Mars Wrigley to boost Asquith factory with new production line

Mars Wrigley Australia has announced it is installing a new production line at its Asquith gum and mints plant that it says will increase capacity by more than 60%.

The $6.5 million investment will mean more local manufacturing of Extra gum bottle sugar-free flavours, including Spearmint, White Spearmint, Intense Mint, Peppermint, White Peppermint, White Bubblemint and Strawberry.

The plant upgrade also incorporates circular-by-design packing technology that Mars Wrigley says will eliminate 13 tonnes of soft plastics each year.

“This investment provides significant additional capacity to deliver the products our customers love and enjoy,” said Mars Wrigley Australia Plant Manager Daniel Firth. “In addition, our engineers and packaging technologist have been able to deploy new technology to remove around 2200 km of soft plastic wrap per year, which is consistent with our goal of reducing the amount of plastic packaging we use.”

Asquith forms a key part of Mars’s Australian manufacturing operations, which includes other NSW sites in Bathurst and Wyong, Victorian sites in Ballarat and Wodonga, and Wacol in Queensland.

The factory, located north of Sydney, employs 190 people and has operated continuously since 1958. The plant is solely responsible for manufacturing all locally made Mars Wrigley gum and mints products sold in Australia, including iconic brands such as Extra, Eclipse, PK and Juicy Fruit.

Mars Wrigley has been manufacturing in Australia continuously since 1915, when the Wrigley company first established a factory in Melbourne. Wrigley was purchased by Mars in 2009.

Image credit: Mars Wrigley Australia.