Mars plans closures at pet food facilities in Germany and the U.S.

GLOBAL – Mars Petcare is proposing to close its pet food factory in Minden and to confirm the shutdown of a separate facility in Henderson, as part of ongoing efforts to restructure its manufacturing footprint.

The company said the proposed closure in Minden forms part of regular reviews of its operations to better align with customer and market needs.

Around 110 employees at the German site have been informed and would be affected if the plan proceeds.

Mars has entered consultation with the local works council, with production expected to end by late 2026.

The Minden facility primarily produces dry pet food brands, including Perfect Fit, Crave and Pedigree, supplying more than 20 countries across Europe.

If approved, production will be redistributed across other Mars pet food plants within the European Union.

The Henderson facility

At the same time, Mars confirmed it will close its pet nutrition manufacturing facility in Henderson, North Carolina, by mid-June 2026.

Approximately 150 employees are affected by the decision, with the company stating it will explore internal transfers and provide transitional support.

Spokesperson Lindsay Kordik said, “As a business we are continuously evaluating the needs of our customers, pet parents and their pets, and right now we are redistributing this volume within our U.S. network. Essentially, that’s the rationale that I can share.”

The closure here is not for a specific product demand reason. “It’s really just simplifying our organization overall and right sizing our operations,” she added.

Mars said both decisions reflect a broader strategy to optimise its production network while maintaining supply continuity.

The company has complied with U.S. federal requirements under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act by providing advance notice to employees.

Despite the closures, Mars continues to invest in expanding its global pet food manufacturing capacity.

In Europe, the company announced plans to invest €1 billion (US$1.17 billion) between 2025 and 2026 across sites in France, Poland and Spain, to build a more resilient and efficient production network.

The company has also been linked to a potential new pet food facility in Konaev, where authorities have outlined plans for a plant with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

Mars has indicated it is exploring opportunities aligned with its long-term strategy, but has not confirmed final investment decisions.

Mars Petcare operates multiple facilities globally and remains one of the largest players in the pet food sector.

The restructuring reflects a wider industry trend in which manufacturers are consolidating operations and investing in modern, higher-capacity plants to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet evolving demand in both established and emerging markets.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.