November 6, 2014
TEMPLE, Texas (Nov. 6, 2014)—Mars Petcare and The Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) today announced Mars Petcare, which has produced pet food in Temple since 1987, will begin an approximately two-year, $20 million equipment and facility upgrade project by the end of the year.

“Mars Petcare has been a successful Temple business and employer for more than 25 years,” Temple EDC President David Blackburn said. “In addition to providing stable, well-paying jobs to area residents, Mars is also making a significant capital investment in our community with this manufacturing facility upgrade project.”

Mars Petcare moved to its 109,000-square-foot facility at 3401 Eberhard Road in 2006 and locally employs 78 associates. The upgrade project includes a modification to the inside of the facility, including increasing the storage capacity for raw materials and updating the equipment to help sustain the manufacturing and distribution of safe, high-quality pet food.

“Mars Petcare is globally recognized in the pet food industry for best in class safety and production processes. The upgrade project will utilize the latest technologies to maintain those high standards,” said Plant Manager Francisco (Paco) Tello, Mars Petcare—Temple. “The Temple factory is an important plant in the global Mars Petcare network. Our investment is a clear example of our current commitment to Temple, a location which provides us excellent access for distribution of our products to the southeastern region of the United States.”

Production of pet food will continue during the renovation project.

About Temple Temple, Texas, is a community with a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, distribution and warehousing, and manufacturing as its foundation. Within 200 miles of a population of 19 million, Temple is strategically located 39 minutes north of the Austin Metro Area on I-35, making it central within the Southwest U.S. marketplace. For more information, visit www.choosetemple.com.

About Mars Petcare

Mars Petcare US is the U.S. operations of the world’s largest petcare company at the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. Mars Petcare US produces some of the world’s most beloved pet care brands, including PEDIGREE®, IAMS®, CESAR®, SHEBA®, WHISKAS®, GOODLIFE™,TEMPTATIONS®, NUTRO®, GREENIES®, and EUKANUBA®, as well as exclusive brands products for some of the leading retailers in the U.S. Headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., more than 3,000 Mars Petcare associates make, sell and distribute its high-quality pet food from 16 manufacturing facilities located in communities across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.mars.com

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Mars Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO™, EBLY™, MASTERFOODS™, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO™; Drinks – ALTERRA®, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.®, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Mars Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®. For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal,youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars # # #