Mars Wrigley candy's New Jersey headquarters to bring 1,500 jobs to state

The New Jersey job market received some sweet news Tuesday as Mars Wrigley candy company announced it will base its national headquarters in the state.

The candy manufacturer will operate in Newark and Hackettstown, a move expected to bring around 1,500 jobs to the state, according to a press release issued by the company.

"Mars is proud to have a strong legacy and future across both New Jersey and Illinois," Berta de Pablos Barbier, president of the company, stated in the press release. "Expanding in New Jersey will enable the continued growth of our U.S. business. We are fully committed to working with all of our Associates to support them through this transition."

Mars already has an office in Hackettstown but will build a new space in Newark. The company will keep its worldwide headquarters in Chicago while transitioning the United States operation to New Jersey by 2020, the press release stated.

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Some of the candies produced by Mars include M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Skittles and Starburst, plus gums and mints such as Doublemint, Lifesavers, Extra and Orbit.

Mars used to operate in Newark when M&M's were first created as military rations in 1941, according to the release. The Hackettstown location opened in 1958.

By 2020 there will be 500 associates working in Newark and 1,000 in Hackettstown.

“Creating U.S. offices in New Jersey will allow us to keep driving growth," de Pablos Barbier stated, "while also positioning us to retain and attract the future talent needed for our continued success.”

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com