Candy and snacks giant Mars Inc. plans to shut down its longtime corporate hub on the East Coast as it shifts administrative functions to its new campus in Chicago.
Mars notified New Jersey officials that it plans to shutter its U.S. headquarters in Newark by the end of October, NJ.com reported. The move would affect 307 jobs.
Mars’ current headquarters facility is relatively new — it opened in 2020 — but its presence in the city dates back to the 1940s. NJ.com noted that M&M’s were invented in Newark after Forrest Mars Sr. saw British soldiers eating pieces of chocolate during the Spanish Civil War.
Mars announced this spring that Chicago would be the home of Mars Snacking following its acquisition of Kellanova, the owner of Cheez-It, Pringles and other snack brands. The company plans to invest $100 million in the city and create more than 600 jobs.
Mars’ North Jersey production facility, located in Hackettstown, will remain in operation, the report noted.
