Dive Brief:
- Mars Chocolate North America said it would invest $70 million in its U.S. supply chain, according to a company release.
- The investment will lead to the addition of nearly 250 jobs in the U.S. During the last five years, the company has added close to 1,000 jobs in divisions spanning its portfolio, including chocolate, food, petcare, drinks, symbioscience and Wrigley brands.
- Because of the company’s commitment to American manufacturing, 95% of Mars’ chocolate products for the U.S. are made in this country.
Dive Insight:
The U.S.-owned family business prides itself on helping the country by investing in manufacturing jobs for Americans—and believes that has helped it be a leader.
Mark Johnson, president of Mars Petcare North America, said in the company statement that the commitment to a U.S. workforce is fundamental to the company’s DNA. He expects more investments in the U.S. to follow.
American-made products are getting more popular, both through political and social movements. According to Nielsen, about three-quarters of millennials say buying American-made products is important to them.
President Trump has championed U.S. jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector, since he was running for office. Given his communication style, it would not be surprising if he tweeted a congratulations to Mars for its expansion, which could bring some nice publicity for the company.
Politics aside, this action helps Mars continue to build its brand as a company with national pride. This latest round of investment will allow Mars to introduce new items to the U.S. marketplace, filling the desire by both consumers and retailers to find variety. And it is a departure from recent widespread bad news about U.S. layoffs from food manufacturers.