Premium food and pet food ingredients firm Anchor Ingredients Co. LLC and pet food co-manufacturer Barrett Petfood Innovations (BPI) started work on a new freeze-drying manufacturing plant in Little Falls, MN on July 20, the companies announced Tuesday.

Located next to BPI’s new co-manufacturing extrusion plant, the new facility in Little Falls will be operated by a new business unit, North Freeze Dry.

“We’re building something special with North Freeze Dry and are so excited to bring together the sourcing and raw material supply chain expertise of Anchor with the manufacturing expertise of BPI,” Al Yablonski, CEO and co-founder of Anchor, said in a release. “The two companies are combining efforts to bring a differentiated level of support and services to some of today’s leading brands.”

Construction on the new plant has commenced. The site is slated to open in the first half of 2022.

Barrett is tasked with managing the operations and business development of North Freeze Dry and Anchor will oversee sourcing, back-office administration, and sales collaboration.

“It’s a true partnership and something that we envision will be the framework for one of the most successful freeze-drying manufacturing companies in the nation,” said BPI co-managing director Tom Barrett in a statement.