Mars, the confectionery giant, is marking the 45th anniversary of its chocolate factory in Viersen, Germany. This facility, situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, is one of Mars’ largest chocolate biscuit bar production sites globally, churning out approximately 10 million chocolate products daily and employing over 320 individuals.
Since 1979, Mars has been manufacturing popular treats like Twix, Balisto, and Celebrations confectionery at the Viersen plant, with the products being exported to 30 countries worldwide. The production process involves a 300-meter-long line where it takes around 1.5 hours to create a single bar, starting from the dough mixer to the final packaging.
Looking ahead, Mars has ambitious investment plans to enhance production capacity at the Viersen site to 70,000 tonnes by 2026/2027. To achieve this goal, the company intends to install a new packaging line by the end of 2024. Evelina Wagner, the managing director of Mars Confectionery Supply GmbH, mentioned that they are allocating €40 million for plant modernization over four years to boost efficiency and sustainability.
Moreover, Mars is focusing on improving workplace ergonomics, implementing sustainable production practices, and reducing energy consumption and emissions. This aligns with the company’s broader objective of achieving net-zero emissions throughout its value chain by 2050.
In a related move, earlier this year, Mars revealed a substantial investment of 7 million (€216.3 million) in a new baking facility for its Nature’s Bakery brand in Salt Lake City, Utah. This investment underscores Mars’ commitment to growth, innovation, and sustainability across its various production facilities.
