By . Sophie Jane Evans . It can churn out a staggering 39million M&M's and 14million bite-sized Snickers every day. This is the new $270million (£162million) Mars plant that has been opened to meet America’s demand for chocolate for the next 50 years. The sprawling factory, built south of Topeka in Kansas, is the first plant in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant. Sprawling: This new $270million Mars plant aims to meet the U.S.'s demand for chocolate for the next 50 years . Production: The huge factory, built in Kansas, is the first plant in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant . Popular: It can churn out a staggering 39million M&M's and 14million bite-sized Snickers (pictured) every day . New facility: A man walks into the plant's entrance (left), while a factory worker lifts a box of Snickers (right) It aims to produce enough chocolate to meet U.S. demand for the next half century - churning out millions of M&M's, Snickers, Milky Ways, Twixes and other sweets every day. Dozens of workers in white uniforms and hairnets cheered yesterday as the plant was officially opened by Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback. 'Somebody doesn't put this kind of money in without having a long-term strategy,' said Mr Brownback, who was joined by Victoria Mars, chair of the board for Mars Inc., and Debra Sandler, president of Mars Chocolate North America. 'They see a long-term, solid play.' Colourful: The plant aims to produce enough chocolate to meet America's demand for the next half century . Hard at work: A worker carries a box filled with bite-sized snickers through the plant, built just south of Topeka . Equipment: The factory is able to churn out millions of M&M's, Snickers, Twixes and other sweets every day . As well as producing enough M&M's each day to fill 1.5million fun-sized packs, the 500,000sq ft plant is bringing about 200 jobs to the Topeka area. It was built in the Kansas capital based on its central location, accessible site and work force. Matt Hudak, a market research analyst for Euromonitor International, today expressed support for the plant - saying that chocolate remains an 'affordable luxury' in uncertain economic times. Opening: Dozens of workers in white uniforms and hairnets cheered yesterday as the plant was officially opened by Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback (pictured, left, with Victoria Mars, centre, and Debra Sandler) Workers: The plant was built in the Kansas capital based on its central location, accessible site and work force . High-profile figures: Mr Brownback is pictured with Ms Mars (centre), chairwoman for Mars Inc, and Ms Sandler, president of Mars Chocolate North America. He said the company saw 'a long-term solid play' He said candy makers, such as Mars, can expect to see annual growth in the chocolate market - with sales staying above 3 percent. 'There is little reason to suggest that, all of a sudden in the U.S., people will start to dislike chocolate,' he said. He added that Mars had been good at introducing new products, such as pretzel M&Ms and bite-sized Snickers, to keep consumers interested. Heavy machinery: Due to its enormous size, the 500,000sq ft plant is bringing about 200 jobs to the Topeka area . Protective gear: Matt Hudak, an analyst for market researcher Euromonitor International, said chocolate remains an 'affordable luxury' in uncertain economic times. Above, a worker dressed in overalls at the plant . Quality control: Workers check a chocolate product (left), while wrapped Snickers are pictured on a belt (right) The new chocolate factory is a sign that Mars officials are well aware of the trend and are bullish about future sales. Ms Sandler said nine other plants are currently operating at full capacity, while Ms Mars said the new plant will allow the company to end 'bottlenecks' in getting its products to market. 'I don't want to say to my customers that I can't fulfill their orders,' said Ms Sandler. 'Topeka will allow me the freedom to build the business in the U.S.' The new plant will operate 24 hours a day for five days a week. Operation: The new plant (pictured), which was opened yesterday, operates 24 hours a day for five days a week . Mars Inc.'s New Jersey-based chocolate unit, Mars Chocolate, has more than 16,000 employees in 21 countries. It produces 29 brands that include M&Ms and Snickers, which it says are billion-dollar brands, as well as Milky Way, Twix and 3 Musketeers. The family-owned Mars Inc. also has its Wrigley division, which produces gum, hard candies and chewy candies. It also has non-candy food products, produces pet foods and runs pet hospitals. Before the Kansas facility was built, the company's last new plant in North America was in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Plant has been opened in Kansas to meet America's demand for chocolate .
It churns out a staggering 39million M&M's and 14million Snickers per day .
Sprawling factory is the first in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant .
Workers cheered as it was opened by the Governor of Kansas yesterday .
By . Sophie Jane Evans . It can churn out a staggering 39million M&M's and 14million bite-sized Snickers every day. This is the new $270million (£162million) Mars plant that has been opened to meet America’s demand for chocolate for the next 50 years. The sprawling factory, built south of Topeka in Kansas, is the first plant in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant. Sprawling: This new $270million Mars plant aims to meet the U.S.'s demand for chocolate for the next 50 years . Production: The huge factory, built in Kansas, is the first plant in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant . Popular: It can churn out a staggering 39million M&M's and 14million bite-sized Snickers (pictured) every day . New facility: A man walks into the plant's entrance (left), while a factory worker lifts a box of Snickers (right) It aims to produce enough chocolate to meet U.S. demand for the next half century - churning out millions of M&M's, Snickers, Milky Ways, Twixes and other sweets every day. Dozens of workers in white uniforms and hairnets cheered yesterday as the plant was officially opened by Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback. 'Somebody doesn't put this kind of money in without having a long-term strategy,' said Mr Brownback, who was joined by Victoria Mars, chair of the board for Mars Inc., and Debra Sandler, president of Mars Chocolate North America. 'They see a long-term, solid play.' Colourful: The plant aims to produce enough chocolate to meet America's demand for the next half century . Hard at work: A worker carries a box filled with bite-sized snickers through the plant, built just south of Topeka . Equipment: The factory is able to churn out millions of M&M's, Snickers, Twixes and other sweets every day . As well as producing enough M&M's each day to fill 1.5million fun-sized packs, the 500,000sq ft plant is bringing about 200 jobs to the Topeka area. It was built in the Kansas capital based on its central location, accessible site and work force. Matt Hudak, a market research analyst for Euromonitor International, today expressed support for the plant - saying that chocolate remains an 'affordable luxury' in uncertain economic times. Opening: Dozens of workers in white uniforms and hairnets cheered yesterday as the plant was officially opened by Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback (pictured, left, with Victoria Mars, centre, and Debra Sandler) Workers: The plant was built in the Kansas capital based on its central location, accessible site and work force . High-profile figures: Mr Brownback is pictured with Ms Mars (centre), chairwoman for Mars Inc, and Ms Sandler, president of Mars Chocolate North America. He said the company saw 'a long-term solid play' He said candy makers, such as Mars, can expect to see annual growth in the chocolate market - with sales staying above 3 percent. 'There is little reason to suggest that, all of a sudden in the U.S., people will start to dislike chocolate,' he said. He added that Mars had been good at introducing new products, such as pretzel M&Ms and bite-sized Snickers, to keep consumers interested. Heavy machinery: Due to its enormous size, the 500,000sq ft plant is bringing about 200 jobs to the Topeka area . Protective gear: Matt Hudak, an analyst for market researcher Euromonitor International, said chocolate remains an 'affordable luxury' in uncertain economic times. Above, a worker dressed in overalls at the plant . Quality control: Workers check a chocolate product (left), while wrapped Snickers are pictured on a belt (right) The new chocolate factory is a sign that Mars officials are well aware of the trend and are bullish about future sales. Ms Sandler said nine other plants are currently operating at full capacity, while Ms Mars said the new plant will allow the company to end 'bottlenecks' in getting its products to market. 'I don't want to say to my customers that I can't fulfill their orders,' said Ms Sandler. 'Topeka will allow me the freedom to build the business in the U.S.' The new plant will operate 24 hours a day for five days a week. Operation: The new plant (pictured), which was opened yesterday, operates 24 hours a day for five days a week . Mars Inc.'s New Jersey-based chocolate unit, Mars Chocolate, has more than 16,000 employees in 21 countries. It produces 29 brands that include M&Ms and Snickers, which it says are billion-dollar brands, as well as Milky Way, Twix and 3 Musketeers. The family-owned Mars Inc. also has its Wrigley division, which produces gum, hard candies and chewy candies. It also has non-candy food products, produces pet foods and runs pet hospitals. Before the Kansas facility was built, the company's last new plant in North America was in Cleveland, Tennessee.
staggering 39million M&M's and 14million been opened to meet America’s demand for huge factory, built in Kansas, is the first plant in 35 years to be launched by the candy giant . Popular: It can churn out a staggering 39million hairnets cheered yesterday as the plant was officially opened by Governor of Kansas, Sam