• Company Name: Mars, Incorporated
• Founded: June 23, 1911
• Founder: Frank C. Mars
• Headquarters: McLean
• Industry: Food manufacturing, confectionery, pet food, animal health
• Ownership: Privately held by the Mars family
• CEO: Poul Weihrauch
• Employees: Approximately 150,000 worldwide
• Operations: More than 80 countries
• Official Website: Mars [2]

Mars began in 1911 when Frank C. Mars started making butter cream candies from his home kitchen in Tacoma, Washington. His first major success came with the launch of the Milky Way candy bar in 1923. During the following decades, the company introduced several products that would become global brands.

Some important milestones include:

• 1923: Launch of Milky Way
• 1929: Company moved to Chicago
• 1930: Introduction of Snickers
• 1932: Launch of 3 Musketeers in the U.S.
• 1935: Entry into the pet food business through the acquisition of Chappel Brothers (maker of Chappie dog food)
• 1941: Development of M&M’s chocolate candies
• 2008: Acquisition of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, making Mars one of the world’s largest confectionery companies
• 2024: Acquisition of Kellanova, expanding Mars’ global snacking portfolio. [3]

Mars organizes its operations into four major divisions:

1. Mars Snacking

The largest confectionery business of the company, producing chocolates, candy, gum, and snacks.

Popular brands include:

• M&M’s
• Snickers
• Twix
• Milky Way
• Skittles
• Starburst
• Extra
• Orbit
• Eclipse
• Doublemint

2. Mars Petcare

Mars is the world’s largest pet care company. Its portfolio includes pet nutrition, veterinary hospitals, diagnostics, and pet technology.

Major brands include:

• Pedigree
• Whiskas
• Royal Canin
• IAMS
• Cesar
• Sheba
• Greenies

Mars also owns veterinary service providers such as:

• Banfield Pet Hospital
• VCA Animal Hospitals
• BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital
• Antech Diagnostics

3. Mars Food & Nutrition

This division produces everyday food products including:

• Ben’s Original
• Dolmio
• Seeds of Change
• MasterFoods

4. Mars Edge

A science-based nutrition business focused on health and wellness products. [4]

Mars is guided by its Five Principles, which shape its culture and decision-making:

1. Quality
2. Responsibility
3. Mutuality
4. Efficiency
5. Freedom

These principles have been central to the company for decades and emphasize long-term business sustainability and responsible growth. [5]

Mars manufactures and distributes products worldwide through hundreds of factories, research centers, offices, and veterinary hospitals. Its products are sold in supermarkets, convenience stores, online retailers, veterinary clinics, and pet specialty stores across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. [6]

Mars has invested heavily in sustainability initiatives, including:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Responsible cocoa sourcing
• Sustainable palm oil procurement
• Improving farmer livelihoods
• Recyclable and reusable packaging
• Water stewardship
• Animal welfare initiatives

The company has also committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050. [7]

Although privately held and not required to disclose detailed financial results, Mars is consistently ranked among the world’s largest private companies.

Recent figures indicate:

• Annual revenue of approximately US$65 billion
• Around 150,000 employees
• Operations in over 80 countries [8]

Confectionery

• M&M’s
• Snickers
• Twix
• Milky Way
• Skittles
• Starburst
• Dove/Galaxy
• Bounty
• Mars Bar
• 3 Musketeers

Gum & Mints

• Extra
• Orbit
• Eclipse
• Juicy Fruit
• Doublemint
• Spearmint

Pet Care

• Pedigree
• Whiskas
• Royal Canin
• IAMS
• Cesar
• Sheba
• Greenies

Food

• Ben’s Original
• Dolmio
• MasterFoods
• Seeds of Change [9]

From a small family candy business started in a kitchen, Mars has evolved into one of the world’s most influential food and pet care companies. Despite its global scale, it has remained privately owned by the Mars family for more than a century and is recognized for its portfolio of iconic consumer brands, extensive animal care business, and long-term approach to growth and sustainability. [10]

1. Our History | Mars Global
2. Mars Inc.
3. Mars | Company Overview & News
4. Mars, Incorporated – Wikidata
5. Mars, Incorporated – Wikidata
6. Mars, Incorporated – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Mars, Incorporated
7. Company Information
8. Global Petcare, Food & Nutrition, and Snacking Brands | Mars, Incorporated
9. Global Petcare, Food & Nutrition, and Snacking Brands | Mars, Incorporated
10. Global Petcare, Food & Nutrition, and Snacking Brands | Mars, Incorporated