Mars has announced an investment of more than $70 million in its Hackettstown, New Jersey site to continue its legacy of innovation and manufacturing. The latest major economic development from Mars supports a Research and Development (R&D) Innovation Studio—including a new test kitchen and packaging lab—along with manufacturing efficiencies and advancements in food safety at the Hackettstown manufacturing factory.
The R&D Innovation Studio at the Mars Hackettstown location will include a new prototyping kitchen, packaging lab, and collaboration space with the intent of increasing the speed of innovation and development to meet evolving consumer preferences. The capabilities in the Innovation Studio will support Mars Wrigley products produced in the U.S. including M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, Starburst, Extra gum, 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.