Mars expands Nature’s Bakery with $240M Salt Lake City facility as consumers seek better-for-you growth in convenience channel

Driven by a strong brand for natural and wellness-focused products, both in the convenience channel as well as more broadly in consumer retail demand, Mars opened a $240 million facility in Salt Lake City to produce “over 1 billion incremental Nature’s Bakery bars” in 2026. Steve Gardner, CEO of Nature’s Bakery, along with local dignitaries and other Mars team members, spoke at a ribbon-cutting event earlier this week, noting that the new facility was the brand's biggest investment to date.

Takeaways for convenience services operators

Capacity boost means better product availability: The new facility will more than 1 billion incremental bars in 2026, reducing out-of-stocks and increasing fill rates across channels

Health-forward snacking remains a growth engine: With increasing workplace wellness initiatives and consumer demand for clean-label, plant-based and whole-grain options, Nature’s Bakery aligns well with consumer preferences in offices, schools and healthcare vending

Operators should prepare for innovation and brand support: Mars is investing in smart automation and innovation pipelines, which means new products and marketing campaigns are likely ahead. Convenience services operators can benefit from early engagement with distributors and brokers to stay ahead of seasonal launches and promotions

The 339,000 ft² facility incorporates advanced baking equipment and processes, said bakery director Clint Briske. The new bakery facility is LEED Silver-certified and is expected to lower trucking-related carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 5,700 tons annually. The facility also features smart automation, including innovative systems for ingredient delivery, mixing and cooling.

Mars acquired Nature’s Bakery in March 2021, and since then, the brand has more than doubled in size.

What they are saying

“Nature’s Bakery joined the Mars family in late 2020. And since that time, we’ve accelerated our mission to our mission of nourishing families and baking real ingredients to give snacks on the go for families day in and day out. We’ve also become one of the best-selling and fastest-growing brands in the granola and snack bar category. It’s actually a $6 billion category, and we’re proud to say we’re up at the top of that now and looking forward to even more growth,” Gardner said at the event.

“The snacking category continues to grow in importance in the U.S., and as consumers’ tastes and preferences evolve, and at Mars, we’re focused on accelerating innovation that will shape the future of snacking,” said Blas Maquivar, global president of health and wellness division, in a release. “The Mars local investment in the new Salt Lake City-based Nature’s Bakery facility will enable us to expand the reach of our health and wellness brand, strengthening our focus and introducing more consumers to our better-for-you offering.”