Mars, a food and pet care products company, has committed more than $70m in investment into its Hackettstown location in New Jersey, US.  

The economic development will fund a Research and Development (R&D) Innovation Studio, encompassing a packaging lab, a new test kitchen, and a collaboration space.  

These facilities are designed to enhance manufacturing efficiencies and elevate food safety standards at the Hackettstown manufacturing factory. 

Specifically, the R&D Innovation Studio's updated packaging lab will focus on the creation and testing of sustainable packaging solutions.  

This initiative aligns with Mars' goal to foster a circular economy where packaging materials are consistently recycled, reused, or composted, rather than becoming waste. 

Mars Wrigley North America and Global Ice Cream president Anton Vincent said: "At Mars, our commitment to quality and innovation has been at the centre of our business for more than a century.  

“The continued investment in our Hackettstown site reaffirms our commitment to innovation in New Jersey and upskilling our associates with best-in-class facilities to create more moments of everyday happiness for our consumers." 

The Innovation Studio will support the production of well-known Mars Wrigley products in the US such as M&M'S, SNICKERS, and TWIX while also facilitating new product development.

The multiyear investment, which commenced in 2023, also includes the construction of a new chocolate production facility.  

The latest investment announcement follows Mars’ partnership with Ansys last week. The collaboration focuses on the use of a new simulation approach for Mars’ packaging development process. 

In December last year, Mars China introduced its new SNICKERS low-glycemic index dark chocolate cereal bar in monomaterial flexible packaging.