Mars, Incorporated makes $237 million investment in advanced Nature’s Bakery facilities
pic: Nature's Bakery
A major investment of $237 million is being made by Mars, Incorporated, into creating an advanced new baking facility for its recently acquired brand Nature’s Bakery, in Salt Lake City, Utah, US, writes Neill Barston.
According to the company, the site, totalling 339,000 square feet, is to create 90 jobs, and will be operational by July 2025, with its development arriving in the wake of a sustained spike in demand for healthier-option bars and confectionery ranges.
Notably, the Nature’s Bakery brand was founded in 2011 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, and was acquired by Mars, Incorporated in 2020. It has since reportedly become the eighth best-selling and fastest-growing granola and snack bar brand in a +$4B category. Nature’s Bakery bakes the goodness of real ingredients into convenient, on-the-go snacks that are plant based, dairy-free, nut-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified.
“I am thrilled for our strategic expansion with the establishment of a cutting-edge baking facility in Salt Lake City,” shared Steve Gardiner, CEO of Nature’s Bakery. “This investment marks a significant milestone in our brand’s ability to drive greater capacity to meet growing consumer and retailer demand. As a self-manufacturer, this facility joins our existing bakeries to reflect our commitment to innovation and quality, and underscores our confidence in the thriving business environment of Utah. We look forward to contributing to the local economy, cultivating community, and creating job opportunities as we further our brand purpose of nourishing families and enabling them to thrive.”
“This investment symbolises our dedication to scaling our brands responsibly, upholding Mars’ pledge to be America’s prime destination for insurgent brands,” shared Juan Martin, Health and Wellness president at Mars, Incorporated.
The deal is linked to Mars’s acquisition of the healthier snacking brand, KIND, which it acquired in November 2020 in a huge $5 billion deal, with the company continuing to function as a separate business entity, entering into an agreement to buy Nature’s Bakery in December of that year.
Speaking on that move at the time, founder of Nature’s Bakery, Dave Marson,,said: “As a multi-generational family of bakers, we sought to create a company committed to making wholesome snacking accessible to active families everywhere. Nature’s Bakery will benefit from continued reach and expansion of this vision through its partnership with KIND.”
