Dubai – Mars GCC, the leading regional manufacturer of confectionary products in the Middle East, has won the first Dubai Municipality ‘2009 Distinguished Customer’ for category of food establishments that abide by health and safety laws.

The award was presented by HE Salim Mesmar Director of Public Health and Khaled Sherif Alawadi - Director of Food Control Section.

The award criteria were based on Mars GCC knowledge and abidance by health and safety laws in the Emirate of Dubai. Dubai Municipality has regarded Mars GCC continuous collaboration with Dubai Municipality throughout the year among the key selection criteria for the award. Through regular health and safety audits conducted by Dubai Municipality, Mars GCC has proven to uphold the highest standards of health and safety regulations.

Ahmed Bayoumi, General Manager, Mars GCC commented: “Winning this award further demonstrates Mars GCC efforts to constantly raise its performance bar and reflect our commitment to maintaining the highest standards while regularly working together with the Emirate’s regulatory authorities. We’re proud to have won the first Dubai Municipality Distinguished Customer Award for 2009 and we aim to remain at the forefront of the UAE’s leading manufacturers. We at Mars GCC hope we can influence other companies in the Emirates to follow in our path.”

Khaled Sherif Alawadi - Director of Food Control Section said: “What is important for Dubai Municipality is for the winner of the ‘Distinguished Customer Award’ to sustain its excellent health and safety standards and advance it even further in the coming years. We hope that this year’s winner can also be considered a role model for other companies in the Emirates of Dubai that aspire to achieve such an award. We are proud of Mars GCC accomplishment and contribution to the Emirates of Dubai and we are pleased with continuous collaboration the company and its management.

About Mars GCC:

Mars Incorporated is a family owned company that produces some of the world’s leading snack, pet care and food products. Founded in 1911, the company operates in over 75 countries and has 70,000 associates worldwide with global net sales at approximately US $30 billion annually. The company offers some of the world’s most trusted and recognizable brands such as M&M'S, TWIX, MARS, and SNICKERS in snack, PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, CESAR and SHEBA in pet care, UNCLE BEN'S, Dolmio and Abu Souif Rice in food, and Wrigley Spearmint, Extra and Doublemint in gum products.

Mars GCC is the Mars Incorporated unit responsible for the sales and marketing of Mars Inc.'s brands across all the GCC countries with sales to North Africa and the Levant. Established in Dubai in 1993, the local factory manufactures a complete range of GALAXY chocolate for the region in a state-of-the-art chocolate moulding plant.

Driven by five principles Freedom, Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality and Efficiency, Mars is strongly committed to the community in which it operates, creating partnerships with local authorities and organisations, its employees, suppliers, and customers.