Mars Snacking is moving forward with a major expansion of its global headquarters footprint in Chicago, committing $100 million to new office space and adding 600 positions across the region. The initiative centers on a new office in the Fulton Market District and builds on the company’s existing presence across Chicagoland.
The snacking division of Mars already employs more than 4,000 people in the greater Chicago area and produces over 20 brands locally. It also anchors its Global Innovation Center on Goose Island, underscoring the city’s long-standing role as a base for the company’s research and product development activities. The new investment deepens that relationship by broadening the firm’s office and workforce platform in the market.
As part of the expansion, Mars Snacking will open a new North America regional office hub in the Fulton Market district. The hub is being designed with capacity for more than 1,000 associates, indicating a sizable long-term commitment to that neighborhood’s growing concentration of corporate and creative office users. The project adds to Fulton Market’s evolution from a former industrial area into a key business district.
In addition to the Fulton Market hub, the company’s Accelerator division will establish a new global office hub in downtown Chicago. That operation will be housed in the former global and North America headquarters of Kellanova, bringing a new corporate user into an existing office asset in the city’s central business area. Repurposing that former headquarters space keeps it in active use and reinforces downtown Chicago’s role as a destination for global companies.
The expansion announcement follows Chicagoland’s recognition for corporate relocation and expansion projects for a record 13th consecutive year. Andrew Clarke, Global President of Mars Snacking, noted that Chicago has long served as an important center for the company and emphasized that designating the city as the official home for its North America region and Accelerator division reflects both its history and future plans there.
For the commercial office market, the move brings additional demand for modern space in two of Chicago’s most prominent employment districts while reinforcing the city’s appeal as a location for headquarters and regional office operations. The combination of new jobs, expanded office capacity and continued investment in innovation assets further solidifies Mars Snacking’s role as a major employer in the region.
