Ruqayyah Snyder
Snickers bars, produced by Mars Wrigley Australia, have been a beloved chocolate bar for Australians for over 40 years. In 2020, a TikTok video revealed that the chocolate bars were no longer being manufactured in Australia, sparking outrage and boycott threats from Australians. This was due to the company temporarily moving production to a facility in Jiaxing, China, while their factory in Ballarat, Victoria, underwent necessary upgrades. In 2022, Snickers bars returned to being made in Australia, but the weight of the bars decreased from 50g to 44g, sparking discussions about shrinkflation and the higher costs of manufacturing in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Snickers bars made in Australia | Yes, since 2022 |
| Weight of the bar | 44 grams |
| Previous manufacturing location | China |
| Weight of the bar when made in China | 50 grams |
| Reason for moving manufacturing to China | Upgrades to the Ballarat factory in Victoria |
| Cost of the bar | $2 |
| Company manufacturing Snickers | Mars Wrigley Australia |
| Other Mars Wrigley products made in Australia | M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, Pods |
| Location of factories in Australia | Ballarat and Asquith |
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What You'll Learn
Snickers bars were previously made in China
The shift in production sparked outrage among Australians, with many declaring they would no longer purchase the chocolate bar. A TikTok video by Jeremy Toh revealed that Snickers bars sold in Australia were made in China, and consumers threatened to boycott the brand. The video, which showed a variety of chocolate bars in a Woolworths supermarket, included a voiceover that said, "Did you know your Snickers are no longer made in Australia?".
The company spokesperson said that they continued to support Australian-made products and workers and that no local jobs had been lost as a result of the temporary production move. They also stated that they were proud of their contribution to creating regional jobs and upskilling and training their employees. Mars Wrigley Australia aimed to bring back the capability to produce Snickers bars in Australia in 2021.
In 2022, Snickers bars returned to being manufactured in Australia, specifically at the company's Ballarat factory. However, the locally made chocolates are now 44 grams, compared to the China-made bars, which were 50 grams. The company attributed the weight decrease to "unprecedented cost pressures" and the higher cost of manufacturing in Australia.
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The company moved production back to Australia in 2022
In 2022, Mars Wrigley Australia moved its manufacturing of Snickers bars back to Australia. The company had previously shifted production to a factory in Jiaxing, China, while its Ballarat factory in Victoria underwent an upgrade. The Ballarat factory has been producing some of Australia's most-loved brands, including M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, Snickers, and Pods, for more than 43 years.
The decision to move production back to Australia was made after a TikTok video revealed that Snickers bars sold in Australia were being made in China, causing outrage and boycott threats from consumers. The video, uploaded by Jeremy Toh in May 2021, sparked widespread criticism and concerns about the sacrifice of Australian jobs for higher profits.
Mars Wrigley Australia invested a total of AUD$100 million in new technology and factory upgrades at its Ballarat manufacturing site. Despite the move back to Australia, the Snickers bar has decreased in size, becoming a victim of 'shrinkflation' as the company looks to cut costs. The chocolate bar is now 44 grams, compared to the China-made bars, which were 50 grams.
A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Australia attributed the weight decrease to "unprecedented cost pressures" and affirmed their commitment to creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies. They also emphasized their consistent quality standards across all global manufacturing facilities.
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The chocolate bars are now 12% smaller
In 2021, a TikTok video revealed that Snickers bars sold in Australia were being made in China, sparking outrage and boycotts from Australian consumers. The video, uploaded by Jeremy Toh, showed Snickers bars with packaging that said "made in China". This led to many Australians declaring that they would no longer be buying the chocolate bar.
In response to the backlash, Mars Wrigley Australia, the manufacturer of Snickers bars, moved its production back to Australia in August 2022. However, the company faced unprecedented cost pressures and had to increase prices or reduce the size of the chocolate bars. They chose the latter, and as a result, the Snickers bars made in Australia are now 12% smaller, weighing 44 grams compared to the previously China-made bars, which were 50 grams. This practice of reducing product size instead of increasing prices is known as "shrinkflation".
Despite the decrease in size, the price of Snickers bars in Australia remains at $2. A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Australia attributed the weight decrease to "unprecedented cost pressures" and emphasized that the company continued to absorb cost increases. They also highlighted their commitment to creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies.
The Ballarat factory in Victoria, which produces Snickers bars for the Australian market, has been in operation for over 43 years and is one of two manufacturing sites in the country. The other site is located in Asquith. Mars Wrigley Australia also produces other popular chocolate brands such as M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, and Pods.
While the reduction in size may be disappointing to consumers, it is a result of the company's efforts to balance production costs and continue supplying their chocolate bars to Australian consumers.
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The company cites unprecedented cost pressures as the reason for the change
In 2022, Snickers bars returned to being manufactured in Australia. Previously, the chocolate bars were made in China while the company's Ballarat factory underwent an upgrade. However, the company has cited "unprecedented cost pressures" as the reason for moving production back to Australia.
Mars Wrigley Australia, the company that produces Snickers, invested AUD$100 million in new technology and factory updates at its Ballarat manufacturing site. As a result of these increased costs, the company has had to reduce the weight of its Snickers bars by 6 grams (12%). The chocolate bars now weigh 44 grams, down from 50 grams when they were produced in China.
A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Australia stated that they are facing "unprecedented cost pressures right across our operations, driven by a range of external factors." They also mentioned that they are absorbing cost increases but sometimes need to make changes to product weight to continue supplying their chocolate bars to Australian consumers.
The company's decision to move production back to Australia and the associated cost pressures have resulted in a decrease in the weight of the Snickers bars. This phenomenon, known as "shrinkflation," involves reducing the size or quantity of a product while often keeping the price unchanged. In the case of Snickers bars, the price remains at $2, but the weight has decreased by 12%.
Despite the reduction in weight, Mars Wrigley Australia remains committed to manufacturing its products domestically. The company's Ballarat factory has been producing some of Australia's most-loved brands, including M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, Snickers, and Pods, for more than 43 years.
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Snickers bars are produced by Mars Wrigley Australia
In 2020, a TikTok video by Jeremy Toh revealed that Snickers bars sold in Australia were being made in China, sparking outrage and boycotts from Australian consumers. The video, which showed a box of Snickers with 'made in China' written on the packaging, led to many Australians vowing to no longer purchase the chocolate bar. This was due to the fact that Snickers was previously made locally in Australia and consumers felt that the company was sacrificing Australian jobs in pursuit of higher profits.
In response to the backlash, Mars Wrigley Australia stated that the production of Snickers had been temporarily moved to a facility in Jiaxing, China, while their factory in Ballarat, Victoria, underwent necessary upgrades. The company expressed pride in creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies and stated that they would continue to invest in local manufacturing. They also emphasised their commitment to manufacturing their products domestically, including other popular brands such as Maltesers, M&Ms, Pods, Mars, and Milky Way, which are produced at their Ballarat factory.
In 2022, Mars Wrigley Australia brought the production of Snickers bars back to Australia. However, due to the higher cost of manufacturing in Australia, the chocolate bars were reduced in size by 6 grams, or 12%, to 44 grams per bar. Despite the decrease in weight, the price of the chocolate bar remained at $2 for consumers. This move back to local manufacturing was celebrated by the company, with a spokesperson stating their commitment to producing products locally across their two manufacturing sites in Ballarat and Asquith.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Snickers bars are made in Australia. In 2022, production returned to Australia after a temporary shift to China.
Mars Wrigley Australia, the manufacturer of Snickers, moved production to China while their Ballarat factory in Victoria underwent an upgrade.
A 2021 TikTok video revealed that Snickers bars sold in Australia were made in China, leading some Australians to boycott the brand. The video sparked outrage as people felt the company was sacrificing Australian jobs for higher profits.
Yes, Snickers bars made in Australia weigh 44 grams, while those made in China weighed 50 grams. The company attributed the weight decrease to unprecedented cost pressures.
