Mars factory at Ballarat celebrates 40th anniversary

Mars Wrigley has celebrated 40 years of manufacturing at its Ballarat factory.

According to The Ballarat Courier, the site opened in 1979 with 70 staff and the iconic Mars Bar as its main product.

Nowadays the site employs around 350, and makes confectionery brands including M&Ms, Snickers, Bounty and Maltesers. It is also a Regional Technical Hub within the global Mars Wrigley operation, which earned revenues of $US 35 billion last year.

“As a result [of the technical hub status] many of Mars Wrigley’s most celebrated innovations – including PODS® and M&M’S® Honeycomb were invented in Ballarat by Australian Associates,” said Mars Wrigley Australia in a statement.

(The company refers to its employees as Associates.)

Ballarat is one of four factories globally that make and export Maltesers. It has repeatedly made the Great Place To Work survey list, placing fifth this year.

Mars operates six Australian factories.

“The success of our Australian business is a testament to the hard work and passion of our Associates past and present,” said general manager of Mars Wrigley Australia, Andrew Leakey.

“As we look ahead to the next 40 years, we’re committed to exploring sustainable solutions to ensure we remain a competitive, local manufacturer. In line with our commitment to minimise our local carbon footprint, we’re proud that from the start of 2020 all of Mars Australia’s local operations will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.”

Picture: Margaret Burin/ABC Local