Mars is a family-owned company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, United States that owns 32 consumer brands across 2 categories, and has 3 recorded transactions.[1]
Mars is one of the largest privately held companies in the world, owned by the Mars family since Frank Mars began making sweets in Tacoma in 1911. It publishes no financial statements. Its four segments are snacking, pet nutrition, food and Mars Wrigley, and it agreed to acquire Kellanova in 2024.
Mars agreed to acquire Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash, which would add Pringles and Cheez-It to Mars Snacking and rank among the largest packaged food deals ever. The transaction required clearance in multiple jurisdictions.
Mars renamed Uncle Ben's to Ben's Original and removed the image of an elderly Black man from the packaging, after criticism during the 2020 racial justice protests that the branding drew on a servant stereotype.
Mars acquired the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company for $80 a share in cash, financed in part by Berkshire Hathaway and Goldman Sachs. The deal created Mars Wrigley and made Mars the largest confectionery company in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
What brands does Mars own?
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Mars owns 32 consumer brands tracked here, including Juicy Fruit, IAMS, Nutro, Maltesers, Orbit and Mars.
Is Mars an American company?
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Yes. Mars is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, United States and was founded in 1911.
Who owns Mars?
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Mars is privately held. Mars is one of the largest privately held companies in the world, owned by the Mars family since Frank Mars began making sweets in Tacoma in 1911.
What was Mars' most recent acquisition?
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The most recent completed acquisition recorded here is Ben's Original on 23 September 2020.
Sources (2) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.