Iconic candymaker to lay off hundreds, move US headquarters out of New Jersey - Fox Business

What the report says

Fox Business reported that Mars Wrigley plans to eliminate 307 jobs at its Newark, New Jersey, headquarters as it moves U.S. corporate operations to Chicago. The cuts were disclosed in a New Jersey WARN notice filed Friday and are expected to take effect by mid-October, according to the report. The move will end the candy maker’s corporate presence in Newark.

Mars Wrigley, part of Mars Incorporated, is behind brands including M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix and Skittles. Fox Business reported that the relocation follows a $100 million expansion of the company’s footprint in Chicago, where its global headquarters is now based. Mars said its Newark market hub for Mars Snacking associates will be phased out by December 2027 as part of a broader review of its North American office locations and a strategy to strengthen key operations.

The company said it will offer relocation options and support to affected workers, while continuing to operate its manufacturing facility in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The shift also comes after Mars acquired Chicago-based Wrigley in 2008 and after its more recent acquisition of Kellanova, the Chicago-headquartered snacks company associated with brands such as Pringles and Cheez-It.

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association characterized the decision as another sign of concern for the state’s business climate. Fox Business noted that New Jersey has seen more than 9,700 jobs listed in WARN notices this year, alongside other corporate moves involving Samsung’s planned headquarters relocation to Texas and ExxonMobil shareholders’ vote to change the company’s state of incorporation from New Jersey to Texas.