Mars Invests $70 Million in New R&D Studio

Mars Inc. has invested $70 million for an R&D Innovation Studio at its Hackettstown, NJ manufacturing facility.

The latest major economic development from Mars supports the new Research and Development (R&D) Innovation Studio, which includes a new test kitchen and packaging lab, along with manufacturing efficiencies and advancements in food safety at its Hackettstown plant.

The capabilities in the Innovation Studio will support Mars Wrigley products produced in the US, including M&M'S, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, Starburst, Extra, and Altoids, as well as new product innovations. The updated packaging studio will allow for development and testing of sustainable packaging materials to support Mars' contribution to a circular economy where packaging material never becomes waste, but is recycled, reused, or composted.

The multi-year investment in the Hackettstown plant began in 2023 and supports Mars' continued commitment to quality and food safety with the addition of a new, state-of-the-art chocolate production facility.

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

Mars first opened a facility in Newark, NJ, more than 80 years ago and has been a member of the Hackettstown community since 1958. The opening of the New Jersey Innovation Studio follows the recent opening of the Mars Snacking Research and Development Hub in Chicago.

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