24 Facts About Mars Inc

Mars Inc operates in four business segments around the world: Mars Inc Wrigley Confectionery, Petcare, Food, and MARS Edge, the company's life sciences division.

Mars Inc started the Mars Candy Factory in 1911 with Ethel V Mars, his second wife, in Tacoma, Washington.

In 1930, Frank Mars Inc created the Snickers bar and first sold it in US markets.

In 2014, Mars Inc opened a new $270 million chocolate plant in Topeka, Kansas, the first new Mars Inc plant in the US in 35 years.

In 2016, Mars Inc announced the merger of its chocolate and Wrigley segments to form a new subsidiary, called Mars Inc Wrigley Confectionery.

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In May 2020, Mars Inc filed a lawsuit against JAB Holding over claims that Jacek Szarzynski, a former JAB Holding executive stole various confidential documents and passed them to the owner of Pret A Manger and Panera Bread.

In November 2020, Mars Inc acquired full ownership of snack food company Kind North America for $5 billion.

Mars Inc Drinks produces coffee and the equipment used to make it.

Forrest Mars Inc started the pet food industry in Europe, and his Mars Inc Candy Company bought Kal Kan.

Forrest Mars Inc changed the name of Kal Kan dog food to Pedigree, and Kal Kan cat food to Whiskas.

In February 2003, Mars acquired Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc and in 2007 it was renamed Mars Fishcare, Inc The company manufactures and supplies home aquarium and pond products.

In 2018, Mars Inc Petcare acquired Genoscoper Laboratories, a Finnish animal molecular diagnostics company, "to form the basis for future practical applications in enabling precision healthcare for pets" under its genetic testing unit, Wisdom Health.

In February 2016, Mars Inc stated that it would no longer be using artificial colors in each of its candy products.

Mars Inc announced that more than 50 of its products would be affected in commitment effort to align with the changing preferences of consumers.

From May 1,2007, many Mars Inc products made in the UK became unsuitable for vegetarians.

Mars Inc announced that it would be using whey made with animal rennet, instead of using rennet made by microorganisms, in products including Mars, Twix, Snickers, Maltesers, Bounty, Minstrels and Milky Way.

The response from many consumers, particularly the Vegetarian Society's request for UK vegetarians to register their protests with Mars Inc, generated extensive press and caused the company to abandon the plans shortly thereafter.

In 2007, Mars Inc came under criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 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.

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, more so if coupled with exercise.

Mars Inc has been criticized for buying cocoa beans from West African farmers who reportedly use unpaid or poorly paid child laborers.

In 2009, Mars Inc announced that the company would work towards only purchasing cocoa from suppliers who meet environmental, labor, and production standards.

In 2010, Mars Inc received the US Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence.

In 2021, Mars Inc was named in a class action lawsuit filed by eight former child slaves from Mali who alleged that the company aided and abetted their enslavement on cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast.

Mars Inc scored a lower rating for "Agrochemical Management", "needs more work on policy and implementation".