
Mars Inc. said Tuesday that its investments in its U.S. operations will amount to about $2 billion through next year.
The capital spending includes a $240 million facility that will produce Nature’s Bakery brand products in Salt Lake City. That plant is scheduled to open on Saturday.
Mars also opened a new $450 million plant in Ohio for its Royal Canin pet food brand earlier this year, officials noted.
"This investment is about building a stronger, more resilient business in the U.S. – one that can grow with our consumers, deliver for our partners, and create lasting economic impact in the communities where we operate," Mars CFO Claus Aagaard said in a statement. "The U.S. is our biggest and most important market, and a key engine of growth for the long term.”
Mars is also in the midst of a bid to acquire snacks maker Kellanova for nearly $36 billion.