Mars to invest AUD $200 million in Australian plants
Wed, 6th May 2026 (Today)
Mars will invest AUD $200 million in its Australian manufacturing operations, including an expansion of its Wodonga pet food plant and a new facility.
The investment, due by the end of 2027, will support production growth, manufacturing upgrades and renewable energy goals across its local network.
With 90 per cent of the products it sells in Australia made domestically, the move marks a significant commitment to local production at a time when manufacturers are under pressure to lift output and cut emissions.
A central part of the programme is a AUD $112.5 million wet pouch facility at Wodonga in regional Victoria. The expanded pet food site will open with 60 new jobs, adding to the workforce at one of the area's largest private employers.
The investment programme covers six existing manufacturing sites: Asquith, Bathurst and Wyong in New South Wales, Ballarat and Wodonga in Victoria, and Wacol in Queensland. The Botany cereal factory in New South Wales joined Mars's Australian footprint after its acquisition of Kellanova in late 2025.
Across seven factories and two corporate offices in Melbourne and Sydney, Mars employs 2,400 people in Australia.
Manufacturing base
The latest spending adds to more than AUD $450 million already invested in Australian operations since 2020. That funding went towards modernisation, higher output, quality, safety, productivity and sustainability measures across local manufacturing sites.
Mars linked the new investment to domestic policy priorities around industrial production and energy transition, saying it aligns with the federal government's Future Made in Australia agenda to encourage local manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and support lower-emissions industry.
Mars's manufacturing history in Australia stretches back 110 years through brands that later became part of the group, including Wrigley, whose first local chewing gum factory opened on Melbourne's Elizabeth Street in 1915.
Its first Australian pet nutrition factory was built in Wodonga in 1967, and the regional Victorian site remains a major part of the company's local pet food production network.
Regional jobs
The Wodonga expansion is the clearest near-term project within the broader AUD $200 million package. The wet pouch facility will add manufacturing space and create jobs in regional Australia, where food production remains a major source of employment and investment.
The broader programme is also intended to strengthen local supply chains. For consumer goods groups with large domestic sales bases, local production can reduce exposure to shipping disruption and currency swings while helping maintain product availability.
Australia is an important market for Mars across pet food, confectionery and food products. Its local portfolio includes brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, MasterFoods and Milky Way.
Though privately owned, Mars is one of the world's largest food and pet care groups. Globally, it reports annual revenue of more than USD $65 billion and employs more than 170,000 people.
Company comment
Melodie Nye, Managing Director at Mars, said the investment would support the company's long-term manufacturing presence in Australia.
"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," Nye said.
Nye described the spending as a vote of confidence in local industry and the communities where Mars operates.
"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," she said.
"When we invest locally, we create jobs, deepen capability and help regional economies thrive, delivering long-term value for people, pets and the planet."