Mars Wrigley makes some of the country’s best-known and best-loved candies. Its products include Snickers, M&Ms, Skittles and Twix candy, along with Doublemint and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Those and other iconic products generate annual sales of about $45 billion.

But the snack giant also takes seriously its role as a corporate citizen. In March, the company marked the opening of a new, state-of-the-art research & development facility in Warren County. And as part of an ongoing effort to support innovation in products and processes, the Newark-based company invested more than $70 million to build an innovation studio at its longtime campus in Hackettstown.

According to Mars, the 20,000-square-foot site aims to help increase the speed of innovation and development to meet evolving consumer preferences.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mars Wrigley North America and Global Ice Cream President Anton Vincent said he was “incredibly proud” to mark the opening of the innovation studio and upgraded manufacturing capabilities.

“Mars Wrigley continues to be invested in the State of New Jersey through our legacy of best-in-class innovation and manufacturing, helping to create industry-leading products, innovations, and experiences for our consumers,” Vincent said of the 113-year-old company.

Mars set up shop in Newark during World War II and stayed there until 1958, when it moved operations to Hackettstown.

Three years ago, Mars returned to its Newark roots thanks to a 10-year, $31.5 million tax credit through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The company also received a separate $1.15 million tax credit to renovate and expand its offices and factory in Hackettstown.