Mars Inc. plans to make Chicago the home of its North American snacking division and add hundreds of jobs in the city, company and Illinois officials announced last week.
The company will house its snacks business' North American region, its Accelerator division and “Global Functions” in the city, including a new regional headquarters in the Fulton Market district and an Accelerator hub in the former headquarters of Kellanova. Mars acquired Kellanova, which included Cheez-It, Pringles and other snack brands formerly owned by Kellogg Co., late last year.
Under its agreement with the state, Mars plans to invest $100 million and create more than 600 jobs in Chicago. The company says its snacking division currently employs more than 4,000 people in the region.
“The Chicagoland area offers the best of all worlds for Mars Snacking – a vibrant urban environment, strong communities and access to world-class talent,” Mars Snacking Global President Andrew Clarke said in the announcement. “We are proud to deepen our roots here, advance the Mars Snacking business, and continue our long-standing commitment to community engagement and responsible business.”
