Mars Canada Celebrates Official Opening of MALTESERS® Chocolate Manufacturing Facility in Newmarket, Ontario

• Mars Canada has invested $70 million in 60,000 square foot expansion of its Chocolate manufacturing facility in Newmarket, Ontario to accommodate the production of MALTESERS^®
• The Newmarket facility, which will produce MALTESERS^® for the first time in North America, brings together the best manufacturing, packaging practices and new technology from Mars, Incorporated's global facilities 

NEWMARKET, ON, March 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Mars Canada today is celebrating the official opening of its expanded Newmarket, Ontario facility, which is now manufacturing and packaging the iconic MALTESERS^® brand of chocolate. The $70 million, 60,000 square foot expansion will create up to 30 new full-time, highly-skilled jobs, significantly increasing the company's manufacturing capacity in Ontario to serve the growing North American market.

MALTESERS^® produced at the Newmarket facility will be sold across Canada and the United States, where the product is being launched for the first time. The expansion adds to Mars Canada's already significant presence in Ontario and will be a key pillar of growth for the Mars Canada chocolate business.

"This expansion builds on Mars' rich history in Canada and comes at an exciting time for our overall investment and growth in Canada," says Jeremy Daveau, General Manager of Wrigley Canada, a division of Mars Canada. "Our Newmarket facility is the ideal home for MALTESERS^®, with access to a highly skilled workforce, close proximity to the U.S. for export and potential for expansion."

The sustainable and state-of-the-art facility brings together the best manufacturing, packaging and technology from Mars, Incorporated's global facilities. Operating at peak capacity, the facility will employ up to 150 Associates.

Created in England in 1936 by Forrest Mars Sr. and first sold in 1937, MALTESERS^® contain a crisp honeycombed centre covered in delicious chocolate that helps customers look on the light side. Canadians are encouraged to engage with MALTESERS^® online using #HaveABall.

In addition to MALTESERS^®, Mars Chocolate currently produces the MARS^®, MILKY WAY^® and 3 MUSKETEERS^® brands at its Newmarket facility, which is nut-free.

About Mars Canada

Mars Canada is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, a private family-owned business. In Canada, Mars was established in  late 1940s and is known for some of the Canada's best-loved brands, including MALTESERS^®, M&M'S^®, PEDIGREE^®, SNICKERS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, WHISKAS^®, EXCEL^® and UNCLE BEN'S^®. Mars in Canada comprises four business segments: Food, Chocolate, Wrigley and Petcare. More than 1,300 associates across the country are united by the company's Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom and strive every day to create relationships with stakeholders that deliver growth we are proud of as a company.   Mars Canada is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. For more information, visit http://www.mars.com/canada/en.

Images and b-roll are available upon request.

SOURCE Mars Canada Inc.

or to schedule an interview, please contact: Leslie Brams-Baker, Mars Canada, Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]; Katherine Heydon, FleishmanHillard on behalf of Mars Canada, Tel: [phone] (direct) Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]