Mars has announced a major £190 million investment into its factory in Slough, UK, where it produces chocolate for its Mars, Galaxy, Snickers and Maltesers brands, among others.
Of the total £190 million, invested since 2023 and still ongoing, Mars has £32 million planned for 2027-2028. This builds on more than £118 million in UK capital investment across its Snacking, Food and Petcare businesses in 2025-2025.
The Slough factory was established in 1932 by Forrest Mars, and is the birthplace of the Mars bar. It now produces several of the company’s flagship confectionery brands, meeting demand from UK consumers as well as manufacturing for distribution in Ireland and the Netherlands.
Investment will support state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities, including upgraded machinery, AI and robotics tools, and advanced cooling systems alongside energy-efficient utilities to further enhance the site’s performance and sustainability.
Mars will deploy digital twin technology to the Slough site, using AI-driven data to optimise production. This aims to enable precise process control, consistency and uniformity across product lines while boosting efficiency of real-time factory decision-making and reducing waste.
Alongside physical upgrades, the investment will support workforce upskilling, creating new progression routes into advanced engineering, automation, data and AI-enabled manufacturing roles. The site currently employs more than 1,850 people.
Adam Grant, general manager for Mars Snacking UK and Ireland, said: “This investment reflects our confidence in the UK as a hub to manufacture and innovate. In taking a long-term view, we are ensuring our operations remain world-class, competitive and fit for the future.”
by Melissa Bradshaw
Source: foodbev.com
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