Mars continues US growth with $100m investment in chocolate factory

Mars has announced that it will invest an additional $100 million in its Topeka, Kansas chocolate factory.

The investment will create a new state-of-the-art 90,000-square-foot facility. As part of this expansion, the Company will also create a total of 70 new full-time, permanent, high-wage manufacturing jobs.

Over 95% of Mars Chocolate products sold in the US are also made locally by the Company’s dedicated team of over 3,500 Associates working across nine domestic sites.

Investment will allow Mars to introduce new treats to the US market

“Our consumers and retailers are demanding even greater choice, seeking more product variety across a range of format, calorie and price options,” said Tracey Massey, President of Mars Chocolate North America. “By further growing our footprint in the US, we will better be able to introduce new treats to satisfy the most diverse consumer appetites.”

Mars’ expansion in Topeka follows the grand opening of the facility in 2014, the first new Mars Chocolate North America site built in the last 35 years. With this expansion, Mars’ investment in Topeka totals $430 million, today employing over 200 associates producing a variety of M&Ms Brand Candies and Snickers Bars.

This latest investment in the US follows recent announcements by Mars, Incorporated of additional expansion across the country. In June Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company announced it would be adding 155 new associates at its Flowery Branch, Georgia facility to support additional sugarfree gum production. In addition, Mars Chocolate North America also shared news of its plans to hire 20 new associates in Albany, Georgia to support the national launch of goodnessknows®.