Mars, Incorporated is investing £161m in its Melton Mowbray pet nutrition factory to install advanced production technology, creating more than 30 skilled engineering and technical roles as it looks to strengthen UK manufacturing capacity.
The investment will modernise the historic Leicestershire site, which has been part of the Mars business for 75 years and is the birthplace of brands including WHISKAS® and PEDIGREE®.
The programme, which will run through to 2031, will establish Melton Mowbray as Mars’ primary UK factory for pouched pet food. The site currently supplies 95% of its production to British households, with the remaining 5% exported to European markets.
The upgrade will introduce advanced pouch production lines designed to accommodate recyclable mono-polypropylene (mono-PP) packaging, alongside technologies intended to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce waste. These will include AI-powered cameras capable of identifying quality defects earlier in the production process. The investment also supports Mars’ wider sustainability ambitions to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
Having celebrated 75 years of manufacturing this year, this £161m 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.
Sharon Ross, Plant Manager at Mars Melton Mowbray
Investment in manufacturing skills
Alongside the technology upgrades, the investment will create more than 30 skilled technical and engineering positions in its first year, while expanding the factory’s permanent apprenticeship cohort to 33 places. The apprenticeships will focus on technical and operational disciplines, including mechanical and electrical engineering.
More than 50 apprentices have completed their programmes at the Melton Mowbray factory over the past five years. Across Mars UK, more than 140 apprentices are currently employed, developing skills in areas including artificial intelligence, digital systems and data analytics. The company said it offers permanent positions to 97% of apprentices upon completion of their programmes.
James Pearson, an apprentice at the Melton Mowbray factory, said the investment would help more young people develop manufacturing careers while maintaining the site’s connection with the local community.
“The history of the Melton factory is one of the things that makes working here feel special – our grandma worked here and now we do too, so it’s very special to have that connection to Melton and Mars in our family,” he said.
“This investment means more young people from the area will have the chance to become part of that story.”
Kevin Crook, acting leader of Leicestershire County Council, said the investment represented a significant commitment to the area, adding that the council would work with partners to increase employment opportunities and help local suppliers and contractors participate in the project.
Strengthening UK manufacturing
The latest announcement brings Mars’ total investment across its UK operational and manufacturing network to £661m since 2021, spanning its snacking, food and pet care businesses.
Mars operates eight factories in the UK, with manufacturing sites including Melton Mowbray, Slough, Plymouth, Birstall, Milton Keynes, Castle Cary and King’s Lynn. Its wider UK pet care operations also include the Waltham Petcare Science Institute in Leicestershire, which researches animal health and nutrition, and Linnaeus, a network of more than 180 veterinary clinics and referral hospitals across the UK and Ireland.
The Melton Mowbray investment represents a significant upgrade to one of Mars’ established UK manufacturing operations, combining production automation, packaging innovation and workforce development to support future demand in the pet food market.
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