Mars to invest $100m in Pune manufacturing unit.

The local arm of American chocolate maker Mars Inc. is set to start domestic production of its chocolate brands with an investment of close to $100 million in a manufacturing unit in Pune. Mars International India Pvt. Ltd. hopes to reduce its dependence on imports by doing this, said top executives at the chocolate company. 'By early next year, we will start production for our brand Snickers and then evaluate the remaining portfolio,' said M.V. Natarajan, general manager, chocolate, at Mars International India. The company's move to localize production comes four years after the maker of M&M’s candies and Twix chocolates started selling chocolate brands Snickers and Galaxy in India. The company that currently sells chocolates in the top 100 cities in the country, is seeking to build scale to satiate consumer demand for the packaged food category that has seen an average of 20% growth every year for the last five years. 'There is no alternative to local manufacturing as we look to build sustainable and scalable business,' Natarajan said.

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