Mars, Inc., a towering figure in the global market, has transformed from a small candy business into a leading multinational corporation. Founded by Frank C. Mars in 1911 in Tacoma, Washington, the company initially sold buttercream candies from his home. A move to Minneapolis in 1920 marked the beginning of Mars’ success with the Milky Way candy bar, introduced in 1923. The company’s growth continued with the relocation to Chicago in 1929, where Mars launched Snickers and Three Musketeers bars, fueling a period of rapid expansion.

Mars reached the European market in the 1930s, marking its entry into the international stage. The acquisition of Chappell Brothers, Ltd., in 1935 introduced pet care to the company’s portfolio, and the launch of Maltesers and KITEKAT in Europe underscored its growing influence. World War II further expanded Mars’ reach when it began producing M&M’s exclusively for U.S. troops. The public got its first taste of M&M’s in 1945, and by 1958, a new factory in Hackettstown, New Jersey, was established due to the candy’s immense popularity.

The 1960s saw Mars opening manufacturing plants in Europe and establishing the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the U.K., enhancing its pet food research and development. Mars expanded into pet food in the U.S. with the acquisition of Kal Kan Foods in 1968. In 1982, the Mars Center for Cocoa Science was opened in Brazil, addressing sustainability and working conditions in cocoa farming. This initiative was followed by similar facilities in Indonesia and Ecuador.

The 1990s marked Mars’ entry into the Russian and Chinese pet food markets and the acquisition of Seeds of Change, an organic food company. The establishment of Mars Symbioscience in 2005 highlighted the company’s commitment to health and life sciences research. This was further demonstrated by the 2007 acquisition of Banfield Pet Hospital and Nutro Products.

A significant milestone occurred in 2008 when Mars acquired the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company for $23 billion, adding renowned chewing gum brands like Doublemint and Juicy Fruit to its portfolio. However, Mars also faced criticism for racial stereotyping related to its Uncle Ben’s rice brand. In response, the company rebranded to Ben’s Original in 2020, removing the controversial image from its packaging.

Today, Mars, Inc. operates in over 80 countries, with 140,000 employees and annual revenues surpassing $50 billion. Its divisions—Mars Wrigley, Mars Food, Mars Petcare, and Mars Edge—span confectionery, food products, pet care, and nutritional solutions. The company’s recent announcement of a $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, which includes brands like Pringles and Cheez-Its, underscores its ongoing growth and diversification strategy.

From its modest beginnings to its current status as a global powerhouse, Mars, Inc. continues to innovate and expand, leaving an indelible mark on various industries worldwide.