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Mars, Incorporated announced the launch of its third state-of-the-art chocolate manufacturing facility in the Middle East region. The new factory, located in King Abdullah Economic City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, produces a range of Galaxy® products. The facility, which will focus on growing regional talent, is the first food manufacturing facility in the Kingdom to be built to Energy and Environment Design – LEED- Gold standards, which is recognized across the globe as the premier mark of achievement in green building.

After breaking ground on February 2012, the facility is now officially operating and promises to be a contributor in the development of the Saudi economy by generating new job opportunities directly in their new plant and indirectly in other supply chain related industries. Already, the company has made additional capital investments to the facility for a total investment of US$80MM to date.

“Mars is keen to promote local employment in all countries where we operate, and we are committed to developing the skills of Saudi nationals in the long term. This will result in talented and capable Saudi associates who will provide sustainable leadership for our local, regional and global business,” said Sami Darouni, Mars Regional President, Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

On this occasion, Mr. Fahd Al-Rasheed, Group CEO and MD of KAEC, said: “It is with a great pleasure that I congratulate MARS on the launch of this superb factory. Today’s inaugural event is another milestone for KAEC and a shining example of our success in attracting leading global companies to establish their manufacturing facilities in the Industrial Valley. Mr. Rayan Qutub, CEO Industrial Valley, said: “To date we have signed with 82 factories, of which 8 are already operational and 22 others are under construction. These companies are key players in the Kingdom’s aim to diversify its economy and are the real drivers for job creation for Saudi nationals.”

With this inauguration that launches the commencement of production, Mars marks a new “green” step in its long-term growth projections.

King Abdullah Economic City is one of the largest and most important private sector initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, with a total area of 181 million sqm along the coast of the Red Sea. At the forefront of KAEC’s master planned development is Industrial Valley, a new logistics and manufacturing hub, KAEC has succeeded in attracting more than 80 national and international industrial companies including MARS, Sanofi, Pfizer, and TOTAL. KAEC is ideally situated to connect the East and West, with new roads and rail networks, KAEC is just an hour from Jeddah, Makkah and Medina; and with its King Abdullah Port, which effectively started operations in January 2014, KAEC can handle the world’s largest ships and reach 20 million TEUs upon port completion.

KAEC offers a wide range of housing solutions that are suitably priced for different income levels. The KAEC residential districts are supported by a high quality infrastructure and a complete range of services and facilities such as The World Academy School, which is already open with a future total capacity of 2,250 students, and a healthcare center for primary care and emergency operated by Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Company. In addition, retail stores have been fully leased and restaurants, cafes, sales outlets and pharmacies are already open.

About Mars, Incorporated:
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information about Mars, Incorporated, please visit mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/Mars,twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars