Mars Chocolate North America broke ground Aug. 23 on its first U.S. manufacturing plant in 35 years. The 350,000-sq.-ft., $250 million project is in the new Kanza Fire Commerce Park, designed as a green manufacturing park, near Topeka, Kan., being develop by Go Topeka economic development group.
“This new site represents Mars’ commitment to manufacturing in the United States for the U.S. market,” said Todd Lachman, president of Mars Chocolate Latin America and North America. “We are proud to create jobs in America’s heartland and are honored to partner with the Topeka community for years to come.”
The plant is pursuing LEED gold certification. It should be operational in 2013 and should create 200 full-time jobs.
