Nature’s Bakery, part of the Mars Inc. family of brands, opened a new baking facility July 30 in Salt Lake City, a $240 million investment that marks a milestone in the brand’s expansion.
The 339,000-square-foot site gives Nature’s Bakery the space to grow, with the ability to produce more than 1 billion bars each year. It also brings more than 230 new jobs to the region.
“The biggest step we can take to meet our growth goals is making more of the snacks people love, and this new baking facility helps us do exactly that,” said Steve Gardiner, CEO of Nature’s Bakery.
“It gives us the space to grow today and tomorrow, while letting us bake even more efficiently and with even higher quality. Most importantly, it allows us to keep delivering wholesome, feel-good snacks to more families across the country, wherever and whenever they need them.”
Nature’s Bakery is on pace to more than double in size since Mars acquired it in March 2021.
“The snacking category continues to grow in importance in the U.S. as consumers’ tastes and preferences evolve, and at Mars, we’re focused on accelerating innovation that will shape the future of snacking,” said Blas Maquivar, global president of health and wellness division.
“The Mars local investment in the new Salt Lake City-based Nature’s Bakery facility will enable us to expand the reach of our health and wellness brand, strengthening our focus and introducing more consumers to our better-for-you offering.”
Located in the city’s Mountain West neighborhood, the facility will help improve national distribution and reduce delivery distances to retailers. It is LEED Silver-certified and expected to lower trucking-related CO₂ emissions by an estimated 5,700 tons annually.
The facility also features smart automation, including innovative systems for ingredient delivery, mixing and cooling.
In the U.S., Mars has a presence in 49 states, with more than 70,000 employees and 38 factories, as well as veterinary clinics, labs and 16 global and regional offices.
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