Mars Wrigley Australia has further enhanced its local manufacturing credentials with the release of MALTESERS Popcorn, a recipe developed and manufactured at the company’s Ballarat production factory.
Inspired by Australians mixing their beloved MALTESERS and popcorn together for the ultimate screen-time snack, the latest addition to the MALTESERS lineup, currently available exclusively in Australia, is the result of a significant research and development drive at the Ballarat site, which produces more than 2 million MALTESERS per day.
In the last month, the company has also brought M&M’s Brownie to the Australian market as it continues to double down on its commitment to delivering locally made consumer-led innovation. As another new addition to the roster of products produced in Ballarat, the new product releases follow a $30 million investment into the factory last year to bolster home-grown innovation capability.
Commenting on the latest additions to the company’s product lineup, Ben Hill, marketing director at Mars Wrigley Australia, said: “Knowing the global popularity of MALTESERS, we’re particularly proud to develop a new flavour unique to Australia and formulated from scratch in Ballarat.”
“By continuing to invest time and resources into our local manufacturing capabilities, we’re able to firmly establish our Ballarat site as a regional centre of excellence and the beating heart of our confectionery offering in Australia.”
Salil Tipre, senior scientist of Product Development at Mars Wrigley Australia, led the development of the new MALTESERS Popcorn. Commenting on the achievement, he said: “MALTESERS Popcorn is a testament to the incredible work, dedication and innovation of the team in Ballarat, and is just one of the many exciting new products we plan to unveil this year. It’s exciting to be able to bring a world-first product to Aussie consumers, developed and manufactured right here in our own backyard.”