Fresh off the heels of one of its biggest years of innovation, Mars is offering snacks and treats with exciting textures, new takes on classic favorites, and flavor twists. These innovations fuel categories and drive manufacturing growth in the communities where Mars operates.
Gavin Kueber, site manager at the Mars plant in Yorkville, Illinois. We sat down to share insights from the manufacturing field on how consumer trends are driving innovation and what shoppers ultimately see on store shelves.
Mars has continued to invest in U.S. manufacturing, including at its Yorkville site. Can you share Yorkville’s role within Mars, its broader strategy, and how these investments fit into the company’s ambitions?
The Yorkville site is an integral part of the Mars manufacturing community in the United States. We’ve been involved in this community since 1994, and with over 450 employees, we proudly create many gum and mint brands such as HUBBA BUBBA®, ECLIPSE®, JUICY FRUIT®, LIFE SAVERS®, and ALTOIDS® mints, along with SKITTLES® and SKITTLES® Littles. It’s been an exceptionally exciting year for the launch of SKITTLES® POP’d. We make SKITTLES right here in Yorkville.
With the gum resurgence following the pandemic, we have expanded our capabilities this year with new production lines for EXTRA® Spearmint and EXTRA® Mega Packs. We also began producing RESPAWN Mints on our site this year. All of this capitalizes on the growing trends and demand in the gum and mint sector.
This investment in Yorkville is part of Mars’ broader manufacturing growth plan aimed at expanding production capacity, improving supply chain resilience and accelerating new product launches. Upgrades to our sites have strengthened Mars’ ability to respond quickly to changing consumer trends while increasing operational efficiency.
When it comes to gums and mints, these categories have seen significant growth and innovation recently. What trends are emerging and how can Yorkville help Mars stay ahead of the curve?
Total gum and mint sales are expected to increase by nearly $1 billion to $6.7 billion by 2030, according to a new report from the National Confectioners Association. Gum and mints continue to become everyday staples for consumers, with convenience, value and functional benefits driving demand. For example, the EXTRA Mega Pack increases the value of 35 sticks in portable packaging. Mars has optimized package sizes and flavor combinations, so there is a product for every chewing situation and shopper preference. With Mega Packs, shoppers don’t have to stress about running out of gum when they need it.
RESPAWN, Mars’ first gum and mint brand designed specifically for gamers in collaboration with Razer™, features bold flavors like Blackberry Vanilla and Mango Habanero. The mints we make here in Yorkville incorporate functional ingredients like L-theanine and B vitamins.
Yorkville also plays an important role in confectionery innovation. We are very proud to produce the SKITTLES used in SKITTLES POP’d, freeze-dried iconic candies with a unique, crunchy texture. We’ve seen a lot of love for these new snacks, especially among the Gen-Z audience. This is a new platform we want to experiment with. M&M’S® announces the launch of freeze-dried fun with the launch of M&M’S POP’d Caramel, a first for the brand.
Mars is widely known for its great workplace culture. How is that spirit brought to life in Yorkville?
Mars has five principles that form the foundation of our company culture. I’ve been on Mars for 15 years and it’s been really special. We strive to create an environment where our employees feel valued and supported through career development programs and a culture that encourages innovation and growth.
We are proud to be in Yorkville and it is important to us to foster strong community ties, from our support of United Way to the Yorkville Senior Center. Just last month, we donated a turkey for the Kendall County Food Pantry’s annual Thanksgiving food drive. We also donated a turkey to each employee in Yorkville.
As we move into the new year, we look forward to strengthening our role in the community and, as always, delivering on the iconic brands our fans love.
