Mars’ estimated $1.4 billion planned investment in US operations and manufacturing in 2027 across its snacking and pet care portfolio builds on top of its $9 billion-plus investment in US operations since 2017, according to the company.
Mars’ broader priorities around its snacking and confectionery businesses include a $60 million investment to build two production lines in Utah for its Tru Fru frozen snack brand. Tru Fru is manufactured in the $240 million facility producing Nature’s Bakery products which opened last year.
Mars says it added 15 new facilities in the last year since it completed its $35.9 billion Kellanova acquisition in December 2025.
Since 2024, Mars invested $165 million in its Waco, Texas facility to continue producing Snickers, Skittles and Starburst.
The company recently invested roughly $214 million (£161 million) in its Leicestershire, UK-based pet nutrition production facility.
Mars’ investment in expanded manufacturing comes after several restructuring initiatives, including shuttering facilities across the US to concentrate leadership and resources towards product development, consumer insights and data-driven operations.
Its Newark, NJ, headquarters will close by 2027, cutting 307 jobs. The move ends Mars’ roughly 80-year relationship with the “Brick City” where the iconic M&Ms were invented. Mars’ manufacturing and innovation facility will remain in Hackettstown, NJ.
Following the Newark closure, Mars Snacking expanded its global snacking headquarters to former Kellanova headquarters in Chicago. The Chicago HQ supports Mars Snacking’s North American Region, Accelerator Division and Global Functions teams.
Industry-wide capital reallocations towards higher-volume, modernized facilities
On a broader level, companies across the food and beverage industry are consolidating manufacturing operations and networks in response to shifting production needs and consumer demands. The decisions underscore how companies are reassessing the operational efficiencies of established, older facilities to reduce costs and strengthen production while reinvesting capital towards updated, high-volume facilities.
Last month, Nestlé North America announced several consolidation and investment moves to boost manufacturing capacity. The company will close its Ohio-based Solon pouch factory by end of 2027 and relocate operations to Gaffney, SC. The company attributes the move to changing demand and volumes. Nestlé’s investment in its North American coffee business signals a focus on increasing global production. The company invested an additional $1 billion toward its Mexico coffee business, for a total of $2 billion to modernize and expand manufacturing across the region’s facilities.
The Campbell’s Company announced in September that it will close two snack plants and a facility manufacturing soup and beverages after declining net sales in the fourth quarter. The company plans to cut $500 million in costs by fiscal 2030 to invest in its brands. Campbell’s plan to reignite growth includes investment across core brands like Pepperidge Farm and Pacific broth and launching a new better-for-you, clean-label line of Campbell’s ready-to-serve soups.
