Mars pledges €1billion into manufacturing upgrades including enhancing Polish chocolate site

A sizeable volume of key manufacturing investment totalling €1 billion has been confirmed by Mars into enhancing its European operations, including €250 million automation upgrades for its Polish chocolate plant, reports Neill Barston.

Notably, as the company has confirmed, the 63% capacity upgrade to the key confectionery processing site at Janaszówek, is set to be made by the end of next year, as part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation across its key production locations.

Moreover, as the business observed, its Poland-based production facility has just marked its  30th anniversary this month, and remains a notable element of its growth ambition in the region.

With heightened economic challenges emerging in the past year including higher ingredients costs, tariffs and geopolitical instability, enhancing its regional operations has been given additional priority.

Significantly, the latest investment comes in the wake of over €1.5 billion Mars has invested in EU manufacturing over the past five years, modernising facilities, increasing production capacity and accelerating efforts to decarbonise its value chain.

These investments support the company’s 24 factories across 10 EU countries and the 25,000 people it employs in its direct operations. 85% of Mars products sold in the EU are produced locally within the EU, which is also an export hub to over 100 markets around the world.

“We take a long-term view – we believe in Europe and we would like to see more growth for the benefit of consumers in the EU economies. Our investments are designed to keep our operations world-class, competitive and aligned with the EU’s long-term priorities,” said Claus Aagaard, CFO for Mars.

“For Mars, this is about more than just growth. It’s also about building a stronger, more resilient business in Europe – one that delivers more innovation to consumers, delivers value for thousands of our European suppliers, and creates lasting, positive impacts in the communities where we operate.”

In addition, the company explained that decarbonising the value chain to improve sustainability and production resilience is another central strategy that it is pursuing.

As such, Mars globally has reduced its scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by more than 16% since 2015, while the business has grown 69%.

To continue the decoupling of growth from emissions, the company is embedding environmental initiatives across key stages of its value chain. In 2022, its ice cream factory in Steinbourg, France – home to Snickers, Twix and Bounty ice cream bars – became powered entirely by renewable electricity, the first Mars site globally to become fossil-fuel free.

Beyond manufacturing, Mars is tackling agricultural emissions with a $47 million Moo’ving Dairy Forward Plan, helping to cut methane emissions across multiple EU Member States, including the Netherlands.

Strengthening local partnerships and economies: Mars has a long history of sourcing and innovating with local partners – from farmers and suppliers to technology providers – aimed at strengthening local economies and supporting communities. For example, in 2025, Mars announced more than €100 million to modernise and digitise its industrial sites in France.