Claus Aagaard, Chief Financial Officer at Mars, says the organisation’s goal is to build a far more resilient US operation: “This investment is about building a stronger, more resilient business in the US – one that can grow with our consumers, deliver for our partners and create lasting economic impact in the communities where we operate.”
Investment backs new manufacturing sites and job creation
Mars’ latest investment is already supporting new builds, including a US$240m facility for Nature’s Bakery in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The newly-opened site, covering more than 339,000 square feet, is expected to generate more than 230 jobs locally and provide the brand with capacity to produce nearly one billion bars each year.
Mars acquired Nature’s Bakery in March 2021. Since then, the brand has scaled rapidly and is on pace to more than double its size in five years. The new Salt Lake City site is being positioned as a milestone in the brand’s expansion strategy.
In May this year, Mars also opened a US$450m Royal Canin dry pet food facility in Lewisburg, Ohio. It represents the brand’s largest dry pet food factory and has been slated to create up to 270 jobs.
Royal Canin is Mars’ largest brand in the pet nutrition sector. With a focus on science-led pet health, the new Ohio factory marks the single largest investment Mars has made in a Royal Canin production site.
Read More: Why Mars is Investing US$2bn in US Manufacturing
