Mars wants to invest $ 1 bi until 2020

Sao Paulo-the Mars yesterday announced a plan to invest in Brazil $ 1 billion until 2020. The company wants to modernize its production lines and expand capacity, according to the President of the Chocolate segment and Mars Brazil Food, Philip Fonseca.
"Mars will have an increase of local production of chocolates M&M's, Twix and Snickers. The entire portfolio will be produced in the country and we can pass the export from Brazil, "said the Executive, after the ceremony for the announcement of the plans.
Of that amount, according to Fonseca, around r $ 750 million will be in the State of São Paulo in Brazil. The company has factories in Mogi Mirim and Descalvado (pet foods) and Guararema (chocolate). "The total value, approximately $ 500 million will be directed to the production of chocolates," said.
Data from the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Chocolates, cocoa, peanuts, hard candies and derivatives (Abicab) put the Country as the third largest producer and consumer of chocolate and cocoa in the world. Annual consumption per person is 2.8 kg.
Dogs and cats
The American food maker also has an industrial unit in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, which will require investments of approximately r $ 250 million by 2020. The factory plant rations.
According to the Brazilian Association of the industry of Pet Products (Abinpet), the industry should earn R $ 17.9 billion in 2015, and the sale of foods must represent 67% of the total. The figure represents growth of 7.4% over a year earlier.
In a recent interview to the DCI, the President of Abinpet, José Edson Galvão de France, assessed that the change in the profile of consumption of these products explains the good performance of the sector. "People are spending more with the pets, investing in ration, leaving to give common food for pets, a practice that is still common, especially outside of metropolitan areas," explains.
Last year, Brazil took third place in the ranking of global billing with the pet sector. The u.s. leads the list, followed by the United Kingdom.
Perspective
Philip Fonseca says that plans to invest in Brazil are directly related to the consumption potential. According to him, despite the unfavorable economic framework, the market still has a strong potential.
The company continues registering growth in two segments in which it operates, the Executive emphasized.
"We believe in the potential of the Brazilian market. The country is one of the largest consumer markets. We are announcing a long-term investment because we believe that the economy will stabilize, "concluded Fonseca.