Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley will spend $25.5 million on its Ballarat facility to expand production, increase sustainable packaging efforts and drive operational efficiencies.
The funding builds on the company’s commitment in September 2021 to invest $30 million to expand the plant’s chocolate manufacturing to develop more variants on existing lines for M&M’s, Pods, and the new Mars Raspberry Smash as well as a new packaging line for Maltesers.
The latest funding will roll out across the next 12 months on innovation projects within its Bitesize portfolio, improving its raw cocoa and melted chocolate production, increasing the site’s manufacturing capabilities, as well as accelerating its local sustainable packaging efforts and finding greater operational efficiencies.
(Source: Mars Wrigley)
The Bitesize portfolio includes M&Ms, Maltesers, and Pods.
Mars Wrigley Australia general manager Andrew Leakey said the latest investment reflected the company’s commitment to make the majority of its product portfolio in Australia.
“We are cementing this further by unlocking greater capabilities to create new consumer-led product innovation whilst accelerating our sustainable packaging focus locally,” Leakey said.
Leakey also reiterated the company’s commitment to regional manufacturing and its legacy in Ballarat. Mars Wrigley has had a factory in the city for more than 40 years.
In 2020, the company invested $300,000 in new technology so M&M’s Pretzel could be locally produced.
Skills and migration announcements welcomed
Following the national Jobs and Skills Summit on 1-2 September, Leakey said the discussion around skills and labour shortages was a step in the right direction.
At the summit the federal government announced the country’s permanent migration cap would increase by 35,000 to 195,000 people in FY23. Regional Australia will have access to 34,000 permanent migrants, an increase of 9000.
Regional Capitals Australia chair and mayor of Ballarat Daniel Moloney said it was a welcome step for businesses struggling with labour shortages.
“With nearly 87,000 job vacancies recorded in July across regional Australia we know that this isn’t a quick fix, and we will continue to work with the government on broader initiatives to meet the skills needs of our regions,” said Moloney.
Leakey said, “As a proud Australian manufacturer that employs more than 700 people across three sites in Melbourne, Ballarat, and Asquith, regional employment, domestic manufacturing, and technological innovation are all major focuses for us.
“While we continue to be a highly attractive place to work, like many businesses, we are feeling the broader impact of labour shortages, particularly within the manufacturing and technical sector.
“In the modern manufacturing environment, we see strong demand for technical roles across engineering and R&D at our regional factories, and we believe addressing labour shortages in these key areas will create more employment opportunities and boost economic participation.
“We also believe it is critical to invest in people and technology to increase productivity in Australia’s key sectors, including manufacturing, where innovation in technology can drive productivity growth and create demand for workers with high levels of digital and data literacy.
