GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mars Food, which makes Uncle Ben’s Rice and other products at its Greenville plant, will invest $31 million to modernize operations and expand research at the plant.

The company plans to add 25 jobs to the current 226 full-time and 230 contract workers at the 35-year-old operation.

The Mississippi Development Authority is giving Mars $3.25 million to aid the upgrades at the 250,000 square-foot plant. MDA spokesman Jeff Rent said Tuesday that Greenville and Washington County are not offering local property tax breaks.

Apu Mody, the president of Mars Food North America, says the investment will increase production capacity and the research center will aid Mars products worldwide.

Privately-held Mars, based in McLean, Virginia, has yearly sales of more than $33 billion, making food, candy, drinks and pet care products.

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