Mars Invests £161 Million to Modernize UK Pet Food Factory

Mars has announced a £161 million investment to modernize its pet food factory in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK. The project will run through 2031 and establish the site as Mars’ primary UK manufacturing facility for pouch-based pet food.

The upgrades include new high-speed production lines designed for recyclable mono-polypropylene (mono-PP) pouches, advanced manufacturing technology and smart optical sorting systems. Mars expects the sorting technology to reduce production waste by more than 50%.

The factory, which began producing pet food in 1951, is associated with the company’s WHISKAS and PEDIGREE brands. Around 95% of its output supplies the UK market, with the remaining 5% exported to European markets.

The investment is expected to create more than 30 skilled technical and engineering roles in its first year. Mars will also expand the site’s permanent apprenticeship programme from 26 to 33 positions by 2027.

The project brings Mars’ total announced investment in its UK operations since 2021 to £661 million, covering its pet care, food and snacking businesses.