Key insights:
- Mars is pouring $2B into US factories to fuel growth and absorb Kellanova.
- Nature’s Bakery is booming, with a new plant and 30% volume growth.
- Mars is chasing speed and agility, not just scale.
Mars is doubling down on US manufacturing with a bold $2 billion investment rolling out through the end of 2026 and it’s not just about capacity: it’s about control, speed and snack dominance.
Hot on the heels of its $36 billion Kellanova deal, the move shows Mars is gearing up to lead the next era of snacking – not just expand its portfolio.
“This investment is about building a stronger, more resilient business in the US – one that can grow with our consumers, deliver for our partners and create lasting economic impact in the communities where we operate,” said Claus Aagaard, CFO of Mars, Incorporated.
The $2 billion push builds on more than $6 billion Mars has already poured into its US footprint over the past five years. With 94% of the products it sells in America already made locally, Mars is using this investment to strengthen its position as a domestic manufacturing heavyweight.
Nature’s Bakery is just getting started
At the heart of this latest round of investment is a shiny new $240 million facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, for better-for-you brand Nature’s Bakery – a rising star in Mars’ snacking portfolio since it was acquired in 2020.
Opened on July 30, the 339,000-square-foot plant is no small feat. It’s set to create over 230 jobs and churn out nearly one billion bars every year.
For Mars, this isn’t just another factory – it’s a flex. The move shows how serious the company is about scaling up the ‘better-for-you’ corner of its snack business. And it’s betting on a brand that’s already proving it can punch above its weight.
Nature’s Bakery has defied the slowdown in the snack bar category, posting a 30% volume increase in the 12 months to November 2023. That kind of growth – in a category under pressure - is exactly what Mars wants more of.
Sure, Mars is still best known for Snickers and M&M’s but behind the scenes, it’s morphing into a full-blown snacking powerhouse. The acquisition of Kellanova will bring heavy-hitting brands like Cheez-It, Pringles, Eggo and Pop-Tarts under its roof.
But folding those brands into its system means more than swapping out logos. It demands serious infrastructure – the kind this $2 billion investment is meant to deliver.
Mars said the funding will go toward expanding production capabilities, modernizing existing facilities and boosting R&D and innovation. It’s a long term play designed to make the company more agile, more local and more competitive – especially as consumer expectations shift fast.
Beyond candy: Diversification in action
Mars’ reinvention has been steadily underway for years. While still known for icons like M&M’s and Snickers, the McLean, Virginia-based company has been expanding into fast-growing categories – from better-for-you bars to salty snacks – and backing those moves with serious manufacturing muscle.
Its US footprint now includes 38 factories, 70,000+ associates across 49 states, and a growing network of labs, offices and production sites. Over the past five years, Mars has added more than 9,000 US-based associates, reflecting both organic growth and the momentum of strategic acquisitions like Nature’s Bakery.
“The US is our biggest and most important market and a key engine of growth for the long term,” said Aagaard. “Not only through our legacy manufacturing footprint but also through the expansion of strategic acquisitions like Nature’s Bakery, which is already scaling quickly.”
This $2 billion investment deepens that foundation - expanding Mars’ ability to respond to demand, speed up innovation and push deeper into the full spectrum of modern snacking, from nostalgic to nutritious.
Shaping the snack aisle
Mars’ investment isn’t just about adding lines or increasing output – it’s about building a faster, smarter, more localized operation. With production based closer to demand, the company is positioning itself to respond in real time to shifting trends and consumer tastes.
That agility matters in today’s snack market. Whether it’s clean label baked bars, playful nostalgia or convenience-on-the-go, snackers are more diverse – and more demanding – than ever. Brands that can innovate and scale fast will win. And Mars is making sure it’s equipped to do just that.
It’s also a savvy move in the face of supply chain pressures. Manufacturing domestically reduces exposure to global disruption, trims transport costs and helps deliver fresher, faster innovation.
And for retailers, a Mars that can move quickly and fill shelves reliably – with both heritage brands and trend-forward launches – is a partner worth leaning into.
If the Nature’s Bakery play is anything to go by, Mars isn’t content being a legacy brand – it’s gearing up to lead the next snack wave, whatever shape that takes.
With Kellanova in the wings, $2 billion in upgrades underway and its eye firmly on both indulgence and wellness, Mars is setting the tone for where US snacking is headed – and who’s driving it.
