Mars is investing in a chocolate factory in Australia to boost capacity and foster new product development.
The Victoria state facility in Ballarat, which manufactures products such as M&M’s and Maltesers, will be the recipient of AUD30m (US$21.7m) over this year and next. Mars wants to advance “local manufacturing capabilities and future-proof its Australian operations”.
Andrew Leakey, the general manager for Mars Wrigley Australia, said: “While the majority of our products are made in Australia today, our ambition is to make even more of our products here in the future.
“As one of Australia’s largest manufacturers, we recognise that we have an important role to play in helping future proof not only our business, but also the food and beverage manufacturing industry.”
Mars said the investment, which builds on the AUD37m ploughed into the same site last year, will help foster new variants across its chocolate brands, particularly the Pods snacks line, for which the Ballarat plant is the only facility in the world producing the brand.
A new packaging line will also be added for Maltesers to allow “for increased volume of production, unlocking increased export opportunities to growth markets across Asia during peak season demand”.
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