The state-of-the-art dry pet food factory will make iconic petcare brands PEDIGREE^®,WHISKAS^® and OPTIMUM^®

New South Wales, AUSTRALIA (June 17, 2015) – Mars, Incorporated has opened a AUD $100 million pet food factory in Bathurst, Australia. It will manufacture dry pet food from Mars Petcare brands PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, ADVANCE^®, MY DOG^®, OPTIMUM^® and DINE^® for millions of much-loved pets all over Australia. This investment reflects the Mars commitment towards building its global business and follows recent factory openings such as the $63 million Wrigley factory in Kenya.

John Vickers, Mars Petcare Plant Manager at the Bathurst factory said: “We are continually innovating new process technologies and ways of working that maximize productivity while minimizing our environmental impact. Our knowledge and resources combined with this new world-class facility, means we have the capability to contribute to industry innovation and demonstrate best practice manufacturing - ultimately helping to drive the industry forward and produce improved product”.

The investment of AUD$100 million in the facility is a significant contribution to the local area; it will directly employ approximately 150 local Associates, making it one of the largest investments ever made in the Bathurst community. With a footprint of nearly 12,000 square meters, the plant replaces an older building adjacent to the new site and combines modern operational efficiency with a strong environmental focus. The new site will reduce energy use by 47 percent, carbon emissions by 40 percent and water use by 30 percent compared to the old plant. In addition, the facility will adhere to a “zero waste to landfill” commitment

Mars Petcare Australia

Mars Petcare is the world’s leading pet food and veterinary care business that strives to make A Better World for Pets^® every day. Mars Petcare believes that pets make our lives better and that pet ownership brings joy and benefits which should be accessible to everyone. Mars Petcare has a number of leading brands including PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, DINE^®, ADVANCE^®, OPTIMUM^®, SCHMACKOS^® ROYAL CANIN^®, EUKANUBA^® IAMS^®. Key specialty brands include the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition^®, a leading scientific authority on pet nutrition and wellbeing. Mars Petcare has more than 37,000 Associates worldwide.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned business with more than a century of history and some of the best-loved brands in the world including M&M’S^®, PEDIGREE^®, DOUBLEMINT^® and UNCLE BEN’S^®. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars has more than $33 billion in sales from six diverse business segments: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 75,000 Associates across 73 countries are united by the company’s Five Principles: Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality and Freedom and strive every day to create relationships with stakeholders that deliver growth we are proud of as a company.

For more information about Mars, Incorporated, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.