Mars is proposing to close its petfood factory in Minden, as part of what the company described as regular reviews of its business operations and structure to meet customer and consumer needs, according to Just Food.
A spokesperson for Mars Pet Nutrition said around 110 employees at the Minden site have been informed and would be affected if the proposal proceeds. The company has now entered consultation with the local works council.
If approved, production at the factory is expected to end by late 2026. Minden is one of two Mars Pet Nutrition manufacturing sites in Germany, alongside a wet petfood facility in Verden.
The Minden factory mainly produces dry petfood brands including Perfect Fit, Crave and Pedigree, supplying more than 20 countries across Europe. If the closure goes ahead, production would be transferred to other Mars petfood plants within the EU.
Elsewhere in Europe, Mars has previously announced plans to expand its petfood manufacturing footprint. In September, the company said it would invest EU€1bn in production and research and development during 2025 and 2026, with projects planned in France, Poland and Spain. The company said the investment is intended to build a stronger and more resilient business in Europe.
Earlier this year, Mars was also linked to plans for a new petfood factory in Kazakhstan. According to the country’s Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement with Mars Petcare Kazakhstan for a facility in Konaev, involving investment of more than KZT88.8bn and annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes.
