Mars to Invest $2B More in U.S. Manufacturing Operations

Mars is investing billions into its U.S. factories in an effort to increase capacity and scale innovation across its portfolio of brands, which includes Snickers, Dove, M&Ms, Royal Canin and others. 

This latest funding builds on a $6 billion investment that it allocated toward U.S.-based manufacturing over the past five years to meet growing demand. 

Ninety-four percent of the company’s products are sold and produced locally in the country, according to Mars.

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The $2 billion addition will be spent on infrastructure and operations through the end of 2026. 

"This investment is about building a stronger, more resilient business in the U.S. — one that can grow with our consumers, deliver for our partners and create lasting economic impact in the communities where we operate," said Claus Aagaard, CFO, in a statement. 

The U.S. is the company’s biggest and most important market, according to Aagaard, who added that it is a key engine of growth for the long term — not only through Mars’ legacy manufacturing footprint but also through the expansion of strategic acquisitions like Nature's Bakery, which is scaling quickly. 

In response, Mars is opening a new facility for Nature’s Bakery in Salt Lake City. The company has disbursed $240 million for this project. The 339,000-plus square-foot site will create more than 230 new jobs in the region and expand the brand's capacity, so it can produce up to a billion bars each year.  

Earlier this year, Mars opened a $450 million Royal Canin dry pet food facility in Lewisburg, Ohio — its largest dry pet food factory on a global scale yet, which generated 270 new jobs in the area.

This article was originally published by sister brand Consumer Goods Technology.