Russia’s only Wrigley plant is located in St. Petersburg. Mars announced the $9m investment, which aims at boosting local production and increasing export potential, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
“This new agreement [with St. Petersburg] signals another milestone for Mars’ presence in Russia,” the company said in a statement.
“Through this partnership Wrigley will modernize their facilities to increase Juicy Fruit production, implement sustainability projects to build on global efforts to reduce our environmental impact, and allow Mars to add new associates to our team.”
Will create new jobs
For St. Petersburg, the new investment also means “an influx of new, well-paying jobs and a boost to the local food industry,” Mars added.
The company also announced plans to invest in its King’s Lynn site in the UK that manufactures Uncle Ben’s ready-to-heat rice.
The £23m ($30m) investment in King’s Lynn site will help create 28 new full time jobs with expanded manufacturing capabilities, according to Mars. The site currently employs nearly 300 people.
“The new production line will be complete early in 2017 and will help meet the demand for Uncle Ben’s ready-to-heat across the UK market,” the company said.
Mars announced its first global rice sustainability standard through partnership with the Sustainable Rice Platform last year, targeting 100% of its rice from sustainable sources by 2020.