Mars chocolate wraps $11.7M in Waco

WACO – Mars Chocolate North America will make $11.7 million in capital improvements to its plant located at 1001 Texas Central Pkwy.

The company plans $5.6 million in real property improvements and $6.1 million in personal property improvements, which includes a $4 million enrobing machine used to coat food items with chocolate.

The Waco City Council has approved a business grant that will give the confectionary giant tax breaks on its investment, which will allow Mars to retain 456 full-time jobs, with benefits, at the Waco facility.

City documents show Mars will receive tax breaks totaling $187,500 during the next five years on the increased value of the plant and its contents. The city, meanwhile, will receive about $220,000 in additional tax revenues during that period because of the improvements.

If Mars fails to retain the 456 full-time jobs, “it may be obligated to repay all or a portion of the incentive funds per the agreement,” according to the documents.

Production workers in Waco make 85 percent of the popular Snickers candy bars produced in North America.