AUSTRALIA | Mars has officially opened its AUD 112.6 million world-class pet food facility in Wodonga, Victoria, marking a major milestone in the company’s long-term investment in Australian manufacturing, regional jobs and sustainable innovation.
The facility will create more than 67 new jobs and over 100 additional indirect roles across the region, bringing the company’s total Wodonga workforce to nearly 500 Associates.
The new pouch facility, Australia’s largest cat food kitchen, will produce 290 million pouches of premium wet cat food each year for much-loved brands including WHISKAS, DINE, OPTIMUM and ADVANCE.
This expansion means 90 percent of Mars pet care products sold in Australia and New Zealand will be made locally, strengthening supply chain resilience and reducing reliance on imported products.
The opening followed the company’s recently announced AUD 200 million investment in Australian manufacturing through to 2027, part of a broader program to expand capacity, fuel innovation and advance the company’s renewable energy ambitions.
Since 2020, Mars has invested more than AUD 450 million across its Australian operations to modernise facilities, improve quality and efficiency, and support a more resilient, low-carbon manufacturing footprint.
With 5.3 million cats living in a third of Australian homes, demand for high-quality, locally made nutrition continues to rise, with wet pouch formats now the fastest-growing segment of the pet food category.
Managing Director and General Manager Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand, Melodie Nye, said the investment reflects the company’s deep commitment to regional communities, innovation and the future of Australian manufacturing.
“We know Australians love their cats, and so do we. That’s why this new facility means so much to us. Our iconic brands like WHISKAS and DINE have been part of homes for generations, and this new facility helps us deliver the high-quality meals that keep millions of cats happy and healthy every day,” said Nye.
“Mars has been part of the Wodonga community since 1967, and this new facility is the next chapter in that story. We’re proud to keep investing here – in local jobs, in Australian manufacturing, and in the people who make this place what it is.”
The development of the Wodonga facility was also supported by the Victorian Government through Regional Development Victoria.
Minister for Regional Development Michaela Settle said that the government’s support reflected an ongoing commitment to strengthen regional economies and formed part of a more than AUD 50 billion investment into regional Victoria in just over the last decade.
“Across regional Victoria, we’re helping businesses like Mars Petcare to expand their operations, strengthening our supply chains and continuing to develop places like Wodonga as manufacturing powerhouses,” said Minister Settle.
“We’re proud to have supported this expansion, which has created local jobs and will support significant productivity growth for the company.”
Located alongside existing Mars operations in Wodonga, the new facility has introduced advanced manufacturing technology, including autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated packaging systems, a next-generation cooker and selective use of AI-enabled planning tools to enhance production efficiency and operational flexibility.
