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{{Infobox company
|name   = Mars, Incorporated
|logo   = Mars Inc.svg
|type   = [[Privately held company|Private]]
|industry       = [[Food processing]]
|foundation     = {{start date and age|1911}}<
Newark, NJ
|founder        = [[Franklin Clarence Mars]]
|location       = 6885 Elm Street<br>[[McLean, Virginia|McLean]], [[Virginia]], U.S.
|area_served    = Worldwide
|key_people     = [[Victoria B. Mars]]<br/>([[Chairman]])<br/>Grant F. Reid<br/>([[President]] and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
|products       = [[Confectionery]]: [[Chocolate bar]]s; [[Chewing gum|gum]]; [[candy]]; [[mint (candy)|mints]]; [[beverages]]; [[junk food]]; [[pet food]]<br>Major brands in alphabetical order include: ''[[3 Musketeers (chocolate bar)|3 Musketeers]]''{{•}} ''[[5 (gum)|5]]''{{•}} ''[[Big Red (gum)|Big Red]]''{{•}} ''[[Bounty (chocolate bar)|Bounty]]''{{•}} ''[[Doublemint]]''{{•}} ''[[Dove (chocolate)|Dove/Galaxy]]''{{•}} ''[[Eclipse (breath freshener)|Eclipse]]''{{•}} ''[[Extra (gum)|Extra]]''{{•}} ''[[Freedent]]''{{•}} ''[[Hubba Bubba]]''{{•}} ''[[Juicy Fruit]]''{{•}} ''[[Life Savers]]''{{•}} ''[[M&M's]]''{{•}} ''[[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars]]''{{•}} ''[[Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way]]''{{•}} ''[[Orbit (gum)|Orbit]]''{{•}} ''[[Pedigree Petfoods|Pedigree]]''{{•}} ''[[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]]''{{•}} ''[[Snickers]]''{{•}} ''[[Starburst (candy)|Starburst]]''{{•}} ''[[Wrigley's Spearmint|Spearmint]]''{{•}} ''[[Twix]]''{{•}} ''[[Uncle Ben's|Uncle Ben's Rice]]''{{•}} ''[[Whiskas]]''{{•}} ''[[Winterfresh]]''{{•}} food{{•}} [[pet food|animal products]]
|services       = ((Candy Maker))
|revenue        = {{steady}} {{USD|35 billion|link=yes}} <small>(2017)</small><ref name="Mars Website"/><ref>https://www.forbes.com/largest-private-companies/list/</ref>
|owner          = [[Mars family]]
|num_employees  = 80,000 <small>(2017)</small><ref name="Mars Website">{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/global/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Mars, Inc. |date= |accessdate=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
|subsid         = {{Unbulleted list|[[Wrigley Company]]|[[VCA Animal Hospitals|VCA Inc.]]}}
|slogan =
|homepage       = {{URL|http://www.mars.com/}}
}}

'''Mars''' is an American global manufacturer of [[confectionery]], pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services,  with [[United States dollar|US$]]33 billion in annual sales in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mars on Forbes Lists|publisher=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/mars/s|accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref> and is ranked as the 6th largest [[privately held company]] in the United States by [[Forbes]].<ref>{{cite news | publisher=Forbes.com | title=America's Largest Private Companies | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andreamurphy/2014/11/05/americas-largest-private-companies-2014| date=November 16, 2014 | accessdate=December 28, 2014 | first1=Scott | last1=DeCarlo | first2=Andrea D. | last2=Murphy}}</ref> Headquartered in [[McLean, Virginia|McLean]], [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], US,<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5148376&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on McLean CDP, Virginia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430122937/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5148376&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-04-30 }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20081008112451/http://www.mars.com/global/Who%2BWe%2BAre/Locations/Locations.htm Locations]." Mars, Incorporated. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.</ref> the company is entirely owned by the [[Mars family]]. Mars operates in six business segments around the world: [[Wrigley Company|Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company]] ([[Chicago, Illinois]]), Chocolate ([[Hackettstown, New Jersey]]; to be integrated with Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and based in [[Chicago, Illinois]] from 2017<ref>http://www.wrigley.com/global/press/news-details.aspx?id=7344</ref>), Petcare ([[Brussels|Brussels, Belgium]], [[Poncitlán|Poncitlán and Jalisco, Mexico]]), Food ([[Rancho Dominguez, California]]), Drinks ([[West Chester, Pennsylvania]]), and Symbioscience ([[Germantown, Maryland]]), the company's life sciences division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/global/brands.aspx|title=Brands|work=mars.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/mars-pia/business-overview/mars-symbioscience.aspx|title=Mars Symbioscience|work=mars.com}}</ref>

==History==
Mars is a company known for the confectionery items that it creates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englishteastore.com/mars-history.html |title=History of Mars|website=English Tea Store}}</ref> such as [[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars bars]], [[Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way bars]], [[M&M's]],  [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]], [[Snickers]], and [[Twix]].  They also produce non-confectionery snacks, such as [[Combos]], and other foods, including [[Uncle Ben's|Uncle Ben's Rice]] and pasta sauce brand [[Dolmio]], as well as pet foods, such as [[Pedigree Petfoods|Pedigree]] and [[Whiskas]] brands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/16/Mars-Inc.html|title=Mars, Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Mars, Inc.|website=www.referenceforbusiness.com|access-date=2017-10-23}}</ref>

Orbit gum is among the most popular brands, managed by the Mars subsidiary brand [[Wrigley Company|Wrigley]]. During [[World War II]], Wrigley was selling their eponymous gum only to soldiers, while Orbit was sold to the public. Though abandoned shortly after the war, about 30 years later Orbit made a comeback in America during the chewing gum craze.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrigley.com/global/brands/orbit.aspx |website=Wrigley.com|title=Global Brands: Orbit}}</ref>

[[Franklin Clarence Mars]], whose mother taught him to hand dip candy, sold candy by age 19.<ref name=Mars-history>{{cite web|title=History |url=

http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/mars-pia/our-approach-to-business/story-of-mars.aspx

 |publisher=Mars, Incorporated |accessdate=October 6, 2008 }}</ref> He started the Mars Candy Factory in 1911 with Ethel V. Mars, his second wife, in [[Tacoma, Washington|Newark]], NJ.<ref name="Mars-history" /> This factory produced and sold fresh candy wholesale,<ref name="Mars-history" /> but ultimately the venture failed.<ref>{{cite web |author=Alexander, Morgan |title=Mars in Tacoma|url=http://www.tacomasun.com/2008/05/28/mars-in-tacoma/ |date=May 28, 2008 |work=The Tacoma Sun |accessdate=October 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mars family |url=http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/encyclopaedia!openframeset&frame=Right&Src=/edible.nsf/pages/marsfamily!opendocument |publisher=Practically Edible |accessdate=October 6, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504211100/http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/encyclopaedia%21openframeset%26frame%3DRight%26Src%3D/edible.nsf/pages/marsfamily%21opendocument |archivedate=May 4, 2009 |df= }}</ref>  By 1920, Mars had returned to his home state, [[Minnesota]], where the earliest incarnation of the present day Mars company was founded that year as Mar-O-Bar Co., in [[Minneapolis]]<ref name="oprf">{{cite web|title=Franklin Mars |url=http://www.oprf.com/oprfhist/marsf.htm |publisher=The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest |accessdate=February 25, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010004409/http://oprf.com/oprfhist/marsf.htm |archivedate=October 10, 2010 |df= }}</ref> and later incorporated there as Mars, Incorporated.<ref name="Mars-history" /> [[Forrest Mars, Sr.]], son of Frank and his first wife, Veronica,<ref name="Mars-history" /> was inspired by a popular type of milkshake<ref name="El-Hai">{{cite news|author=El-Hai, Jack|title=Candy Bar Combat|url=http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/March-2007/Candy-Bar-Combat/|date=March 2007|work=Minnesota Monthly|publisher=Greenspring Media Group|accessdate=October 7, 2008}}</ref> in 1923, to introduce the Milky Way bar, advertised as a "chocolate malted milk in a candy bar",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milkywaybar.com/facts/timeline.html |title=Milky Way Brand Timeline |publisher=Milkywaybar.com |date= |accessdate=January 15, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422142740/http://milkywaybar.com/facts/timeline.html |archivedate=April 22, 2007 |df= }}</ref> which became the best-selling candy bar.<ref name="oprf" /> In 1929, Frank moved the company to Bakersfield, California and started full production in a plant which still exists today.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Mars History|url=http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/history.aspx|accessdate=November 22, 2011}}</ref> In 1930, Frank Mars created the Snickers Bar and first sold it in US markets.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.tn/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&pg=PA437&dq=Frank+mars+created+snickers+bars+in+1930&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjD_bSNoNLWAhXCrRoKHRY6BxsQ6AEIIzAA#v=onepage&q=Frank%20mars%20created%20snickers%20bars%20in%201930&f=false|title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313393938|language=en}}</ref> In 1932, Mars introduced the 3 Musketeers bar. The same year, Forrest started Mars Limited in the United Kingdom and launched the [[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars bar]].

Mars is still a family business owned by the [[Mars family]]. The company is famous for its secrecy. A 1993 ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post Magazine]]'' article was a rare raising of the veil, as the reporter was able to see the "M"s being applied to the M&M's, something that "no out-sider had ever before been invited to observe."<ref>{{cite news|author=Brenner, Joel Glenn |title=Planet of the M&M's|work=[[The Washington Post|Washington Post Magazine]]|date=April 12, 1992}}</ref> In 1999, for example, the company did not acknowledge that Forrest Mars, Sr. had died or that he had worked for the company.<ref name=Chong>{{cite news | last = Chong | first = Liz | title = Two Mars staff for trial on fraud charges | pages =  | publisher = TimesOnline | date = August 29, 2005 | url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9070-1754766,00.html | accessdate = August 18, 2007 | location=London}}{{Dead link|date=May 2013}}</ref>

The company published its Principles in Action communication in September 2011. This communication outlines the history of Mars, its legacy as a business committed to its Five Principles, and the company’s goal of putting its Principles into action to make a difference to people and the planet through performance. Encompassing themes of Health and Nutrition, Supply Chain, Operations, Products, and Working at Mars, the Principles in Action communication outlines Mars Incorporated’s targets, progress, and ongoing challenges. It also describes its businesses, including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/global/press-center/press-list/news-releases.aspx?SiteId=94&Id=3209 |website=Mars.com|title=Mars, Incorporated Publishes Principles In Action Communication}}</ref>

Mars, Incorporated has developed a reputation across its leading markets to be an excellent training ground for managers. In the United Kingdom, for instance, many CEOs of large companies learned their trade at Mars, Inc., including former Mars executives  [[Allan Leighton]], the former appointed [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of the [[supermarket]] chain [[Asda]] and then the British postal service Royal Mail, and [[Justin King (businessman)|Justin King]], former CEO of the retailer [[Sainsbury's]]. Recently, the company caught on to that and re-branded their employer brand "Mars&nbsp;— The Ultimate Business School".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/ultimategrads |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120604170109/http://www.mars.com/ultimategrads |dead-url=yes |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |title=The Ultimate Business School |publisher=Mars |date= |accessdate=January 15, 2010 }}</ref>

In the United States, the company has 20 manufacturing facilities in [[Hackettstown, New Jersey]]; [[Albany, Georgia]]; [[Burr Ridge, Illinois]]; [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]; [[Chicago, Illinois]]; and [[Mattoon, Illinois]]; [[Cleveland, Tennessee]]; [[Columbia, South Carolina]]; [[Columbus, Ohio]]; [[Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania]]; [[Greenville, Mississippi]]; [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]] and [[Waco, Texas]]; [[Henderson, Nevada|Henderson]] and [[Reno, Nevada]]; [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]]; [[Joplin, Missouri]]; [[Miami, Oklahoma]]; and [[Galena, Kansas]]. Their newest facility is situated in [[Topeka, Kansas]]. Their Canadian facilities are located in [[Bolton, Ontario|Bolton]] and [[Newmarket, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/global/who-we-are/where-we-operate/canada.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214163926/http://www.mars.com/global/who-we-are/where-we-operate/canada.aspx |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2009-12-14 |website=Mars, Inc. |title=Where we operate: Canada }}</ref>

===Mars Food UK Limited===

''Mars Food UK Limited'' is the name of the British branch of Mars, Inc. The company is based in [[Slough]], UK. Mars brands manufactured for the UK market but not for the US include [[Tunes (confectionery)|Tunes]].{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In 1932, Forrest Mars, Sr., opened what was then Mars (Europe) headquarters, and remains Mars (UK) headquarters in Slough, [[Berkshire]]<ref name=Chong /> on the then-new [[Slough Trading Estate]], after a disagreement with his father, [[Franklin Clarence Mars]]. In this factory, he produced the first [[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars bar]], based on the American [[Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=slough&f=generic_theme%2ehtm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&%3dtheme_record_id=sl%2dsl%2dmars&s=pTgQXfMaqIi |title=Smoke, Steam and (Computer) Chips: Mars&nbsp;— the Chocolate Planet |publisher=Sopse.org.uk |date=May 17, 1932 |accessdate=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

Many brands first created and sold in Britain were later introduced in the U.S., including [[Starburst (confectionery)|Starburst]] (original UK brand name Opal Fruits) and [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]]. The brands [[Twix]], and [[Topic (chocolate bar)|Topic]] were UK based.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

[[Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way]] in Europe and worldwide is known as the [[3 Musketeers (chocolate bar)|3 Musketeers]] in America. Similarly, the [[Snickers]] bar was previously marketed in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]] as Marathon until 1990; in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands, also until 1990; [[Galaxy (chocolate)|Galaxy]] in the Middle East is known as [[Dove (chocolate)|Dove]] in America and worldwide; and [[Starburst (candy)|Starburst]] was known in the UK and Ireland as Opal Fruits until 1998. Chocolate and peanut [[M&M's]] were introduced in 1990.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

====Mars Drinks UK====

Mars Drinks UK, the beverages division of Mars Limited, operates from [[Basingstoke]] in [[Hampshire]] and specializes in office vending machines. Mars Drinks UK comprises the FLAVIA and KLIX brands which offer branded drinks such as the [[Starburst (candy)|Starburst Orange Drink]], the [[Maltesers|Maltesers Hot Chocolate]] and the [[Galaxy (chocolate)|Galaxy]] drinks.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Mars Drinks also produces coffee and the equipment used to make it. In 1982 FLAVIA was created out of the high demand for coffee in the United Kingdom. Initially marketed as ''Dimension 3'' until 1989, FLAVIA was introduced in France and Germany in 1986 and Japan in 1992 then brought to the United States in 1996 and to Canada in 1997. Other products such as cappuccino were introduced in 2002 and tea in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lifestyle.ezinemark.com/flavia-coffee-a-potted-history-16b848870e5.html |title=Flavia coffee a potted history |author=Harland, David |work=EzineMark.com |date=October 19, 2010 |accessdate=May 21, 2012 }}</ref>

===Recent history===

Mars' purchase of Doane Petcare Company in June 2007 significantly increased Mars' position in the U.S. dry pet food category. In addition to these businesses, Mars also operates a chain of premium chocolate shops called [[Ethel M Chocolate Factory|Ethel M Chocolates]].  These shops are an outgrowth of the Ethel M premium chocolate business that Forrest Mars started in Las Vegas in 1980, when he became bored with retirement.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Emperors of Chocolate | author = Brenner, Joel Glenn | publisher = Random House, Inc. | year = 1999 | isbn = 0-679-42190-4  | page = 324 }}</ref>

On April 28, 2008, Mars, Incorporated, together with [[Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated]], announced the buyout of [[Wrigley Company|Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company]], the world's largest chewing gum producer, for $23 billion in an all-cash deal.  The two companies together generate sales in excess of $30 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120935192240148985|title=Mars, Buffett Team Up in Wrigley Bid|last=Karnitschnig|first=Matthew|date=2008-04-28|last2=Berman|first2=Dennis K.|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref>

The company spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying during 2008, almost all of it at [[Patton Boggs]], where it has long been one of the largest lobbying clients. Mars also spent $10,000 at [[Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom]]. In 2009, Mars also hired [[Ernst & Young]] to lobby on corporate and international tax issues, including issues related to tax changes proposed by the [[Obama administration]]. The company spent another $1,655,000 that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/12/mars-lobbying-lifts-off.html |work=Legal Times|title=Lobbying Expenses}}</ref>

In 2014, Mars opened a new $270 million chocolate plant in [[Topeka, Kansas]], the first new plant in the USA in 35 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/27/3370356/270m-chocolate-plant-proof-of.html |title=$270M chocolate plant near Topeka proof of US's sweet tooth |work=The Wichita Eagle |date=March 27, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328234619/http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/27/3370356/270m-chocolate-plant-proof-of.html |archivedate=2014-03-28 |df= }}</ref>

====Mars Petcare====
In February 2003, Mars acquired Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.ukpets.co.uk/?section=Home&sub=News&method=fetch&item=531 |title= Mars Acquires API |publisher= UKPets |date= February 28, 2003 |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> (API, incorporated in 1964) and in 2007 it was renamed Mars Fishcare, Inc. The company manufactures and supplies home [[aquarium]] and [[garden pond|pond]] products.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=6789806 |title= Mars Fishcare Inc. |work= [[Business Week]] |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> Mars Fishcare brands include:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://marsfishcare.com/ |title= Welcome |publisher= MarsFishcare.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API)'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aquariumpharm.com/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= AquariumPharm.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''RENA'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rena.net/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= RENA.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''AQUARIAN'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aquarian.com/ |title= Company History |publisher= AQUARIAN.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> and ''PondCare''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pondcare.com/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= PondCare.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref>

In Australia, the division operates three sites that are located in [[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (established in 1967 for manufacture of wet pet food); [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]], [[New South Wales]] (established in the 1980s for manufacture of dry pet food); and [[Wacol, Queensland|Brisbane]], [[Queensland]] (for manufacture of birdcare products).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mars Petcare |url=http://www.marsgraduates.com.au/marspetcare.aspx |publisher=Mars Incorporated |work=Mars Australia: Graduates 2012 |year=2011 |accessdate=May 21, 2012 }}</ref>

In January 2017, Mars announced the USD$7.7 billion acquisition of Los Angeles-based animal hospital chain [[VCA Animal Hospitals|VCA Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-09/mars-expands-in-pet-care-with-9-1-billion-deal-for-vca|title=Mars Expands in Pet Care With $7.7 Billion Purchase of VCA|website=bloomberg.com |date=2017-01-09 |accessdate=2017-01-10}}</ref>

Mars manufacters the 'Trill" birdseed range.<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5831e/y5831e04.htm]</ref>

==Factories==
[[File:Mars Factory, Veghel, Netherlands, 2013.jpg|{{largethumb}}|Mars factory in [[Veghel]], Netherlands]]
The two factories in Slough were located on Liverpool Road and Dundee Road; the one on Liverpool Road closed in 2007, with Twix production moving to the Netherlands and Starburst production moving to the [[Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/4335967.stm |title=Mars cuts 700 from UK workforce |publisher=BBC News |date=March 10, 2005 |accessdate=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

In 1963 a large factory was opened in [[Veghel]] in the [[Netherlands]]. This factory has currently the biggest production volume of Mars factories and is even one of the biggest chocolate factories in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mars.com/Netherlands/en/Who+we+are.htm |title=Mars Netherlands&nbsp;— Home |publisher=Mars.com |date= |accessdate=January 15, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429043109/http://www.mars.com/Netherlands/en/Who%2Bwe%2Bare.htm |archivedate=April 29, 2009 |df= }}</ref> Most confectionery products for Europe are produced in Slough and Veghel.

The major production plant for Mars confectionery products in Australia is in [[Ballarat]], Victoria.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sobey |first=Emily |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/mars-celebrates-30-years-in-ballarat/1688226.aspx |title=Mars celebrates 30 years in Ballarat |work=The Courier |location=Ballarat, Australia |date=November 25, 2009 |accessdate=February 10, 2010}}</ref>

There is one factory outside of [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]]. It is located in [[Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yelp.com/biz/m-and-m-mars-elizabethtown|title=M & M Mars|date=November 29, 2007|work=Yelp}}</ref>

==Consumer relations==

===Opposition to labeling of genetically engineered ingredients in California===

Throughout 2012, Mars contributed $376,650 to a $46 million political campaign known as "The Coalition Against The Costly Food Labeling Proposition, sponsored by Farmers and Food Producers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_37,_Mandatory_Labeling_of_Genetically_Engineered_Food_(2012)|title=California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food (2012)|publisher=}}</ref> This organization was set up to oppose "[[California Proposition 37, 2012|Proposition 37]]", demanding mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients.

===Removal of artificial ingredients to food portfolio===

In February 2016, Mars stated that it would no longer be using artificial colors in each of its candy products. The company announced that more than 50 of its products would be affected in commitment effort to align with the changing preferences of consumers. The company along with more than 12 others has recently pledged to remove colors of an artificial nature from its products. While it has been said that the use of artificial colors in candy, and other products sold in the marketplace do not pose a threat to human health outright, the use of natural ingredients has grown substantially by the consumers that are purchasing in the marketplace. The company's CEO, Grant F. Reid, stated that "eliminating all artificial colors from the food portfolio is a massive undertaking and one that will take time and hard work to accomplish." The company wanted to assure consumers that the fun and vibrancy that has remained a staple of the brand for years, will not be altered in terms of colors or overall flavor.  The company has anticipated that the new ingredient changes will take up to 5 years, with different formulations existing in various markets within that time frame, before the process is perfected. The company was not the first to recently announce that it would be changing the use of artificial flavors in its products. In 2015, food giant, General Mills proposed an initiative that noted that all of the artificial ingredients it was using in its products would be dropped by 2017. This meant a reformulation of many of the cereals, with alternatives that were more suitable to the palates of humans. A key aspect in that proposed initiative was that the cereal, Trix, would no longer have the blue and green colors forming a new iteration of the cereal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mars-removes-artificial-colors-mms_us_56bc8f98e4b0c3c5505020ba |title=Artificial Colors Being Removed From M&Ms, Skittles, Starburst And More |author=Bratskeir, Kate |work=Huffington Post |date=February 11, 2016 |accessdate=March 22, 2016 }}</ref>

In a press release on the removal of the food dyes, the company wrote that "replacing artificial colors across all our products is a complex task. We expect it will take about five years to develop the full range of alternatives that guarantee the integrity and great taste of the products you know and love, and to go through the process of obtaining regulatory approval for all new ingredients in development.” Mars has frequently used dyes and artificial colors in many of its products over the years. Due to public outcry calling for change, and a petition that gained more than 217,000 signatures that was created by Change.org, the company wanted to bring about a significant change to the way it was viewed by consumers. There have been two different arguments presented about the use of artificial colors in foods. Many studies have shown that their use in food could be linked to illnesses such as ADHD and cancer. There has seemed to be an issue with the use of red 40, yellow 3, yellow 5 and yellow 6 and how they bind to the DNA in humans. Other additives such as Blue 2 have been linked to the cause of brain tumors in rodents and in 1981, Green 3 was found to be a direct link to bladder cancer. Given the fact that the company will be replacing the artificial dyes in its products, the company has also said that consumers should prepare themselves for the transition process in terms of special packaging and colors being used as to indicate that the changes have taken place. It has been said that the company is not likely to stop using coloring entirely, but that the use of artificial coloring will be going away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2781825/what-color-will-mms-be-now-mars-inc-removing-artificial-colors-from-all-candy-products/ |title=What Color Will M&M'S Be Now? - MARS INC. Removing Artificial Colors From All Candy Productse |author=Cox, Danny |work=The Inquisitr News |date=February 9, 2016 |accessdate=March 22, 2016 }}</ref>
Instead Mars will use natural colors like turmeric in India.

==Criticism==
{{Undue weight section|date=November 2017}}
From May 1, 2007, many Mars products made in the UK became unsuitable for [[vegetarians]]. The company announced that it would be using [[whey]] made with animal [[rennet]] (material from a calf's stomach lining, and a byproduct of [[veal]]), instead of using rennet made by microorganisms, in products including Mars, Twix, Snickers, Maltesers, Bounty, Minstrels and Milky Way.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6653175.stm |title=Mars starts using animal products |date=May 14, 2007 |work=BBC News |accessdate=January 15, 2010 }}</ref> The response from many consumers, particularly the [[Vegetarian Society]]'s request for UK vegetarians to register their protests with Mars, generated extensive press and caused the company to abandon the plans shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6673549.stm |title=Mars bars get veggie status back |date=May 20, 2007 |work=BBC News |accessdate=January 15, 2010 }}</ref> Mars switched to all-vegetarian sources in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallop |first=Harry |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/21/nmars21.xml |title=Mars in damage limitation exercise |date=May 21, 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=January 15, 2010 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.masterfoodsconsumercare.co.uk/veg_status.asp |title=Introduction of vegetarian labelling on our leading UK confectionery brands |publisher=Masterfoods Consumercare |date=August 2007 |accessdate=January 15, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2007, Mars came under criticism by [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) for funding laboratory experiments on mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits which the group alleges are inhumane and in violation of the company’s own policies prohibiting experiments on animals.<ref>{{cite news|title=PETA boycotting Mars candy co. over animal cruelty|date=Dec 8, 2007|publisher=Reuters|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/12/08/science-mars-peta-boycott-dc-idUKN0731748320071208?rpc=92|first=Diane|last=Bartz}}</ref>

One study was conducted in collaboration with the [[Salk Institute]] regarding [[angiogenesis]] and [[spatial memory]] in which mice were given an ''[[ad libitum]]'' diet that included [[epicatechin]], plant-derived flavonoid. One of the experiments involved groups of control and experimental animals, the latter of which were housed individually in cages that included a running wheel for optional exercise for two hours a day, the former —also housed individually— did not have access to a running wheel. Another experiment was the classical spatial memory assay—the [[Morris water maze]]—where experimenters had mice to swim in water mixed with white paint that concealed the water depth. Several mice were given daily injections of various substances before being killed and dissected. The study, which Mars contends was legally required in order for the company to make flavonoid-related health claims, showed that the inclusion of epicatechin in the diet improved memory and angiogenesis, and more so if coupled with exercise.<ref>van Praag H, Lucero MJ, Yeo GW, Stecker K, Heivand N, Zhao C, Yip E, Afanador M, Schroeter H, Hammerstone J, Gage FH '' Plant-Derived Flavanol Epicatechin Enhances Angiogenesis and Retention of Spatial Memory in Mice'' J Neuroscience, 27(22):5869-5878, May 30, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.healthycocoa.com/studies/311.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925073354/http://www.healthycocoa.com/studies/311.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2010-09-25 |title=Mars Center For Cocoa Health Science |publisher= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Eyre|first1=Charlotte|title=Mars angers activists over animal testing|url=http://www.confectionerynews.com/Manufacturers/Mars-angers-activists-over-animal-testing|accessdate=February 10, 2015|agency=Confectionery News|date=December 12, 2007}}</ref>

Mars has been criticized for buying cocoa beans from West African farmers who reportedly use unpaid or poorly paid child laborers. In 2009, Mars announced that the company would work towards only purchasing cocoa from suppliers who meet environmental, labor and production standards. [[TransFair USA]], an organization which certifies products as Fair Trade, applauded the move and expressed hope that it would include a provision for fair wages for laborers and farmers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/09/AR2009040903943.html|title=Mars Sets Goal for Sustainable Cocoa Sources| date= April 10, 2009|accessdate= March 4, 2010 | work=The Washington Post | first=Alejandro | last=Lazo}}</ref> In 2010, Mars Inc. received the U.S. Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence.<ref>[https://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/12/153123.htm Remarks at the 12th Annual Secretary's Awards for Corporate Excellence]</ref> In April 2010, Mars launched the MyCocoaPaper initiative, which claims to provide economic opportunities to women and families in [[Indonesia]] by making paper products out of cocoa bark and recycled office paper.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Cocoa Paper Product Line Provides Economic Opportunities For Cocoa Farming Families |url=http://www.mars.com/global/news-and-media/press-releases/news-releases.aspx?SiteId=94&Id=1819 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820051043/http://www.mars.com/global/news-and-media/press-releases/news-releases.aspx?SiteId=94&Id=1819 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |publisher=Mars Inc. |accessdate=March 31, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2011, Mars and [[FLO International|Fairtrade International]] announced an agreement to introduce the first Fairtrade labeled Mars product and to work together to enable farmers to have sustainable livelihoods and substantially increased productivity. The first Mars product to carry the Fairtrade mark will be Maltesers, to appear in stores in 2012 in the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=Maltesers go Fairtrade |date=September 27, 2011 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8789954/Maltesers-go-Fairtrade.html |accessdate= |location=London |first=Harry |last=Wallop}}</ref>

In September 2017, an investigation<ref>[http://www.mightyearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/chocolates_dark_secret_english_web.pdf "Chocolate's Dark Secret"]. September 2017.</ref> conducted by NGO Mighty Earth found that a large amount of the cocoa used in chocolate produced by Mars and other major chocolate companies was grown illegally in [[National park|national parks]] and other protected areas in [[Ivory Coast]] and [[Ghana]].<ref>“[http://49tmko49h46b4e0czy3rlqaye1b.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Olam-Livelihood-Charter-report-2016-2.pdf Olam Livelihood Charter 2016: Equipping smallholders to secure their future],” Olam, 2016.</ref><ref>“[https://www.cargill.com/story/young-cargillians-land-among-marsians Young ‘Cargillians’ land among ‘Marsians’… and go home with new connections, great learnings and happy taste buds,]” By Sacha Bongard, Government Relations Advisor, Cargill, October 06, 2016.</ref> The countries are the world’s two largest [[Cocoa bean|cocoa]] producers.<ref>''“''[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1573521415000160 Cocoa production in West Africa, a review and analysis of recent developments].” ''NJAS Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences.'' 74-75 (2015): 1-7.</ref><ref>“[http://www.wri.org/blog/2015/08/how-much-rainforest-chocolate-bar How Much Rainforest Is in That Chocolate Bar?]” ''World Resources Institute''. 6 August 2015. </ref>

The report documents how in several national parks and other protected areas, 90% or more of the land mass has been converted to cocoa.<ref>“[http://www.tropicalconservationscience.org/ Cocoa farming and primate extirpation inside The Ivory Coast’s protected areas.]” ''Tropical Conservation Science''. 8.1(2015): 95-113. </ref> Less than four percent of Ivory Coast remains densely forested, and the chocolate companies’ laissez-faire approach to sourcing has driven extensive [[deforestation]] in Ghana as well.<ref>“[http://www.etcterra.org/download/161216081210-161214-analyse-facteurs-def-deg-ci-rapport-final.pdf Analyse qualitative des facteurs de déforestation et de dégradation des forêts en Côte d’Ivoire]"; Rapport Final, 10 November 2016</ref> In Ivory Coast, deforestation has pushed [[Chimpanzee|chimpanzees]] into just a few small pockets, and reduced the country’s [[elephant]] population from several hundred thousand to about 200-400.<ref>Covey, R. and McGraw, W. S. “[http://www.eva.mpg.de/fileadmin/content_files/staff/boesch/pdf/prim_cen_distr.pdf Monkeys in a West African bushmeat market: implications for cercopithecid conservation in eastern Liberia.]” ''Tropical Conservation Science''. 7.1 (2014): 115-125.</ref><ref>Marchesi, P., Marchesi, N., Fruth, B., and Boesch, C. “[http://www.eva.mpg.de/fileadmin/content_files/staff/boesch/pdf/prim_cen_distr.pdf Census and Distribution of Chimpanzees in Cote D’Ivoire.]” ''PRIMATES''. 36.4(1995): 591-607.</ref><ref>“[http://wwf.panda.org/?201553/Poaching-contributes-to-forest-elephant-declines-in-Cte-dIvoire-new-numbers-reveal Poaching contributes to forest elephant declines in Côte d’Ivoire, new numbers reveal.]” ''WWF''. 05 September 2011. </ref>

==Products==
Many Mars products are household, famous-name brands. Some of these product lines are manufactured by Mars; others are manufactured by The Wrigley Company.

===Original products===
{{Div col}}
[[File:Bounty-Split.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Bounty (chocolate bar)|Bounty]] bar]]
[[File:Galaxy Minstrels formerly known as Minstrels.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Galaxy Minstrels]]]]
*[[3 Musketeers (chocolate bar)|3 Musketeers]]
*Arj
*[[Bounty (chocolate bar)|Bounty]]
*[[Celebrations (confectionery)|Celebrations]]
*Cirku
*[[CocoaVia]]
*[[Combos]]
*[[Dolmio]]
*[[Dove (chocolate)|Dove]]
*Ebly
*[[Ethel M Chocolate Factory|Ethel M]]
*[[Flavia Beverage Systems|FLAVIA]]
*Fling
*[[Flyte (chocolate bar)|Flyte]]
*[[Galaxy (chocolate)|Galaxy]]
*[[Galaxy Bubbles]]
*[[Galaxy Minstrels]]
*[[goodnessknows]]
*[[Kudos (granola bar)|Kudos]]
[[File:Twix-broken.jpg|thumb|100px|A [[Twix]] bar]]
*[[M-Azing]]
*[[M&M's]]
*[[Maltesers]]
*[[Snickers|Marathon]]
*[[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars]]
*Masterfoods
*[[Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way]]
*[[Galaxy Minstrels|Minstrels]]
*[[Munch (candy bar)|Munch]]
*[[Promite]]
*[[Revels (confectionery)|Revels]]
*[[Seeds of Change]]
*[[Snickers]]
*[[Topic (chocolate bar)|Topic]]
*[[Tracker (granola bar)|Tracker]]
*[[Treets]]
*[[Twix]]
*[[Uncle Ben's|Uncle Ben's Rice]]
{{Div col end}}

====Products manufactured by The Wrigley Company====
{{Div col}}
[[File:5 gum package.jpg|thumb|100px|[[5 (gum)|5 gum]] cobalt packaging]]
*[[5 (gum)]]
*[[Airwaves (gum)|Airwaves]]
*Alpine
*[[Altoids]]
*[[Big Red (gum)|Big Red]]
*[[Bubble Tape]]
*[[Doublemint]]
*[[Eclipse (breath freshener)|Eclipse]]
*[[Eclipse (breath freshener)|Eclipse Ice]]
*[[Excel (gum)|Excel]]
*[[Extra (gum)|Extra]]
*[[Freedent]]
*[[Hubba Bubba]]
*[[Juicy Fruit]]
*[[Life Savers]]
*[[Lockets]]
*[[Orbit (gum)|Orbit]]
*[[Ouch! (gum)|Ouch!]]
*[[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]]
*[[Wrigley's Spearmint|Spearmint]]
*[[Starburst (candy)|Starburst]]
*[[Surpass]]
*[[Tunes (confectionery)|Tunes]]
*[[Wrigley's]]
*[[Winterfresh]]
{{Div col end}}

===Products for pet consumption===
{{Div col}}
[[File:Dog Food.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Pedigree Petfoods|Pedigree]] dry dog food]]
*ADVANCE (Australia and New Zealand only)
*Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
*Buckeye Nutrition
*Cesar
*Chappi
*Dreamies
*[[Eukanuba]]
*Exelpet
*Frolic
*Good-o
*Greenies
*[[Iams]]
*James Wellbeloved
*Kit-e-kat
*My Dog
*Natura
*[[Nutro Products]]
*[[Pedigree Petfoods|Pedigree]]
*Optimum
*Pill Pockets
*[[Royal Canin]]
*Schmackos
*[[Sheba (cat food)|Sheba]]
*[[Spillers]]
*Teasers
*Techni-Cal
*[[Whiskas]]
*Winergy
*Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed DNA Test
{{Div col end}}

===Discontinued product lines===
{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
*[[AquaDrops]]
*[[Cookies &|Bisc &]]
*[[Cookies &]]
*[[Pacers (confectionery)|Pacers]]
*[[PB Max]]
*Royals
*[[Spangles (sweets)|Spangles]]
*[[Summit Cookie Bars]]
*[[Banjo Candy Bar]]
*Bliss Candy Bar

==Services==
*[[Banfield Pet Hospital|Banfield, The Pet Hospital]] (managed by MMI company)
* [[VCA Animal Hospitals|VCA Inc.]] animal hospital chain
*BluePearl: Emergency & Specialty clinics.
*Abaxis: Veterinary laboratory.
*Sound: Veterinary Imagining.
*Wisdom Panel: Pet DNA testing.

==Awards and honors==
The company was named by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine as one of the top 100 companies to work for in 2013, citing the example that employees of the pet food division can take their dogs to work.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2013/snapshots/95.html?iid=bc_lp_arrow1 | work=CNN | title=100 Best Companies to Work For 2013 - Mars - Fortune}}</ref>

The company has made donations to [[Elizabethtown College]], which includes a room sponsored by them and a weekly executive lecture series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://now.etown.edu/index.php/2015/08/13/elizabethtown-college-mm-mars-partner-to-share-executive-lectures/|title=E-town Now   –  Elizabethtown College, M&M Mars partner to share executive lectures|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etown.edu/offices/special-events/spaces.aspx|title=Elizabethtown College -Meeting and Conference Spaces|publisher=}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! Year !! Association !! Category !! Nominee(s) !! Result
|-
|rowspan="1"|2017 || rowspan="1"| Diversity in Media Awards || Marketing Campaign of the Year || ''Maltesers - Dance Floor (TV Advert)'' || {{nom}}
|}

==In the Media==

Various Mars candy bars, including Snickers and Three Musketeers, and the location of Mars Candy Factory on Oak Park Avenue in Chicago, are major motif elements in  <i>[[Never Split Tens]]!</i>, a novel based on the life of pioneering [[Blackjack]]  probability theorist [[Edward O. Thorp]], by gambling writer [[Les Golden]] of Oak Park, Illinois, published in 2017 by Springer.  Thorp grew up several blocks from the Mars Candy Factory.

==See also==
{{Portal|Virginia|Companies|Food}}
* [[Big Chocolate]]
* [[List of food companies]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* [http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405139498.html Stephen Beckett, ''Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use, Fourth Edition'', Wiley-Blackwell, 2008] {{ISBN|978-1-4051-3949-6}}.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.mars.com/}}
*[http://www.masterfoods.com Masterfoods site]
*[http://cocoasustainability.com/ Mars Cocoa Sustainability Initiative]
*{{OpenCorp|Mars}}

Mars Symbioscience Businesses:
*[http://www.marssymbioscience.com/ Symbioscience]
*[http://www.marsbotanical.com Mars Botanical]
{{Clear}}
{{Mars brands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chocolate companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in McLean, Virginia]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1911]]
[[Category:Confectionery companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Food manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Mars brands| ]]
[[Category:Mars family]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the United States]]
[[Category:Multinational food companies]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Virginia]]
[[Category:Privately held companies in the United States]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in New Jersey]]