Mars to reinvest in supply chain, launches M&M’s Spotlight concert series

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Mars is making a big reinvestment in its U.S. manufacturing. The company on Thursday announced a $70 million investment that it says would add roughly 250 jobs at various sites across the country and ensuring that 95% of its chocolate products are made in the United States.

“Mars believes in the value of keeping our operations in America — it's good for our people, our business and our consumers,” Mars Chocolate North American president Tracey Massey said. “This investment will create new American jobs in communities across the country while also enabling us to offer more product innovation, choice and transparency to our consumers.”

In the past five years, the company has invested $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing across its chocolate, Wrigley, pet care, drinks and Symbioscience segments, and Mars pledged more than $900 million in 2016 on top of that investment.

“As a U.S.-based family-owned business, Mars has been investing in local manufacturing and the communities where we do business for over a century," Mars Petcare North America president Mark Johnson. “This commitment is fundamental to our DNA and how we operate. And you'll continue to see investments like this across our businesses.”

In making these investment, Mars points to Nielsen data showing 75% of millennials saying that buying American-made products is important to them. The company also has launched an effort to reach millennials with its M&M’s Spotlight series of concerts.

The concert series will feature several pop-shows by multi-platinum band DNCE and kicks off April 12 with a concert in New York City, with more planned for later in the summer.

“M&M'S has always strived to connect and remain relevant with our fans through pop culture and music,” M&M’s brand director Tanya Berman said. “Music is such a huge part of our young fans' lives and we hope M&M'S Spotlight generates sensational memories and experiences they'll remember forever.”