Full Breakdown
Mars Snacking to Close Newark Hub, Cutting 307 Jobs as Operations Shift to Chicago
7/19/2026, 11:55:21 AM
Core Event
Mars Snacking, the confectionery and snack-food division of Mars Incorporated, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) in July 2026 indicating that 307 positions at its Newark headquarters will be eliminated, with an effective date of Oct. 16, 2026. The company will “sunset” the Newark Market Hub by Dec. 2027, consolidating corporate functions in Chicago where a $100 million expansion has been announced.
Historical Ties and Recent Incentives
Mars first opened a Newark facility during World War II, moved operations to Hackettstown in 1958, and returned to Newark six years ago after securing a 10-year, $31.5 million tax credit from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and a $1.15 million credit for Hackettstown renovations. The firm now employs roughly 500 associates in Newark and about 1,000 workers in Hackettstown.
Scale of the Move and Economic Footprint
Mars Snacking reports annual sales of approximately $55 billion and a portfolio that includes M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, Ben’s Original, Dove, Extra, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Cesar, and, after a $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts. The Chicago relocation is projected to add more than 600 jobs to the region, while the Newark closure will affect 307 employees.
Official Corporate and Government Responses
A Mars spokesperson said the decision follows “a comprehensive review of our Mars Snacking North American office footprint” and emphasized the company’s commitment to “support…relocation opportunities and support where appropriate.” The firm also affirmed that its Hackettstown manufacturing, including M&M’s production, will continue uninterrupted. Media representatives for the NJEDA and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka did not immediately respond to comment requests.
Political and Business Community Criticism
New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka called the closure “another unfortunate exodus of a job creator in New Jersey” and urged state leaders to create “predictability and stability” for businesses. She highlighted recent policy changes—including a corporate transit fee, a revised ABC test, and a proposed FY27 tax on employers with 50 or more workers on Medicaid—as factors that could deter investment.
Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25th District) described the layoffs as “entirely avoidable,” stressing the ripple effects on families, local restaurants, and trade workers. He criticized “Trenton Democrats” for ignoring proposals that would make the state more competitive, warning that continued out-migration will leave more New Jerseyans questioning their economic future.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No discrepancy appears in the reported number of jobs (307) or the timeline for the Newark shutdown. However, the lack of comment from the NJEDA and Newark’s mayor leaves a gap in official local government perspectives on the transition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On a summer Friday when people should be getting excited about the weekend ahead, we are instead hit with the news of another unfortunate exodus of a job creator in New Jersey.” — Michele Siekerka, President and CEO, New Jersey Business & Industry Association
- “We need to wrap our arms around this and do something now that sends a message to our largest employers that things are going to change so we can stop this disturbing trend.” — Michele Siekerka
- “It’s a good one for the business community, and we're sitting at the table on that permitting and regulation that is critically important to driving down the actual cost day-to-day of permitting and expansion,” — Michele Siekerka
- “Anthony Bucco, R-25th District, shared, “The news that Mars Wrigley is closing up shop and eliminating more than 300 jobs in Newark is frustrating because of how entirely avoidable this, and every other announcement like this, is.” — Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-25th District
- “Unfortunately, more and more New Jerseyans are being forced to ask those same questions as companies decide to invest in other states instead of ours,” — Sen. Anthony Bucco
What’s Next
Mars Snacking will complete the Newark Market Hub shutdown by Dec. 2027, offering relocation assistance to affected staff. The company plans to maintain manufacturing output at its Hackettstown plant and to expand its Chicago operations, positioning the move as part of a broader North-American growth strategy.
