Mars to invest US$142.9M in Australian manufacturing, AI-enabled pet food expansion by 2027

AUSTRALIA – Mars Incorporated has announced plans to invest AUD$200 million (US$142.9M) in its Australian manufacturing operations by the end of 2027, strengthening its commitment to local production, sustainability and advanced manufacturing technologies. 

The investment will support expanded production capacity, renewable energy initiatives and operational upgrades across Mars’ Australian manufacturing network. The company said the programme also reflects confidence in Australia’s manufacturing sector and regional supply chains. 

Since 2020, Mars has invested more than AUD$450 million (US$321.46M) across six Australian production sites to improve safety, productivity, quality and sustainability performance. 

The company currently manufactures 90 percent of the products it sells in Australia locally, reinforcing its position within the country’s consumer goods industry. 

Melodie Nye, Managing Director and General Manager Petcare Australia and New Zealand, said the latest investment would help the company meet changing consumer and customer expectations. 

“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,” Melodie said. 

A major milestone within the programme will be the commissioning of an AUD$112.5 million expansion of Mars’ pet food manufacturing facility in Wodonga in June 2026. 

The new wet pouch facility is expected to create more than 60 jobs and will operate as a digitally enabled manufacturing hub focused on AI-driven food production technologies and advanced automation systems. 

Mars said the expansion would strengthen Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability while supporting high-skilled employment opportunities in regional communities. 

The Wodonga pet nutrition factory was first established in 1967 and remains one of the region’s largest private employers. 

The investment announcement also coincides with Mars celebrating 110 years of manufacturing history in Australia through brands that later became part of the company’s portfolio. 

That history dates back to 1915 when the first Wrigley chewing gum factory opened in Melbourne. The Wrigley business later became part of Mars’ global operations. 

Today, Mars operates manufacturing facilities in Asquith, Bathurst, Wyong, Ballarat, Wacol and Wodonga, alongside corporate offices in Melbourne and Sydney. 

Following Mars’ acquisition of Kellanova in December 2025, the Kellogg’s cereal factory in Botany also joined the company’s Australian manufacturing network. 

“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,” Melodie concluded. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.