Mars will invest £161 million (US$215.2 million) to modernise its pet nutrition factory in Melton Mowbray, England, a programme running through 2031 that will establish the 75-year-old site as the company's primary pouched pet food plant in the United Kingdom.

The announcement, made on 10 November, covers high-speed pouch lines built for mono-polypropylene (mono-PP) packaging, smart optical sorting and AI-powered cameras designed to detect quality defects earlier in the process. Mars said the equipment is expected to reduce production waste by more than 50% and will support its targets of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

The spend takes Mars's total capital investment in the UK to £661 million (US$883.5 million) since 2021. It follows £190 million (US$254 million) committed earlier this year to the company's chocolate factory in Slough and a £1.2 million (US$1.6 million) upgrade to its pet nutrition research and development hub in Birstall, also in Leicestershire.

Melton Mowbray was Mars's first pet care site and is the birthplace of the Whiskas and Pedigree brands. According to company figures, the plant supplies 95% of its output to British households and exports the remaining 5% to European markets. Mars also states that Whiskas feeds 6.6 million cats in the UK, more than half the national cat population, and describes the UK as the world's third-largest pet food market. Those brand and market-share figures are company-reported and were not independently corroborated.

In its first year the programme will create more than 30 skilled technical and engineering roles, and permanent apprenticeship positions at the site will rise from 26 to 33 by 2027, with training focused on mechanical and electrical engineering. More than 50 apprentices have completed programmes at Melton Mowbray over the past five years, and Mars employs more than 140 apprentices across its UK business, offering permanent placement to 97% of those who finish.

Sharon Ross, plant manager at Mars Melton Mowbray, said: "Melton Mowbray holds a unique place in Mars history as our first pet care site. Having celebrated 75 years of manufacturing this year, this £161 million investment is a profound vote of confidence in our site, our Associates, and the wider community. By integrating cutting-edge technology and expanding our apprenticeship programme, we are building on our proud heritage, equipping the next generation with future-ready engineering skills, and writing an exciting new chapter for the iconic brands like Whiskas made right here."

Nick Foster, general manager for Mars Pet Nutrition in Northern Europe, described the UK as "a cornerstone" of the group's global pet care business and the investment as "a direct statement of our confidence in the UK market and the vital role our British factories play within our wider European network".

Local authorities welcomed the decision. Ronan Browne, leader of Melton Borough Council, said the commitment reinforced the town's position as a centre for food production and advanced manufacturing, while Kevin Crook, acting leader of Leicestershire County Council, said the council would work to connect local people and suppliers with the opportunities created.

Mars, the family-owned group behind Whiskas, Pedigree and Sheba, employs more than 10,000 people in Britain and operates eight manufacturing facilities there alongside its wider pet care and veterinary businesses.

- Mars

Mars to invest £161 million in England's Melton Mowbray pet food plant

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