Mars Chocolate North America has announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Topeka, Kansas.
The new facility will be the first Mars Chocolate site built in the US in 35 years.
"We are excited to announce our plan to construct this new manufacturing site in Topeka," said Mike Wittman, vice president of supply at Mars Chocolate North America. "The site will be a reflection of our commitment to manufacture our products in the markets where we sell them. Mars looks forward to becoming an important part of the Topeka community."
"Mars is grateful for the support and partnership of Governor Brownback, Shawnee County and the City of Topeka," added Todd Lachman, president of Mars Chocolate Latin America and North America. "We are planning to build this plant with a focus on the long term and look forward to many productive years of manufacturing and community partnership in Topeka."
Phase I of the new site is planned to be complete in 2013, at which time the site will begin manufacturing M&M’s and Snickers brand candies. Mars expects to make a capital investment of over $250 million in the first phase of the multi-phased project.
The company expects to hire approximately 200 full time operations associates to resource the lines installed during the initial phase. Subsequent phases of development will then expand the capacity of the facility, and more product lines will be added. The new facility will be built to meet leading-edge environmental standards, and will pursue a LEED Gold Certified designation upon completion.
