Mars Wrigley Australia invests $6.5m to expand capacity at its Asquith factory

Mars Wrigley Australia has invested AU$6.5m in a new production line which will increase capacity at its Asquith (NSW) gum and mints factory by more than 60%. 

The multimillion-dollar investment incorporates circular-by-design packing technology that is designed to eliminate 13 tonnes of soft plastics each year.

“This investment provides significant additional capacity to deliver the products our customers love and enjoy,” said Mars Wrigley Australia Plant Manager Daniel Firth.

“In addition, our engineers and packaging technologist have been able to deploy new technology to remove around 2200 km of soft plastic wrap per year, which is consistent with our goal of reducing the amount of plastic packaging we use.”

With more than a century of manufacturing in Australia, Asquith forms a key part of Mars’s Australian manufacturing operations, which includes other NSW sites in Bathurst and Wyong, Victorian sites in Ballarat and Wodonga, and Wacol in Queensland.

The factory, located north of Sydney, employs 190 people and has operated continuously since 1958. The plant is solely responsible for manufacturing all locally made Mars Wrigley gum and mints products sold in Australia, including brands such as Extra, Eclipse, PK and Juicy Fruit.

Mars Wrigley has been manufacturing in Australia continuously since 1915, when the Wrigley company first established a factory in Melbourne.

Since 1958, the factory has produced Wrigley’s complete portfolio of Australian-made gum and mints brands. Wrigley was purchased by Mars in 2009.

“The Asquith site is an incredibly important part of our business and Mars’s history in Australia,” said Mars Wrigley Australia General Manager Michael Ryan. “Australia has always played an incredibly important role for Mars globally, which is reflected in our rich history and track record of continued investment.

“Our gum and mints business is an important part of our portfolio and one that consistently performs well,” Ryan said. “This investment signifies our continued belief in the growth potential of the category, and also our belief in local manufacturing and the economic health and prosperity of our communities.”