Their mission was clear: develop nutritious pet food products that deliver genuine value.

"In pet specialty, it's a race to the top; in feed and farm, it's a race to the bottom," said Scott. "What's in the middle is common sense: we wanted to develop a brand that brings all the nutrition in at a price people can afford."

Sourcing Critical Pet Food Packaging Machinery During Supply Chain Disruptions

The Next Level team faced a daunting challenge: constructing and equipping a greenfield pet food production facility in Pittsburg, Texas during the height of COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. Their goal? To reach full production within 22 months.

"With this COVID stuff, the lead times were just crazy on equipment," Scott recalls. "I didn't realize how far out it was for equipment, and I thought I had plenty of time, but I waited just a little bit too long."

Selecting a Pet Food Packaging Machinery Partner

When it came time to source pet food packaging machinery, Antoine and Scott needed a partner who shared their values and could meet their aggressive timeline. After comparing multiple pet food packaging machinery suppliers, they decided to call BW Flexible Systems because they were familiar with the reputations of its Thiele bag filling and SYMACH palletizing machine brands.

The Solution

BW Flexible Systems Delivered Pet Food Packaging Machinery in Record Time

Scott and Antoine met Mark Dunn, a Sales Executive for BW Flexible Systems with over 30 years of experience providing pet food packaging solutions to the pet food industry. Mark immediately recognized the urgency and importance of what Next Level Pet Food was trying to accomplish.

"They said, 'we are building a new plant from scratch' and they told me they wanted to have full production within 22 months," Mark recalls. "I learned that there was so much at stake for these folks. Failure was not an option, so this required some creative thinking."

Creative Thinking to Meet Aggressive Timelines

After assessing Next Level's needs, Mark developed a strategic plan that would allow the company to start production quickly while positioning them for future growth.

"They came up with a game plan knowing that we were trying to get running very quickly," said Hayden Fox, Site Director for Next Level Pet Food.

The Results

Success Beyond Expectations

Thanks to their partnership with BW Flexible Systems, Next Level Pet Food achieved their ambitious timeline and started producing pet food within 22 months of their initial discussions.

The solution required thinking outside the box. "We actually had a palletizer that was working that we used for demonstration purposes," Mark explained. "I asked our leadership, 'Would it be a good idea if we offered that to Next Level Pet Food?' They said, 'Yes, let's do that." This creative approach made a tremendous difference. "Mark was able to get us the equipment that we needed within 2-3 months, compared to the 18 months that we would have to normally wait," Hayden said.

"After working with BW for the last two years, it's unreal what we came from to where we are now with their Thiele and their SYMACH packaging line," said Hayden. "I couldn't tell you any other piece of equipment that we have here that I would trust more than the Thiele or the SYMACH."

A Partnership Built on Shared Values

The relationship between BW Flexible Systems and Next Level Pet Food quickly became more than just a supplier-customer transaction. It was a partnership built on mutual respect, a shared purpose and prioritization of hard work, integrity, and accountability.

"Before we ever started running, Antoine and I made the decision to go ahead and put in our second line," Scott recalls.

Having earned the Next Level team's trust, Mark proposed and sold a second pet food packaging line, which was similar to the first from an operator's perspective—simplifying training for the company's employees—but offered enhanced speed capabilities to support future growth.

Long-Term Benefits of Investing in Premium Packaging Machinery

The ongoing partnership with BW Flexible Systems will help support these growth targets, which have become even more ambitious following major distribution agreements with top big box retailers.

“We are very, very proud of the equipment out there that we're running now,” said Antoine. “We plan on [adding] two more lines, possibly three more lines here.”

The Importance of Genuine partnership

For the Next Level team, what made the difference was finding a partner who genuinely understood their values and was willing to go the extra mile to help them succeed. "I wouldn't want to work with anybody else but BW in the packaging world - there's no way," Hayden said. "When it comes to techs that know what they're doing, BW's got them. They stay for weeks at a time to ensure that everything after it was installed was running properly as well."

As Antoine put it, "A lot of companies sometimes give you the runaround and whatnot, but Barry-Wehmiller has always been there for us. That's how business is done."

BW Flexible Systems for Your Pet Food Packaging Machinery Needs

If you're a pet food manufacturer looking for a packaging equipment partner that delivers on promises, understands your unique challenges, and provides lifetime support, BW Flexible Systems is ready to help. With our complete range of bag filling, sealing, and palletizing solutions, we can design a complete system to meet your production goals – no matter how ambitious.

Contact us to discuss how we can support your next project with the same level of dedication and expertise that helped Next Level Pet Food achieve its remarkable success.