• Mars Snackfood US highlighted innovations through Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act™.
• Mars chocolate giveaway throughout September Free Chocolate Fridays
• SNICKERS® will introduce a new SNICKERS® Fudge Bar in August.
• M&M’S® will unveil a new tropical flavor -- M&M’S® Coconut Chocolate Candies.

Relief Act aims to spread joy across America by giving away as many as seven million full size packages of Mars Chocolate

CHICAGO – At All Candy Expo this year, Mars Snackfood US highlighted its innovations through new products and promotions, while underscoring its values to consumers through the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act™. The Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act is a nationwide effort to bring sweet smiles to millions of Americans via free, full-sized samples of Mars real chocolate, product discounts and coupons, along with the proclamation of Free Chocolate Fridays™. Todd Lachman, president, Mars Snackfood US, shared specifics of the new products and promotions, as well as the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act today at the All Candy Expo.

As part of the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act, now through September, Mars will give away as many as seven million full-size packages of its M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, TWIX®, DOVE®, and 3 MUSKETEERS® brand chocolate in the United States.

TGIFCF!

As part of the campaign, every week through the end of September, Mars will give away a quarter-of-a- million full-size packages of real chocolate on Free Chocolate Fridays. Americans can claim one of 250,000 full-value coupons each Friday beginning at 9 a.m. EST by visiting RealChocolate.com.

Coupons, which will be mailed to consumers, will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and are redeemable for any full-size Mars real chocolate product. The coupons will be limited to one per person, per week.

Response to the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act has been overwhelmingly positive across the country," Lachman said. " It's our way of giving Americans a little relief during challenging times with free chocolate and reminding everyone that if it’s Mars, it’s real chocolate"

Is Your Chocolate Real?

Another reason for people to smile is because Mars remains committed to its industry-leading stance of using only 100 percent cocoa butter in its U.S. chocolate products, even in this challenging environment. As a private, family-owned company, Mars has the freedom to invest in the highest quality, real, authentic chocolate.

Mars Snackfood US chocolate brands do not compromise on the purity and authenticity of chocolate by diluting it with a cocoa butter substitute."Lachman added.

At the All Candy Expo, Mars Snackfood US announced:

This summer, SNICKERS®, the country’s most popular candy bar, will partner with Feeding America. From July through December, SNICKERS® will make a donation to Feeding America for every SNICKERS® Bar purchased. In 2009 alone, Mars estimates that SNICKERS® will donate the equivalent of at least 3 million meals to help feed the hungry.

Transformers®-themed M&M’S® Strawberried Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies and SNICKERS® Nougabot™ Bar roll out this spring to celebrate the June 24 release of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” M&M’S® and SNICKERS® fans are sure to “fall” for the limited-edition product, which will be available from May through July in food, drug, mass and convenience outlets.

SNICKERS® will introduce a new SNICKERS® Fudge Bar in August. This limited-edition bar includes a peanut-packed chocolate fudge layer atop chewy peanut butter nougat, wrapped in delicious milk chocolate.

M&M’S® will unveil a new tropical flavor -- M&M’S® Coconut Chocolate Candies. These limited-edition candies, which hit store shelves in July, are a colorful chocolate twist to coconut candies.

About Mars Snackfood US:

Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars, Incorporated. Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world’s leading brands: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANELTM MX, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPROTM.