Mars is planning to invest €130 million (US$140 million) in its French sites, according to a report from Just Food.
Romain Dumas, managing director of Mars Petcare & Food in France, outlined the plans at the pan-industry Choose France investment summit.
The company said it will increase production capacity across its four French units – the two pet care arms of Mars Petcare and Royal Canin, as well as Mars Food and the confectionery-focused Mars Wrigley.
Yahoo Finance reported a significant part of the investment will go toward installing new pet food production lines at the Saint-Denis-de-L'Hôtel site, which makes Pedigree and Whiskas products.
Mars also plans to modernize the existing facility, invest in sustainable packaging as well as increase production capacity and the number of employees.
According to Yahoo, the business will also invest nearly €48 million (US$52 million) into its nutritional pet food brand Royal Canin at its Aimargues site in Gard. The investment will be used toward renovating kennels and offices to ensure the well-being of employees and pets, as well as installing solar panels and increasing storage capacities for raw materials.
“All these investments will allow us to continue to offer the French and their pets quality products at the best price and to develop our company in a solid and sustainable way in France,” Dumas said in a statement to Just Food.
According to Petfood Industry's Top Companies, Mars Petcare is one of the top two pet food companies on Earth. Its nearly 50 pet food brands include five billion-dollar brands. The company is increasingly looking to diversify its revenue streams. Mars Petcare also owns the BluePearl chain of emergency and specialty veterinary care clinics Banfield and VCA animal hospitals.
