Mars to invest $200M in Australian manufacturing, fuelling capacity, innovation and boosting sustainability
- Since 2020, Mars has invested more than $450 million in its Australian operations to modernise, increase capacity, and improve quality, efficiency and sustainability.
- In 2025, Mars marked a significant milestone, celebrating the 110-year legacy of manufacturing that began with brands now part of the Mars family.
- 90 percent of Mars products sold in Australia are proudly made in Australia.
MELBOURNE, Australia (May 5, 2026) – Mars, Incorporated today revealed plans to invest $200 million in its Australian manufacturing operations by the end of 2027 to expand capacity, fuel innovation and support the company’s renewable energy ambitions. This investment reinforces the commitment of Mars to sustainable manufacturing in Australia – supporting regional jobs, strengthening local supply chains and helping to build a more resilient, low-carbon economy.
Mars has spent more than $450 million over the past five years across six manufacturing sites to improve quality, safety, productivity and advance its sustainability ambitions. In June 2026, Mars will commission the new expansion of its Wodonga pet food factory, opening a new $112.5 million wet pouch facility, creating over 60 new jobs. This world-class, digitally enabled facility represents a major milestone for Mars, while advancing sovereign capability in high-tech, AI enabled manufacturing and creating new high-skill jobs, powering the next generation of advanced food production in Australia.
Managing Director and General Manager Petcare Australia and New Zealand, Melodie Nye, said the investment will enable Mars to increase operational efficiencies and deliver on the expectations of its customers and consumers.
“We are proud of the role our Australian manufacturing sites play across our operations, and this investment strengthens that commitment for the long term. Our teams continue to lead the way in quality, innovation and sustainability, and this next phase of investment ensures we can keep delivering the trusted products Australians rely on every day.”
The investment comes at a significant moment for Mars, as the company honours a rich Australian manufacturing heritage that, through iconic brands like Wrigley, dates back 110 years. The first factory producing Wrigley’s chewing gum - a brand Mars would later acquire - opened its doors in 1915 on Melbourne’s Elizabeth Street.1
The first Mars pet nutrition factory was built in 1967 in the Victorian regional town of Wodonga, where it continues to operate as one of the area’s largest private employers. The company’s Australian manufacturing footprint also includes Asquith, Bathurst and Wyong in New South Wales, Ballarat in Victoria and Wacol in Queensland. Following the acquisition of Kellanova by Mars in December 2025, the iconic Kellogg’s cereal factory in Botany (NSW) also now forms part of the Mars Australia footprint.
Across its seven factories and two corporate offices in Melbourne and Sydney, Mars employs 2,400 Australian Associates.
Mars, which has remained a private family-owned business since its inception, produces quality brands loved by Aussie consumers and their pets for generations. From the humble MILKY WAY®, itself an iconic brand with a 100-year history, to PEDIGREE® for dogs, WHISKAS® cat food, ROYAL CANIN® tailored nutrition for pets and everyone’s dinner time favorite, MASTERFOODS™, Mars has been a staple in the grocery baskets of Australians for over a century.
“This latest investment demonstrates the belief of Mars in the future of Australian manufacturing and the positive impact it has on the communities where we operate,” Nye added.
“When we invest locally, we create jobs, deepen capability and help regional economies thrive, delivering long‑term value for people, pets and the planet,” said Nye.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Graham | Jennifer.graham@effem.com | 0424538902
1. Mars acquired Wrigley in 2008
