The World’s Largest Chocolate Factory Has Been Shut Down Due to Coronavirus

Did you know that the world’s largest chocolate factory is located in Veghel? No? Well, now you do. It belongs to Mars, but it will be shut down until next Tuesday.

They need to take measures to ensure that everyone can work safely. The number of employees with coronavirus is rising, as is the number of people with cold symptoms on the shop floor. “If nothing is done, absenteeism could become so high that the factory would be forced to shut down permanently,” says Corporate Affairs Director Roel Govers to AD.

So they are now making sure that employees can keep more distance, changing the way shifts work, wearing protective goggles and carrying out additional cleaning.

Millions

Although the closure is only for a few days, it will cost Mars millions. Govers does not want to say how much, but according to him, everyone’s health comes first.

The factory produces not only Mars bars, but also Milky Way, Snickers, Bounty, Twix, Maltesers and Celebrations. 8.5 billion a year, to be precise.

A World Without Chocolate?

Will we soon be left without chocolate? “No, of course not,” says Govers. “We have a huge supply.” Phew.

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• Six things you didn’t know about chocolate
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