Mars Petcare expands manufacturing in Australia, adds 65 jobs in regional Victoria

Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Strengthens Australia’s Largest Pet Food Manufacturing Site in Asia-Pacific.

WODONGA, Victoria, Australia — Mars Petcare has completed a major expansion of its flagship manufacturing facility in Wodonga, Victoria, reinforcing its position as one of Australia’s largest pet food producers while accelerating investments in advanced manufacturing, workforce growth and renewable energy infrastructure.

The multi-million-dollar project adds more than 65 new high-skilled manufacturing jobs and significantly expands production capacity for premium wet pet food products destined for Australia and New Zealand markets. The investment also advances Mars’ broader sustainability strategy, which aims to transition the Wodonga operation to a fully renewable energy platform by 2026.

The expansion marks another milestone for the regional Victorian facility, which has operated for nearly six decades and today serves as Mars Petcare’s largest manufacturing operation across the Asia-Pacific region. The site produces leading pet nutrition brands including PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ADVANCE®, OPTIMUM® and DINE®.

New Facility Increases Production Capacity

At the heart of the expansion is a new 7,800-square-metre manufacturing complex equipped with advanced automation technologies, autonomous mobile robots, automated packaging systems and high-efficiency cooking infrastructure designed to support next-generation pet food production.

The facility is expected to produce more than 29 million cat food pouches annually, supporting growing demand for premium and specialized companion animal nutrition products across Australia and New Zealand.

Industry observers note that premium pet food remains one of the fastest-growing categories within the global companion animal sector as pet owners increasingly seek products focused on health, nutrition and life-stage-specific feeding requirements.

Wodonga Expansion at a Glance

Renewable Energy Transformation Accelerates

Alongside manufacturing expansion, Mars is progressing one of Australia’s most ambitious industrial decarbonisation projects.

The company has committed to deploying a 100% renewable energy solution across the Wodonga operation by 2026, making it the first large-scale steam-based food manufacturing facility in Australia to operate entirely on renewable electricity and renewable process heat.

A central component of the transition is the A$39.3 million Mars Wodonga Solar Thermal Plant, which includes an 18-megawatt concentrated solar thermal (CST) system capable of storing thermal energy for up to 10 hours. The project represents Australia’s first commercial deployment of parabolic trough concentrated solar thermal technology.

The renewable energy program is further supported by electric thermal energy storage technology and renewable gas initiatives designed to reduce dependence on natural gas while maintaining operational reliability.

Part of Broader Australian Manufacturing Strategy

The Wodonga investment forms part of a larger A$200 million commitment announced by Mars to strengthen its Australian manufacturing network through 2027. Since 2020, the company has invested more than A$450 million across its Australian operations to improve production capacity, efficiency, product quality and sustainability performance.

Mars currently employs approximately 2,400 people across Australia, operating manufacturing facilities in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The Wodonga site remains one of the company’s most strategically important assets and among the largest private-sector employers in the region.

Premium Pet Nutrition Drives Investment

The expansion comes amid continued growth in Australia’s companion animal sector, where demand for premium nutrition products has outpaced broader consumer goods categories.

Globally, Mars remains one of the largest pet care companies, with a portfolio spanning pet nutrition, veterinary services and diagnostics. The company’s pet care business includes globally recognized brands and veterinary networks serving millions of companion animals annually.

Industry analysts expect investments in automation, digital manufacturing and sustainability to become increasingly important as pet food manufacturers seek to manage rising labour costs, improve operational efficiency and meet evolving environmental expectations from consumers and retailers.

Outlook

With the completion of the Wodonga expansion, Mars has strengthened its manufacturing capacity while positioning the facility at the forefront of advanced pet food production and industrial decarbonisation.

The combination of automation, premium product capacity and renewable energy infrastructure is expected to serve as a model for future investments across the global pet food industry, where sustainability and operational efficiency are becoming key competitive differentiators.

For Australia’s companion animal sector, the project represents one of the largest recent manufacturing investments and underscores continued confidence in long-term growth prospects for premium pet nutrition.