Leslie Massey
Snickers, the world's bestselling candy bar, has been manufactured in various countries, including China, Egypt, and the Netherlands. In 2020, it was revealed that Snickers production for the Australian market had shifted from Australia to China, sparking outrage among some Australians who threatened to boycott the product. The shift was due to necessary upgrades in the Ballarat factory in Victoria, Australia. Mars Wrigley Australia, the company that produces Snickers, promised to bring production back to Australia, which it did in 2022. However, the locally-made chocolates were reduced in weight to 44 grams, compared to the China-made ones, which were 50 grams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Manufactured by | Mars Wrigley Australia |
| Manufacturing sites | Ballarat, Victoria; Asquith |
| Weight of bars | 44 grams |
| Previous manufacturing site | Jiaxing, China |
| Reason for change | Upgrades at Ballarat factory |
| Weight of China-made bars | 50 grams |
| Weight change | 12% smaller |
| Price | $2 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Snickers production moved to China
In 2020, Snickers' production was temporarily moved from Australia to China. The chocolate bars were manufactured at a factory in Jiaxing, near Shanghai, while the company's Ballarat factory in Victoria, Australia, underwent upgrades. This shift in production was met with criticism from some Australians, who expressed their dissatisfaction through social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook.
Mars Wrigley Australia, the company that produces Snickers, stated that no local jobs were lost during this transition. They emphasised their commitment to creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies. The company also highlighted their consistent quality standards across all their global manufacturing facilities.
The decision to temporarily move Snickers' production to China was driven by the need to upgrade the Ballarat factory in Victoria. Mars Wrigley Australia invested a total of AUD$100 million in new technology and factory updates. During this period, the company continued to manufacture other products at their Ballarat facility, including classic ball-shaped Maltesers, M&Ms, Mars, and Milky Way.
In August 2022, Mars Wrigley Australia brought Snickers production back to their Ballarat factory. However, the locally made chocolates were reduced in weight to 44 grams, compared to the China-made ones, which were 50 grams. The company attributed this weight decrease to "unprecedented cost pressures" and the higher cost of manufacturing in Australia.
While some Australians were unhappy about the temporary shift in production to China, others chose to continue supporting the iconic chocolate bar. Despite the controversy, Snickers remains a popular and well-loved brand in Australia and worldwide, with annual global sales exceeding $380 million.
Potash Deposits in Australia: Where Are They Found?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ballarat factory upgrades
In 2020, Snickers' parent company, Mars Wrigley Australia, announced that it was investing in significant upgrades to its Ballarat manufacturing site in Victoria. The company temporarily moved Snickers production to its Jiaxing facility near Shanghai, China, during this period. The upgrades aimed to improve technology and factory updates, with Mars Wrigley Australia investing a total of AUD$100 million.
The Ballarat factory has been a pivotal site for Mars Wrigley Australia, producing some of the country's most-loved brands, including M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, Snickers, and Pods, for over 43 years. The factory is located in regional Victoria and has been a source of regional job creation and economic contribution.
The decision to upgrade the Ballarat factory was met with some criticism from Australians who discovered that their beloved chocolate bars were being made in China during the upgrade period. A viral TikTok video in 2021 sparked outrage, with many declaring they would boycott the brand. However, Mars Wrigley maintained its commitment to manufacturing its products domestically and bringing production back to Australia.
The Ballarat factory upgrades were completed in August 2022, and Snickers production returned to Australia. However, the higher cost of manufacturing locally resulted in a decrease in the weight of the chocolate bars. The locally made chocolates now weigh 44 grams, compared to the China-made ones, which were 50 grams.
Despite the weight reduction, Mars Wrigley Australia remains a proud Australian manufacturer, committed to making its products locally across its two manufacturing sites in Ballarat and Asquith. The company continues to invest in local manufacturing, ensuring that Australians can continue to enjoy their favourite chocolate bars, albeit in a slightly smaller size.
Water Buffalo: Australia's Unlikely Residents
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Smaller bar size
In 2022, Mars Wrigley Australia returned its Snickers production to Australia after a temporary shift to a factory in Jiaxing, China, while the Ballarat factory in Victoria underwent upgrades. However, the company faced criticism for shrinking the bar size from 50 grams to 44 grams, despite retaining the $2 price tag. This reduction in size represents a 12% decrease in weight, exemplifying a trend of "shrinkflation".
The decision to reduce the bar size was attributed to "unprecedented cost pressures" across operations, driven by various external factors. Mars Wrigley Australia emphasised their commitment to absorbing cost increases and ensuring the continued supply of their chocolate bars to Australian consumers. They also highlighted their pride in manufacturing products locally across their two sites in Ballarat and Asquith.
The weight reduction of Snickers bars is not an isolated incident, as the product's weight has decreased over time globally. Before 2009, Snickers bars in the UK weighed 62.5 grams, which was reduced to 58 grams in 2009 and further decreased to 48 grams in 2013. Similarly, in the United States, the listed weight in 2018 was 52.7 grams. The weight fluctuations reflect the need to adapt to changing consumer preferences and nutritional guidelines, and cost considerations.
The shift back to local manufacturing in Australia was met with mixed reactions. While some Australians expressed outrage and declared they would no longer purchase the chocolate bar, others welcomed the return of production to the country. The initial outrage was sparked by a TikTok video in 2021, revealing that Snickers bars were being made in China. The video caused a boycott of the product, with some customers accusing Mars Wrigley of sacrificing Australian jobs in favour of higher profits.
Snickers, a chocolate bar consisting of nougat, peanuts, and caramel coated in milk chocolate, was introduced by Mars Inc. in 1930 and named after the Mars family's favourite horse. It has since become a popular confectionery product, widely considered the bestselling candy bar globally, with annual sales exceeding $380 million. The brand has expanded its product line to include various flavours and formats, such as mini, dark chocolate, white chocolate, ice cream bars, and several nut and protein-enhanced versions.
Australian Police Check: Application Process Simplified
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Public backlash
In 2020, it was revealed that Snickers bars were no longer being manufactured in Australia, sparking a public backlash from Australians. The iconic chocolate bar was instead being made in China, with some products also manufactured in Egypt and the Netherlands. This discovery was made by customers and shared on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Tumblr, with many Australians declaring they would no longer purchase the chocolate bar.
The backlash was directed at Mars Wrigley Australia, the company that produces Snickers. Some customers accused the company of sacrificing Australian jobs in the pursuit of higher profits, especially during a time when 600,000 jobs were lost across Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company responded by stating that no local jobs had been lost and that they remained committed to manufacturing their products domestically, including investing in local manufacturing and upgrading their Australian facilities. They also stated that they were proud of creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies.
The public backlash also extended to the quality of the chocolate bars. Some customers claimed that the Snickers bars made overseas tasted nothing like the original Australian bars. This was a concern for a chocolate bar that was considered one of Australia's most beloved chocolates. There was also criticism of the company's decision to reduce the weight of the chocolate bars when they moved production back to Australia in 2022, with the bars shrinking from 50 grams to 44 grams while still costing $2. The company attributed this change to "unprecedented cost pressures" and the higher cost of manufacturing in Australia.
Literacy's Impact on Australia's Standard of Living
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Production returns to Australia
In 2020, Snickers' Australian fans were outraged to discover that production of the chocolate bar had been moved from Australia to China. A viral TikTok video revealed that the chocolate bars were no longer being manufactured in Australia, leading some Australians to declare that they would boycott the brand.
Snickers, which is produced by Mars Wrigley Australia, the country's second-largest confectionery manufacturer, had shifted production to a factory in Jiaxing, near Shanghai, while its Ballarat factory in Victoria underwent upgrades. The company stated that no local jobs had been lost and that they remained committed to manufacturing their products in Australia.
In August 2022, Mars Wrigley Australia announced that they had brought Snickers production back to their Ballarat factory. However, the locally made chocolates were now smaller, weighing only 44 grams compared to the China-made ones, which weighed 50 grams. The company attributed the weight decrease to ""unprecedented cost pressures" and the higher cost of manufacturing in Australia.
The return of Snickers production to Australia is part of the company's commitment to local manufacturing. A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Australia stated that they were "a proud Australian manufacturer" and that they made their products locally across their two manufacturing sites in Ballarat and Asquith. The Ballarat factory has been producing some of Australia's most-loved chocolate brands, including M&M's, Maltesers, Mars, and Pods, for more than 43 years.
Applying for an Australian ETA as a Couple: Joint or Separate?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Snickers bars were originally made in Australia but production was moved to China in the late 2010s. In 2022, production returned to Australia.
The company's factory in Ballarat, Victoria was undergoing an upgrade. A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Australia said that they continued to support Australian-made products and workers and that no local jobs had been lost.
The company is proud of its role in creating regional jobs and contributing to local economies. A spokesperson said: "As a proud Australian manufacturer, where possible we make our products locally across our two manufacturing sites in Ballarat and Asquith."
