On October 2, Mars Food finalized the acquisition of the MIRACOLI® brand (range of pasta and pasta sauces) and of the cheese associated PAMESELLO® brand, previously owned by Kraft Foods.

“A HEART, A MEAL” AIMS FOR 300,000 FREE MEALS

As a result of World Animal Day, Mars Belgium will be organising a major solidarity campaign for the sixth year running. “A heart, a meal” offers dogs and cats in shelters of the Belgian Blue Cross free meals.

It is going to be a large-scale campaign that will be simultaneously organised in shops from 12 September to 17 October 2012 when purchasing Pedigree® or Whiskas® products, and on Facebook.

Every year, 63,000 cats and dogs* end up in shelters. “A heart, a meal” wants to help improve their welfare.

Consumers have until 17 October this year to break last year's record, namely 297,093 free meals.

For every individual purchase of €10 Pedigree® or Whiskas® products during the campaign, Mars Belgium is donating a meal to a cat or dog of the Belgian Blue Cross, in Forest, Floriffoux or Wommelgem.

As part of "a heart, a meal” famous Dutch and French speaking Belgians will take on the ambassadorship of a cat or dog of the Blue Cross on Facebook. In October they will sponsor a dog on www.facebook.com/PedigreeBelgium in the framework of this campaign. At the same time, they will urge on animal lovers to collect as many meals for the shelters as possible.

By becoming a fan of Pedigree Belgium on Facebook you can also increase the number of meals with a few clicks.

* FPS Public Health - Animal Welfare department - Statistics shelters 2011

For 6 years now, the Belgian Red Cross presents its Solidaritest Awards. These prices reward Belgian businesses which are most active in the area of social solidarity.

These distinctions are given in the premises of the FEB in the presence of the Minister of Finance and of Sustainable Development, Steven Vanackere (CD&V) and are granted by an independent jury based on the results of a questionnaire with parameters determining in which way the companies are involved in a social responsibility programme.

Food company Mars Belgium is partnering with the Red Cross to deliver food aid to the Horn of Africa

Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, 29 March 2012 - Beginning today, the Belgian rice, which arrived in Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, will be distributed as part of an initiative by Mars Belgium and the Red Cross. Employees of Mars Belgium are seeking to do their part in alleviating the crisis brought about by prolonged famine in the Horn of Africa by donating rice to needy families in Kenya. The first two “Belgian” containers carrying 23.2 tons of rice from Olen - enough for about 150,000 meals - has arrived in the Port of Mombasa. The Kenyan Red Cross is now in charge of the local distribution of the rice. More aid shipments are planned for Africa in the coming months, thanks to an intensive mobilisation of the employees of Mars Belgium and other Mars divisions in Europe, as well as the Belgian suppliers and consumers.

Appreciation, pride and fun is the basis of top score of 96%

Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, 28 February 2012 – At the annual ‘Great Place To Work Awards’ organised by Vlerick Management School, Mars Belgium improved its position and won fourth prize for ‘Best Employees in Belgium’ in the ‘less than 500 employees’ category. No less than 96% of the employees describe Mars Belgium as a great place to work. What is remarkable is that Mars Belgium is one of the few companies in the top 10 that also has a factory in Belgium. Furthermore, the Belgian division of one of the fastest growing food companies obtained exceptionally high scores for pride, appreciation and fun as a precondition for involved and happy employees.

The list of the ‘Best Employers in Belgium’ is drawn up by the Great Place to Work Institute in cooperation with the Vlerick Leuven Ghent Management School. Only companies whose organisation is an example in the field of personnel management are eligible for inclusion in the internationally reputed ranking.