New $30 Million Investment in Waco, Texas Facility
Waco, TX — Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S., part of the world’s largest manufacturer of chocolate, confections, gum and mints, announced that it will invest an additional $30 million in its Waco, Texas site, breaking ground on a 65,000 square foot product distribution expansion.
“For over a century, Mars has been committed to making our products in the markets where we sell them,” said Dan Brawell, Waco Site Director, Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S. “We are grateful for the continued support from the Waco community and state of Texas, and we are pleased to further invest in the community with economic development.”
Mars has been operating in Waco since 1976 and currently employs over 600 Associates and produces beloved treats including SNICKERS®, Starburst® and Skittles®.
As the company launches new innovations, it is committed to continuing to make its products in the U.S. Over 95 percent of Mars Wrigley Confectionery products sold in the U.S. are also made locally by the company’s dedicated team of over 5,500 Associates located in its 14 domestic sites. From roasting peanuts in Albany, Georgia to roasting cocoa beans to make our real chocolate in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, we take great pride in the fact that our products – from cocoa bean to SNICKERS bar to bite size Starburst Candies – are made in America.
While Mars was the first chocolate manufacturer to reduce single serve products to below 250 calories, we continue to bring a range of new product offerings with a focus on introducing more options less than 200 calories. We recently launched SNICKERS® Crisper at 190 calories per serving and brought back M&M’S® Crispy at 180 calories per serving and just last year we launched M&M’S Caramel at 190 calories per serving.
“Our consumers and retailers are demanding even greater choice, seeking more product variety across a range of format, calorie and price options,” added Braswell . “By further growing our footprint in the U.S., we will better be able to introduce new treats to satisfy the most diverse consumer appetites.”
“We are extremely proud that Mars has been part of our Texas community for more than 40 years, and today’s groundbreaking is yet another testament to our state’s business-friendly environment for world-class enterprises like Mars,” said Secretary Pablos. “With nearly $100 million invested in Texas over the past decade, we thank Mars for showing its sincere commitment to growing, creating jobs, and strengthening communities throughout the Lone Star State. We look forward to supporting Mars in further expanding its Texas operations and collaborating in the company’s strong community engagement now and in the future.”
About Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Mars Wrigley Confectionery is the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints, and fruity confections. With beloved global brands like M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, DOUBLEMINT®, SKITTLES® and STARBURST®, Mars Wrigley Confectionery brings smiles to faces around the world. Globally, the business employs more than 30,000 Associates, operates in about 70 countries and distributes its brands in more than 180 countries. Mars Wrigley Confectionery is globally headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. Based in McLean, VA, Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century long history, and more than 100,000 Associates in over 80 countries. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.
About Mars, Incorporated
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.
Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™ and WISDOM PANEL™.
For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars.
About Greater Waco:
Greater Waco, located in McLennan County, Texas, along the Interstate 35 corridor is home to more than 14,000 companies, 241,505 people and a regional workforce of approximately 320,000. Greater Waco’s centralized location, with access to Dallas and Austin (90 miles) and Houston and San Antonio (185 miles), makes it a regional center of economic activity and an ideal community for businesses and individuals.
Since 2006, Greater Waco has seen more than $1.3 billion in new industrial capital investments and $596 million in riverfront and downtown development, making it an attractive place to live, work and play. Greater Waco is landscaped with top-rated higher educational institutions, including Baylor University, McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College -Waco, Tarleton State University and Texas Tech University.
The Greater Waco Chamber leads economic development efforts for the area focusing on talent development and targeting five key industries for growth: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Health Care, Professional and Financial Services and Supply Chain Management.
For more information, visit WacoChamber.com.
