Mars to expand Skittles production at Yorkville facility in US

Global confectionery manufacturer Mars is to increase production of Skittles at its Yorkville facility in Illinois, US, in order to address growing demand.

According to Mars subsidiary Wrigley, more than 137 million Skittles candies are manufactured daily in the country and out of this, approximately 57 million are produced in the Yorkville facility.

The company has invested $50m in the facility to install a new production line. Operations at the expanded facility will commence this week.

The firm has appointed more than 75 additional workers, which will increase the facility’s total workforce to around 400.

Wrigley secured approximately $3m as incentives from the state of Illinois and local authorities for the Yorkville production expansion.

The candies manufactured in Yorkville will be sold across the US, as well as in Mexico, Canada, Central South America and Caribbean markets, reported Dailyherald.com.

The Yorkville facility has been in operation for more than two decades.

It manufactures other brands such as Doublemint, Life Savers and Juicy Fruit.

After purchasing Wrigley in 2008 for $23bn, Mars shifted its non-chocolate confectionery brands to its Wrigley unit.