Did you know that there’s a factory in Antipolo City that has been making candies for several decades and exporting them to different countries in Southeast Asia?
This is the Mars Wrigley factory, which opened in 1999.
Among the products made here are Juicy Fruit gum, Doublemint gum, and Cool Air mint candy.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had the opportunity to see the entire facility on Thursday, July 17, 2025, when it was opened to the press.
The factory tour was one of the activities included in the 60th anniversary celebration of Mars Wrigley’s manufacturing presence in the Philippines.
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Here are some fast facts about Mars Wrigley and its factory in Antipolo:
MARS WRIGLEY FACTORY'S LOCATION
It sits on a property that spans more than 27,000 square meters.
The actual factory itself covers over 7,000 square meters.
This is not Mars Wrigley’s first factory in the Philippines.
It used to manufacture Juicy Fruit and Doublemint gum back in 1965 at its former factory in Pasig.
Construction of the Antipolo factory began in 1997, and it officially opened in 1999.
CANDY MAKER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA
Eighty-six percent of the candies produced at the Antipolo factory are exported to various Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Brunei, and Malaysia.
These products also reach the shores of the Maldives, an island nation in South Asia.
PEP saw firsthand how candies were being wrapped in plastic packaging printed in various languages.
HIGH-TECH CANDY FACILITY
The factory is clean and equipped with state-of-the-art machines that streamline production.
In 2017, the company launched the Robot Project, which helps lift heavy boxes.
In 2024, the factory significantly reduced its reliance on oil by switching to a biomass boiler that uses rice husks and coconut shells as sustainable fuel sources.
This helps eliminate pollution caused by diesel.
According to Factory Director Salazar Maquito, they are already exploring how to use AI to further streamline their production process.
Mars Wrigley philippines' factory workers
Many of the employees have been working for over 20 years.
Factory workers proudly showed the press the stars on their uniforms—
each star symbolizes 10 years of service with the company.
The company is also committed to diversity and inclusion.
In fact, the workforce is evenly split—50% male, 50% female.
60 Years of Mars Wrigley in the Philippines
After the factory tour, a program was held to celebrate 60 years of Mars Wrigley’s manufacturing presence in the Philippines.
Present was Kalpesh Parmar, general manager of Mars Wrigley Asia.
Also making time for the event were (from L) Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Director Rafael Roman T. Cruz, Antipolo City District 2 Councilor James Gatlabayan, Board of Investments Executive Director Maria Corazon H. Dichosa, Mars Wrigley Antipolo Factory Director Salazar Maquito, Mars Wrigley Asia Corporate Affairs Director Lydia Leong, Mars Wrigley Asia General Manager Kalpesh Parmar, Benby Enterprises, Inc. CEO Evelyn Yap, Mars Wrigley Asia Supply Director Neeraj Goel, Mars Wrigley Asia Research and Development Director Yevie Zuhardiansari, and Mars Wrigley Asia Regional Director of Strategy & Digital Commerce Sanjib Bose.
