Mars says it has invested $165 million in its Waco, Texas, manufacturing site since 2024 as the factory marks 50 years of producing confectionery for the US market.
The company announced the cumulative investment on 5 November 2026. It is not a newly pledged $165 million spending package. Mars said recent projects have concentrated on energy efficiency and operational improvements.
The Waco factory opened in 1976 as Mars’ first manufacturing facility in Texas. It now employs nearly 900 people and produces Snickers, Skittles and Starburst, making it an established part of the group’s North American confectionery supply network.
How much has Mars invested in Waco? The verified figure is $165 million since 2024. Mars did not provide a project-by-project breakdown, a new completion timetable or a separate employment forecast in the 5 November announcement.
The distinction matters to supermarket buyers and snack distributors. Capital spending at an established production plant can support manufacturing reliability and efficiency, but it does not automatically represent new output capacity. Mars did not quantify additional annual production volumes or new retailer contracts attributable to the investment.
Erik Owino, senior vice-president of supply for Mars Snacking North America, said ongoing investment in Waco supported the company’s aim to build an agile, sustainable and modern supply chain.
What does the Waco factory produce? Mars identified three major confectionery lines: Snickers chocolate bars, Skittles sweets and Starburst fruit chews. These brands compete for space in supermarket confectionery aisles, convenience stores and seasonal promotional displays across the US.
The factory’s 50-year history offers a longer-term manufacturing perspective than the headline investment number alone. It illustrates why global FMCG groups continue to modernise established plants rather than rely solely on new production sites.
For retailers, continuity of supply, pack availability, promotional volume and energy-related operating costs are practical areas to monitor. The company has not said that the Waco projects will change wholesale prices or consumer shelf prices, and no such outcome should be assumed.
Mars has also expanded its wider snacking portfolio through its Kellanova acquisition. That group-level transaction is separate from the Texas factory’s reported capital investment. Similarly, the company’s technology partnership for global operations is not evidence that a particular system has been installed at Waco.
The immediate development is therefore a verified anniversary update with a specific cumulative investment amount, workforce scale and list of products. Future updates will be needed to establish measurable capacity, cost or emissions results.
Editor’s Note: Source: Mars, 5 November 2026. This report distinguishes investment made since 2024 from a new spending commitment and does not infer capacity increases that Mars has not disclosed.
