What is the total global business volume of Mars?

Mars is a family-owned company with global sales of more than US $30 billion. Mars operates in 71 countries around the world, and our products include brands in six product segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Food, Drinks, Chewing Gum and Plantcare. Our product range of popular brands includes MARS®, SNICKERS®, BALISTO®, M&M'S®, TWIX®, CELEBRATIONS® as well as PEDIGREE® dog food, WHISKAS® cat food and UNCLE BEN'S® rice. For a complete list of our brands, please click here.

What is the reason for the name change from the Masterfoods and Effem brands to Mars?

A single corporate brand name consolidates and leverages the credibility and goodwill that Mars has earned world-wide through its famous product brands. By introducing Mars as a unified corporate brand name, we will reduce complexity, provide one point of reference and build greater awareness for our business. The Mars name reflects our rich history and the creation of our company by the Mars family. That is why unifying our brands under the Mars brand was an obvious choice.

What are the Five Principles? Since when do you have the Five Principles?

The Five Principles are a philosophy of values that leads and guides our company. These Principles are Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom. In one form or another, the Five Principles of Mars have guided our company since its very beginning over 90 years ago. More than a statement of values, they are a set of fundamental beliefs that help to shape and define Mars as a company.

Over the years, they have been reviewed and refined however, in essence, remain unchanged. The Five Principles are the real explanation for our success and the formula for our future. They express our vision of not only of who we are, but where - and what - we want to be. Simply put, they are our inspiration. Put into practice daily by our associates all over the world, the Five Principles have developed into a practical, effective and unique way of doing business that collectively and individually sets Mars apart. For further information please see our Five Principles section.

How does Mars protect the environment?

Mars is committed to producing quality branded products and to contributing to a sustainable environment through local engagement. We not only meet but often exceed environmental regulations in all the countries in which we operate. Our environmental policy is anchored in the Five Principles of Mars - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - which guide every aspect of our business.

Our associates, customers, suppliers and communities expect us to develop, implement and constantly review socially responsible environmental policies. For further information, please browse our Sustainability section.

Mars products taste good, but how do I know that they are of a high quality?

As one of our Five Principles, quality is our goal in everything we set out to achieve: the products we make, the services we provide and the people who make up the Mars team.

For Mars, quality is measurable. Quality means guaranteeing consumers that our brands will live up to their expectations - time after time, without deviation. Quality is the result of unremitting attention to detail at every stage from picking the right raw materials to selecting Mars people who are excited by quality in their work.

We can only deliver the quality we promise consumers if everyone at Mars is focused on this principle. For further information, please see our Commitment to Quality page.

What is Mars position on obesity?

We at Mars are committed to being a part of the solution in helping to address the problem of obesity. We are committed to helping people live healthy and balanced lifestyles. Food is not the only contributing factory of obesity, and confectionery is not the main driver. Striking a balance between 'energy in' and 'energy out' will help achieve weight management. Lifestyles have changed as the conveniences of modern life have lowered the daily calorie need. We are committed to address this issue by offering choices that respond to this change in environment. That is why we adhere to a strict Health and Nutrition Policy Policy that guides us in our product design and labeling. Mars has developed a range of products that permit consumer choice when looking for an occasional treat or reduced calorie options. Additionally, Mars provides nutrition information on its packages and websites to aid in decision making.

Does Mars have a commitment to work together with local communities?

Mars has a strong commitment to help local communities. We are convinced that only shared success is real success. That is why we are highly engaged in our local communities, wherever we are present around the world. This commitment corresponds to our core values, which are fully supported by our associates. You will find more information on our commitments under Corporate Responsibility and in our Mars News Stories

What does Mars do to counter abusive child labor in cocoa farming?

At Mars, we take very seriously our responsibility to the cocoa farming families and we have a genuine commitment to the communities that are touched by our business.
Driven by this commitment, Mars has taken a leadership role in our industry's efforts to ensure a sustainable future for the family farms, for the children who live on those farms, for the communities that rely on those farms and for the ecosystems in which those farms play an important role. Our efforts seek to raise overall farmer incomes and encourage all aspects of sustainable cocoa cultivation.
To attain these goals and in particular to fight child labor, we signed an unprecedented industry protocol determining our commitment and combining our efforts with those of several organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Protocol outlines a series of steps to ensure that cocoa is grown responsibly, free from abusive child labor.
Mars has also taken the initiative of funding a program to enhance educational opportunities for West African children.
These and further steps to address cocoa growing conditions in West Africa are just the beginning of a long-term commitment Mars began in 1998 to improve the well-being of millions of small farmers who grow cocoa.
Click on the links to learn more about our Five Principles, Policies and approach to responsible cocoa farming.

My chocolate bar has light-brown or white spots and looks kind of funny – is it still okay to eat it?

We know this problem with chocolate that has been stored where it is too warm sometimes causing the chocolate coating to change to a lighter color. This is from the cacao butter, a natural ingredient of chocolate, settling on the surface. This may happen during transport or during storage.

It is normal that you do not want to eat a product that looks less than delicious, but normally you can eat it without any problems.

How do I know which of your products contains nuts?

All of our products containing nuts feature the ingredient "nuts" on the declaration of ingredients. The list of ingredients also shows if traces of nuts could have possibly been added during the production flow. The term "may contain traces of nuts" is, for example, presently listed on the wrapper of the Mars Bar. Please contact us in case you have any additional concerns as to whether our products contain nuts.

The chocolate coating on the bar tastes kind of funny, what could be the reason?

You are longing for pure taste – and then… the chocolate bar does not taste the way it should. We do our best to guarantee a consistent, excellent quality. Therefore we only use top-quality ingredients and packing material. In addition, permanent controls ensure that only perfect products leave our plants and intermediate warehouses. However, changes to the flavor cannot be excluded when chocolate goods are stored next to substances emitting strong odors. This can be in stores, during transport or at home.

How can it happen that the best before date (BBD) has expired?

You are looking forward to a fresh chocolate snack and then notice the best before date has expired! We understand your disappointment. We take every precaution to prevent this from happening. All products are fresh and in first-class condition when they leave our plants. Our associates in the field check our products in the stores on a regular basis. However, complete control is not always possible, and the retail trade is finally responsible for the sale. To help consumers control the product themselves, the expiry date is printed on the packaging so you can check the freshness of our products before purchase.

What are emulsifiers/stabilizers?

Emulsifiers/stabilizers belong to a group of additives known as lipoid substances. They make it possible to mix two otherwise immiscible substances, for example fat and water. The emulsifier lecithin we use is of vegetable origin, just like the ingredient mono- and diglyceride. Lecithin is used in the chocolate industry to emulsify even the slightest amounts of water. Additional information on the usage of emulsifiers is available, for example, in Dr. Oetker’s German encyclopedia “Lebensmittel und Ernährung (Food and Nutrition)”, ISBN 3-7670-0399-6.

Does your snackfood contain animal ingredients?

The items listed below do not contain any components of animal origin apart from milk and egg products, and above that, are also free of alcohol:

AMICELLI
BALISTO
BOUNTY
BOUNTY MINIATURES
CELEBRATIONS
MALTESERS
MARS
MARS MANDEL
MARS MINIATURES
MARS PLANETS
MILKY WAY
MILKY WAY CRISPY ROLLS
SNICKERS
SNICKERS CRUNCHER
SNICKERS MINIATURES
TWIX
TWIX MINIATURES

As well as

MARS ICE-CREAM
SNICKERS ICE-CREAM
TWIX ICE-CREAM

Does your snackfood contain alcohol supplements?

We are pleased to inform you that our chocolate products do not contain any alcohol.

The following ice-cream varieties are also alcohol-free:

SNICKERS, MARS and TWIX

How is pet food produced?

Pet owners deciding to feed their animals commercial pet food expect optimal product quality. As the market leader in the production of pet food we share a particular responsibility to both pets and their owners. Our company, certified according to DIN ISO 9001 standards, fully embraces this responsibility and has a comprehensive quality assurance system within its operations. This also involves implementing relevant scientific findings from our research institute, the Waltham Centre for Pet Care and Pet Nutrition, into our pet food at the highest level of quality. We are in a position of combining manufacturing experience of well over 40 years with state-of-the-art technology.
All raw meat materials are exclusively derived from slaughtered animals whose meat has officially been released as fit for human consumption by a state meat inspector The raw materials are delivered after being either immediately frozen or cooled after the slaughtering process to ensure the cold chain is not interrupted before arrival at our company. We also request special quality and consistency certificates from our suppliers for other ingredients such as cereals and vegetables. Genetically-modified foodstuffs are taboo. We exclusively use maize from European countries where it is not permitted to grow genetically-modified maize.
All delivered raw materials are checked according to a detailed sampling plan based on criteria that would indicate any and all risk. For instance, incoming materials are checked for harmful substances, i.e. a possible contamination with heavy metals or pesticides. Other quality properties such as protein, pH-value, mineral and fibre content are documented. Goods not complying with our stringent high standards are rejected.
In manufacturing, we process the materials following recipes researched and developed at the Waltham Centre. We use equally high quality and strictly controlled raw materials in our wet and dry pet food products. The only difference is in the production process. Cans, trays and pouches are exposed to a sterilisation process where they are heated according to exact calculations. For our dry products we apply the extrusion technology. What this means is that moisture is extracted from the ingredients, and by applying high pressure, the product is shaped into kibbles by using a moulding plate. This process creates high temperatures equal to sterilisation. These targeted heating methods sufficiently guarantee the shelf life and sterility of our products.

Which animal raw materials are used in pet food?

The use of animal raw materials is clearly defined by EC Regulation 1774/2002.
The material of animal origin used by pet food manufacturers is exclusively derived from the same animals slaughtered for human consumption. This means the materials are derived from healthy animals officially determined as fit for human consumption.
For the manufacture of pet food, animal by-products of the slaughtering process are used such as lungs, kidneys, livers etc. Some are not necessary in the human diet, or their consumption is no longer common today.

What are the differences in the various pet food products from Mars?

Many pet owners ask themselves what the best is for their animals and what exactly the differences are - except for the price. The explanation is simple: All products coming from Mars are healthy, no matter which brand it is. They contain all the nutrients a pet needs to stay healthy. The differences are, however, in the ingredients. These determine the digestibility of the food, the palatability and finally the price.
What this means is that more expensive products are highly digestible, i.e. the body is able to absorb the food to a large extent. Whereas cheaper food with lower digestibility is excreted undigested in higher amounts, this is not detrimental to the health. However, this aspect is simply not desired by some pet owners. Also, part of the protein content in less expensive products is covered by ingredients such as cereals as opposed to a premium product where more meat is used. This is similar to human food: during the week we have meatballs from a minced meat-egg-meal mix, but on those special occasions tender meat balls are served made from pure minced beef. Certainly these differences are also noticeable in the taste of the different products.

What is the position of Mars regarding genetic engineering?

We do not procure any genetically-modified raw materials or additives.
Our materials are exclusively derived from conventional crops.
Of course, we comply with all legally regulated requirements, including EU Guidelines (EC) 1829/2003 and 1830/2003, effective since April 2004.

What makes Uncle Ben's rice so special?

Due to the unique Uncle Ben's parboiled process, the natural vitamins and minerals of brown rice migrate to the inside of each rice kernel where they are then largely preserved during subsequent processing steps. Moreover, this procedure is also the reason why Uncle Ben's rice is so fluffy and doesn't stick.

What is the story behind "Uncle Ben"?

In the early 1900's there was a black farmer from Texas who harvested his rice with such care that he soon had an excellent reputation for the outstanding quality of his rice. Over time he became legend in and around Houston for producing the best quality rice year after year.
In fact, his rice was of such excellent quality that all other farmers were measured against this rice. When a rice farmer was especially proud of his own rice, he would say: "As good as Uncle Ben's!" This is how the name Uncle Ben's became a symbol for rice of excellent quality, something that remains unchanged to this day.
The real Uncle Ben and his rice were passed down through history by the people living around Houston, Texas. Today, the name Uncle Ben's is known all over the world.

What is the advantage of Seramis?

The porous clay granules can store water and nutrients, which are then released and absorbed by the plant as needed. The Seramis liquid fertiliser supplies plants with all the important nutrients they need for a luscious green or beautiful blossoms. The Seramis water indicator monitors the moisture level of plant's root ball. When the window shows red, the plant needs water. Blue means that the clay granulate has enough stored water.
Most important advantages at a glance:
- 3 times less frequent watering than in soil
- Repotting any time of the year
- Free to choose any container or plant