Mars will expand its candy plant in Topeka

Mars Chocolate North America on Thursday announced plans for a $100 million expansion of its candy-making plant in Topeka, which will add 70 full-time jobs.

The development comes a little more than a year after Mars opened its $270 million, 500,000-square-foot plant, where M&M’s and Snickers are made. It was the company’s first new North American plant in 35 years.

Work on the 90,000-square-foot expansion is expected to be completed in late 2016. The company hasn’t determined which candies it will make there.

Mars currently employs 200 workers at the plant.

Mars is receiving economic development incentives.

Mars Chocolate North America is part of Mars Inc., which is based in McLean, Va. The privately owned company has annual net sales of more than $33 billion.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Mars will expand its candy plant in Topeka."