Mars has officially opened a new $112.6 million pet food manufacturing facility in Wodonga, Victoria, describing the project as a significant investment in Australian manufacturing, regional employment and production capability.
In a media release, the company said the new facility, which it describes as Australia’s largest dedicated wet cat food pouch plant, will produce up to 290 million pouches annually for brands including WHISKAS®, DINE®, OPTIMUM™ and ADVANCE™.
According to Mars, the development is expected to create more than 67 direct jobs and more than 100 indirect jobs in the region, bringing its total workforce in Wodonga to nearly 500 employees.
Mars said the expansion will increase local production, with 90 per cent of the company’s pet care products sold in Australia and New Zealand expected to be manufactured locally.
Managing Director and General Manager of Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand Melodie Nye said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to local manufacturing and regional communities.
“We know Australians love their cats, and so do we. That’s why this new facility means so much to us,” Nye said.
“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.”
“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 opening follows Mars’ previously announced plan to invest $200 million in Australian manufacturing by 2027. The company said it has invested more than $450 million across its Australian operations since 2020 to modernise facilities, improve efficiency and support lower-emissions manufacturing.
Mars said demand for wet cat food products continues to grow in Australia, where an estimated 5.3 million cats live in around one-third of households.
The Victorian Government, through Regional Development Victoria, supported the development of the facility.
Minister for Regional Development Michaela Settle said the project would contribute to regional economic growth and manufacturing capability.
“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,” Settle said.
“We’re proud to have supported this expansion, which has created local jobs and will support significant productivity growth for the company.”
Mars said the facility incorporates advanced manufacturing technologies, including autonomous mobile robots, automated packaging systems, a next-generation cooker and selected AI-enabled planning tools aimed at improving production efficiency and operational flexibility.
The Wodonga site also hosts two renewable energy projects. Mars said a concentrated solar thermal system, developed with funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is expected to provide more than half of the site’s annual process heat requirements once operational. The company also said its commercial-scale electric thermal energy storage pilot has already reduced gas consumption by 20 per cent.
Mars employs around 2,400 people across Australia through its network of factories and corporate offices in Melbourne and Sydney.
