Newark, New Jersey — Mars Wrigley, the company behind some of America’s most recognizable candy brands, is preparing to eliminate 307 jobs as it moves its headquarters from Newark, New Jersey, to Chicago, marking another significant corporate departure from the Garden State.
The company submitted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing with New Jersey officials, confirming that the layoffs are expected to take effect by mid-October. The move will officially end Mars Wrigley’s headquarters operations in Newark after years of doing business in the city.
Mars Wrigley Expands Chicago Headquarters
Mars Wrigley, a division of Mars Incorporated, owns a portfolio of household brands including M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix and Skittles.
The relocation follows the company’s $100 million investment to expand its footprint in Chicago, which now serves as its global headquarters.
The move also strengthens Mars’ growing presence in the city after its acquisition of Kellanova, the Chicago-based snack food company known for brands such as Pringles and Cheez-It.
While corporate operations are leaving New Jersey, the company confirmed that its manufacturing facility in Hackettstown will continue operating, meaning production activities in the state are not expected to be affected.
New Jersey Business Leaders Voice Concern
The announcement has sparked renewed concerns among business leaders about New Jersey’s ability to retain major employers.
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) described the decision as another troubling sign in a growing trend of companies relocating operations elsewhere.
Michele Siekerka, President and CEO of the NJBIA, urged state leaders to take action.
“On a summer Friday when people should be getting excited about the weekend ahead, we are instead hit with the news of another unfortunate exodus of a job creator in New Jersey.”
She added that state officials must send a stronger message to employers.
“We need to wrap our arms around this and do something now that sends a message to our largest employers that things are going to change so we can stop this disturbing trend.”
Corporate Relocations Continue to Impact New Jersey
According to the NJBIA, more than 9,700 jobs have been affected by WARN notices in New Jersey this year, highlighting ongoing challenges for the state’s business environment.
Mars Wrigley’s decision also follows several other high-profile corporate moves announced in recent months.
In June, Samsung revealed plans to relocate its New Jersey headquarters to Texas. Around the same time, ExxonMobil shareholders approved changing the company’s state of incorporation from New Jersey to Texas, ending a connection that stretched back 144 years to its origins as Standard Oil of New Jersey.
These departures have fueled debate over whether New Jersey needs policy changes to remain competitive as companies continue evaluating where to base their operations.
What the Layoffs Mean Going Forward
Although the relocation will eliminate hundreds of corporate positions in Newark, Mars Wrigley remains committed to maintaining its manufacturing presence in New Jersey through its Hackettstown facility.
For employees affected by the headquarters closure, however, the transition represents another significant workforce reduction in a year marked by several major corporate relocations across the state.
As Mars Wrigley expands its operations in Chicago, attention will likely remain focused on how New Jersey responds to the growing number of businesses shifting jobs and headquarters elsewhere.
What do you think about Mars Wrigley’s decision to relocate its headquarters? Should states offer more incentives to keep major employers, or is this simply part of changing business strategies? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
