At MARS we believe that taking pleasure in food is part of a rich and enjoyable life.
We want health and pleasure to be the foundations of our consumers’ well being.
Included in a healthy diet and lifestyle, all foods can be beneficial.
In France, eating is above all a moment of pleasure, with a strong cultural and social dimension. Consumers are interested first and foremost in the taste of our products. This taste comes from the simple ingredients we use, with minimal processing: sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, concentrated butter, barley malt, eggs, cereals, peanuts, natural vanilla, etc.
As a global player in the food industry, MARS aspires to create a healthier environment by making a significant contribution to healthier lifestyles and moments of sharing, thanks to existing and future products and by encouraging the responsible use of our brands.
The seven pillars of our commitment
1. We improve our recipes
We continue to modify our recipes according to consumers’ needs: less calories, appropriate portions, a variety of products containing whole grains and fruit, etc.
Whenever possible, we remove artificial colors, flavors and preservatives from our products. We have also removed all trans fatty acids from our products – except those naturally found in milk. All our chocolate bars are now made from 100% pure cocoa butter, the guarantee of a quality traditional chocolate.
In the past two years, we have also reduced the salt content of our Uncle Ben's® Express recipes by an average of 30%. Our R&D department’s mission is to maintain the taste our consumers want while ensuring the recipe is superior to our competitors’.
2. We reduce our portions
Our King Size portions are gone and our M&M’S® and Maltesers® bags are all resealable. By reducing our portions, we contribute directly to reducing the intake of energy, fat and sugar through our products. The new Mars® recipe is the perfect illustration of this trend. Instead of replacing the fat by something else, we reduced the portion thanks to a more airy nougat base. The result is a 191 Kcal portion – 9% of the recommended daily allowance.
The M&M'S® Family pack lets consumers share the product or chose to keep some for later.
3. We innovate to diversify our products
Promoting a balanced diet also means extending our range through innovation. Our ice cream bars, for instance, are treats that contain 42% of dairy products for less than 150 Kcal (7% of the recommended daily allowance).
4. We inform consumers
Our consumers want to be able to make informed choices. We are committed to providing clear information on the nutritional value and ingredients of our products.
To do so, we continuously improve nutritional information by explaining how our products are made and with which ingredients, detailing the nutritional intake and the times of consumption.
5. We promote healthy eating and active living
Both on our packaging and in our advertising campaigns, we promote a healthy and varied diet, as well as an active lifestyle.
6. We market products responsibly
We were the first food company to ban advertising targeting children under 12 worldwide. We have our own code of conduct applying to all our marketing activities.
7. We support effective campaigns against obesity
We have conducted several operations promoting exercise for kids. We also partner with government-sponsored campaigns, such as the regional nutrition plan in France.
Since 2007, we support the EPODE EUROPEAN NETWORK. Food industry companies have a role to play in promoting a healthier environment and lifestyles – and we are firmly committed to contributing to this end.
