Mars Wrigley Confectionary has decided that it will move its US headquarters to a 110,000-square-foot facility in Newark and renovate its Hackettstown facility. Its official announcement of the move is expected later Tuesday.Mars Wrigley Confectionary has decided that it will move its US headquarters to a 110,000-square-foot facility in Newark and renovate its Hackettstown facility. Its global headquarters will remain in Chicago. Its official announcement of the move is expected later Tuesday.



The candy maker was considering expanding its existing headquarters in Chicago or moving to Newark. It chose Newark after negotiations with city officials dating back several years. Those negotiations began in 2012 while now US Senator Cory Booker was Newark’s Mayor, and ended with current Mayor Ras Baraka.



“Newark has experienced record growth over the last decade, and I am thrilled to see Mars take this step that will help further accelerate the continued resurgence of our great city,” Booker told NJBIZ in an email. “Newark’s highly-educated workforce, robust transportation network, and central location will no doubt help the Mars US market headquarters thrive. This decision means hundreds of local jobs returning to Newark, a boost to our regional economy and small businesses, and the opportunity to continue the biggest economic boom in Newark since the 1960s.”



Mars was expected to choose Newark after receiving $31 million in tax credits over 10 years last month through the state’s Economic Development Authority’s Grow NJ program. The company’s new headquarters will be located in the Ironside Newark center, a 450,000-square-foot commercial and retail center that was once a warehouse district but is currently being renovated.



The Newark location is expected to cost $25 million to build and is expected to create roughly 130 new jobs. An additional 300 employees from its Chicago office are expected to relocate to Newark, while 100 more will come from its Hackettstown facility. The company also received a $1 million capital project grant from the EDA to renovate its Hackettstown facility. That renovation is expected to cost roughly $54 million.



“Mars is proud to have a strong legacy and future across both New Jersey and Illinois. Expanding in New Jersey will enable the continued growth of our U.S. business,” said Berta de Pablos Barbier, President, Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S. “We are fully committed to working with all of our Associates to support them through this transition.”



During the EDA’s meeting last month, it was estimated that the move will pump close to $200 million into the state over 20 years.

