Mars Opens New Nature’s Bakery Facility in Salt Lake City
Snack bar processor Nature’s Bakery, part of the Mars Inc. family of brands, has officially opened its new baking facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to a release from the company. The $240 million facility was announced in January 2024, and it spans more than 339,000 sq. ft. and will employ more than 230 new workers — with a production capacity of more than 1 billion snack bars possible per year.
Steve Gardiner, CEO of Nature’s Bakery, said the plant improves baking efficiency and product quality, while giving the brand “the space to grow today and tomorrow.”
Since Mars acquired Nature’s Bakery in March 2021, the brand has been on pace to more than double its size from its 2020 status, the release noted. Part of that growth has been driven by the rise in snacking among consumers, the company said, but Mars also has been focused on innovation within the space to “help shape the future of snacking,” said Blas Maquivar, Global President of Health & Wellness Division.
The new facility is LEED Silver-certified and is expected to lower trucking-related CO₂ emissions by an estimated 5,700 tons per year. On the operations side, smart automation helps drive improvements, including innovative systems for ingredient delivery, mixing and cooling.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.