en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mars has commenced operations at a new pet food manufacturing facility in Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, with an investment of $112.6 million. The company states that this investment aims to enhance local manufacturing capabilities, regional employment, and production capacity in Australia.
According to the company, this facility is the largest dedicated wet cat food pouch production site in Australia, capable of producing up to 290 million pouches annually for brands such as WHISKAS®, DINE®, OPTIMUM™, and ADVANCE™. The project is expected to create over 67 direct jobs and more than 100 indirect jobs in the region, bringing Mars' total workforce in Wodonga to nearly 500 employees.
Mars stated that this expansion will increase local production, with an estimated 90% of pet care products sold by the company in Australia and New Zealand expected to be manufactured locally. Melodie Nye, Managing Director and General Manager of Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand, said the investment reflects the company's long-term commitment to local manufacturing and regional communities. "We know Australians love their cats, and so do we. That's why this new factory means so much to us," Nye said. "Our iconic brands like WHISKAS® and DINE® have been part of families for generations, and this new facility helps us deliver high-quality meals that keep millions of cats happy and healthy every day."
Nye added, "Mars has been part of the Wodonga community since 1967, and this new factory is the next chapter in that story. We are proud to continue investing here—investing in local jobs, Australian manufacturing, and the people who make this place so special."
The factory opening comes as Mars announced plans to invest $200 million in Australian manufacturing by 2027. The company said it has invested over $450 million in its Australian operations since 2020 to modernize facilities, improve efficiency, and support low-carbon emission manufacturing. Mars noted that demand for wet cat food products continues to grow in Australia, with an estimated 5.3 million cats living in about one-third of households.
The Victorian Government supported the factory's development through Regional Development Victoria. Minister for Regional Development Michaela Settle said the project will boost regional economic growth and manufacturing capacity. "Across regional Victoria, we are helping businesses like Mars Petcare expand their operations, strengthen our supply chain, and continue developing places like Wodonga into manufacturing hubs," Settle said. "We are proud to have supported this expansion project, which has created local jobs and will deliver significant productivity gains for the company."
Mars stated that the new factory incorporates advanced manufacturing technologies, including autonomous mobile robots, automated packaging systems, next-generation cooking machines, and selected AI-assisted planning tools, aimed at improving production efficiency and operational flexibility. The Wodonga facility is also equipped with two renewable energy projects. A concentrated solar thermal system, developed with funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is expected to meet more than half of the factory's annual process heat requirements once operational. Additionally, a commercial-scale electric thermal energy storage pilot project has reduced natural gas consumption by 20%.
Currently, Mars employs approximately 2,400 people in Australia through a network of factories and corporate offices located in Melbourne and Sydney.
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