FDBusiness.com

Mars Incorporated has opened an AU$100 million (US$77.5 million) pet food factory in Bathurst, Australia. It will manufacture dry pet food from Mars Petcare brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ADVANCE®, MY DOG®, OPTIMUM® and DINE® for millions of pets all over Australia. This investment reflects the Mars commitment towards building its global business and follows recent factory openings such as the US$63 million Wrigley factory in Kenya.

The investment of AUD$100 million in the facility is a significant contribution to the local area; it will directly employ approximately 150 local people, making it one of the largest investments ever made in the Bathurst community. With a footprint of nearly 12,000 square meters, the plant replaces an older building adjacent to the new site and combines modern operational efficiency with a strong environmental focus. The new site will reduce energy use by 47 percent, carbon emissions by 40 percent and water use by 30 percent compared to the old plant. In addition, the facility will adhere to a “zero waste to landfill” commitment

Mars Petcare is the world’s leading pet food and veterinary care business.It has a number of leading brands including PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, DINE®, ADVANCE®, OPTIMUM®, SCHMACKOS® ROYAL CANIN®, EUKANUBA® IAMS®. Key specialty brands include the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition®, a leading scientific authority on pet nutrition and wellbeing. Mars Petcare employs more than 37,000 people worldwide.