Mars Company History: From Candy Shop to Global Giant

History of Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest family-owned companies. It is best known for brands like M&M’S, Snickers, Mars, Ben’s Original, Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin.

The business started as a small candy operation in the United States in the early 1900s. Over time, it grew into a global group with strong positions in confectionery, pet food, veterinary care, and convenient meals.

This overview walks through how Mars began, how it grew, and how it changed. It also highlights key facts and business lessons that can help any entrepreneur or business leader.

How It All Started

The story begins with Franklin Clarence “Frank” Mars. As a child, he learned how to hand-dip chocolates from his mother while recovering from polio.

In 1911, he opened the Mars Candy Factory in Tacoma, Washington. That first factory did not last, but it gave him experience in making and selling chocolate.

After the Tacoma business closed, Frank moved back to Minnesota. There he tried again with new products and a new company.

Frank Mars’ early work focused on hand-made candies sold close to home.
He started a new operation in Minneapolis called the Mar-O-Bar Company in 1920.
He sold nougat bars and basket candies under names like MAR-O-BAR and Patricia Chocolates.
In 1923, Frank and his son Forrest developed the Milky Way bar, inspired by malted milkshakes.
Milky Way launched nationally in 1923 and became a huge success in the United States.
The success of Milky Way gave Mars the funds to expand production and distribution.

Early Ups and Downs

The path to success was not smooth. The Tacoma factory struggled against strong local competitors and eventually shut down.

In Minneapolis, the MAR-O-BAR product sold well but did not travel well. Bars broke during shipping, which created quality problems and limited wider growth.

Inside the family, different views on strategy also created tension. These issues shaped how the company evolved.

The first Mars Candy Factory in Tacoma failed and closed after a few years.
The MAR-O-BAR bar showed demand for chocolate bars but had packaging and transport problems.
Frank kept experimenting with recipes that could hold up better and ship further.
Milky Way solved many of these problems and became the company’s first major national hit.
Frank’s son, Forrest Mars Sr., wanted faster international growth and stronger control over operations.
Differences between father and son later led Forrest to leave the U.S. business and start his own company in the United Kingdom.

Big Moments and Growth

Once Milky Way took off, Mars moved into a long period of brand building and expansion. New products helped the company grow in chocolate, then into other foods.

The company also expanded into pet food and later into veterinary care. Strategic acquisitions in the 2000s and 2010s turned Mars into a major player in snacks and pet health.

These moves shifted Mars from a candy maker into a broad-based food and pet-care group.

1929: Mars opened a large plant in Chicago, which became a key base for its chocolate business.
1930: The Snickers bar launched and soon became one of the world’s best-selling chocolate bars.
1932: The 3 Musketeers bar appeared in the U.S., while Forrest Mars in the U.K. created the Mars bar.
Mid-1930s: Forrest also developed Maltesers and entered pet food by acquiring Chappel Brothers, a dog food producer.
Forrest helped create sugar-coated chocolate pieces that became M&M’S, first sold to the U.S. military.
1943: Mars worked with partners to market parboiled rice under what became the Uncle Ben’s brand (now Ben’s Original).
Forrest Mars won control of the U.S. company and merged his overseas businesses with it to form a unified Mars, Incorporated.
1973: Forrest transferred ownership and control to his children Forrest Jr., John, and Jacqueline, who led the next phase of global expansion.
Late 20th century: The company scaled brands such as M&M’S, Snickers, Mars, Maltesers, Skittles, and others around the world.
2007: Mars expanded further into pet food and veterinary services by taking full control of Banfield Pet Hospital and acquiring Nutro Products.
2008: Mars acquired the Wrigley gum business, bringing brands like Extra, Orbit, and Juicy Fruit under Mars.
2010s: Mars Petcare grew rapidly through pet food brands and veterinary clinics, including specialty and emergency hospitals.
2020s: Mars added snack brands such as Kind, Nature’s Bakery, and Trü Frü and agreed to acquire the premium chocolate retailer Hotel Chocolat.

People and Ideas That Shaped Mars, Incorporated

Mars’ history is closely linked to the Mars family. Each generation added new ideas and pushed the company into new areas.

Frank Mars built the first candy businesses and created the conditions for later growth. His son, Forrest Mars Sr., drove international expansion, diversification, and a clear philosophy about how business should work.

Later generations of the family kept the company private, hired professional managers, and codified the values that guide Mars today.

Franklin C. Mars: Founded the first candy operations and developed Milky Way and other early bars.
Forrest Mars Sr.: Created the Mars bar and Maltesers in the U.K., pushed into pet food and rice, and helped create M&M’S.
Forrest Sr. also drove the merger of the U.K. and U.S. businesses in 1964 to form a unified Mars, Incorporated.
Third generation (Forrest Jr., John, Jacqueline): Took control in 1973 and led major global expansion across chocolate, food, and pet care.
They also helped formalize the company’s “Five Principles”: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.
Modern leadership: Today Mars is led by professional executives under family ownership, with a global CEO and a board that includes Mars family members.
The Five Principles and the idea of “mutual benefit” for all stakeholders remain central to how Mars describes its culture.

How Things Changed Over Time

Over more than a century, Mars changed from a local candy maker into a diversified global company. Each new wave of products and acquisitions moved it into new categories.

The balance of the business also changed. Pet food and veterinary services now account for a large share of revenue. At the same time, chocolate and gum brands remain important and widely recognized.

The company also added a stronger focus on sustainability, sourcing, and health, driven by pressure from consumers, regulators, and investors.

Early years focused on chocolate bars sold in the United States.
Expansion into Europe brought new products like the Mars bar and Maltesers.
Entry into pet food created a new line of business that later became a major growth driver.
Development of parboiled rice and convenient meal products added a food and sauces division.
Acquisition of Wrigley expanded Mars into gum, mints, and fruit-flavored candies.
Growth of Mars Petcare, including veterinary hospitals and diagnostics, shifted the company further into services.
Recent acquisitions in healthier snacks and premium chocolate reflect changing consumer tastes.
Mars launched major sustainability and climate programs and rebranded Uncle Ben’s to Ben’s Original to address social concerns.

Where Things Stand Now and What’s Next

Today, Mars is one of the world’s largest privately held companies. It has its global headquarters in McLean, Virginia, with operations in many countries.

The business is organized into several segments, including Snacking (chocolate, gum, and related snacks), Petcare (pet food and veterinary services), and Food & Nutrition (rice and sauces). Petcare and snacks are now major engines of growth.

Looking ahead, Mars is investing in new plants, supply chains, and product innovation. It is also working on sustainability targets around emissions, sourcing, and packaging.

Mars remains fully owned by the Mars family, not by public shareholders.
The company employs well over one hundred thousand people worldwide.
Annual sales are in the tens of billions of dollars, placing Mars among the largest consumer goods companies in the world.
The Petcare division includes brands like Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, and veterinary clinic networks such as Banfield, VCA, and AniCura.
The Snacking division includes M&M’S, Snickers, Mars, Twix, Maltesers, Skittles, and many Wrigley gum brands.
The Food & Nutrition division includes Ben’s Original, Dolmio, and other meal brands.
Mars is focusing on growth in snacks, pet health, science, and digital tools, while also working on climate and sourcing commitments.

Timeline of Mars, Incorporated

This timeline highlights key dates in the company’s development, from a small candy factory to a global food and pet-care group.

You can use it as a quick reference while reading the rest of the article. It shows how each era added new products, markets, and business lines.

Mars, Incorporated

1911

Frank C. Mars opens the Mars Candy Factory in Tacoma, Washington.

Early 1920s

Frank restarts in Minneapolis with the Mar-O-Bar Company and Patricia Chocolates.

1923

Milky Way launches nationally and quickly becomes a top-selling chocolate bar.

1929

New plant opens in Chicago, which becomes a key production hub.

1930

Snickers bar is introduced in the United States.

1932

The 3 Musketeers bar launches in the U.S.; Forrest Mars creates the Mars bar in the U.K.

Mid-1930s

Forrest Mars expands into pet food in the U.K. by acquiring Chappel Brothers.

Early 1940s

M&M’S chocolate candies are developed and supplied to U.S. troops.

1943

Parboiled rice is sold to consumers under what becomes the Uncle Ben’s brand.

1964

Forrest Mars merges his overseas businesses with the U.S. chocolate company to form a unified Mars, Incorporated.

1973

Ownership and control pass from Forrest Mars Sr. to his children Forrest Jr., John, and Jacqueline.

1980s–1990s

Mars expands global sales of chocolate and pet food and continues to build international brands.

2007

Mars strengthens its pet-food and veterinary presence by taking full control of Banfield Pet Hospital and acquiring Nutro Products.

2008

Mars acquires Wrigley, adding a leading gum and confections business.

2010s

Mars Petcare grows through more pet food brands and the addition of specialty veterinary hospitals and diagnostics.

2020

Mars acquires Kind North America and adds more snack brands focused on nuts, grains, and fruit.

Early 2020s

Uncle Ben’s is rebranded as Ben’s Original; Mars also adds premium chocolate and more snack brands.

Today

Mars is a global, family-owned group with large businesses in snacking, pet nutrition, veterinary care, and food & nutrition.

Key Facts About Mars, Incorporated

This section brings together important facts that define Mars as a company. It is useful if you want a quick snapshot without reading the full story.

The focus is on details that are stable and well documented. These points also help compare Mars with other large consumer goods companies.

They can support deeper research or be used as a reference for business and investment analysis.

Company name: Mars, Incorporated.
Type: Privately held, family-owned company.
Founding date: 1911.
Founder: Franklin Clarence Mars.
Country of origin: United States.
Global headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA.
Ownership: Mars family, including the descendants of Frank and Forrest Mars.
Main business segments: Snacking (chocolate, gum, candy, and snack bars), Petcare (pet food, veterinary care, diagnostics), and Food & Nutrition (rice, sauces, and meals).
Famous brands: M&M’S, Snickers, Mars, Milky Way, Twix, Maltesers, Skittles, Extra, Orbit, Wrigley, Ben’s Original, Dolmio, Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, and many veterinary clinic brands.
Workforce: Well over one hundred thousand associates worldwide.
Geographic reach: Operations in many countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
Guiding values: The Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.
Notable capabilities: Strong global brands, large-scale manufacturing, deep experience in pet nutrition, and a wide veterinary network.

Lessons from the Story of Mars, Incorporated

The history of Mars holds practical lessons for business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs. These lessons come from patterns that show up again and again in the company’s story.

They touch on resilience, product focus, diversification, ownership, and culture. Each point links back to specific events in the company’s past.

You can use these ideas to reflect on your own business or career, even if you are working at a much smaller scale.

Failure can be a starting point, not the end. Frank Mars’ first factory closed, but he used what he learned to build a stronger company in a new location.
A single strong product can change everything. Milky Way and later Snickers and M&M’S gave Mars the cash and confidence to expand into new products and markets.
Local innovation can support global growth. The Mars bar and Maltesers were created in the U.K. and later became global brands under a unified company.
Diversification works best when it stays close to core strengths. Mars moved from chocolate into pet food, rice, and then veterinary care, all centered on feeding and caring for people and animals.
Private ownership can create room for long-term thinking. Because Mars is not listed on a stock exchange, it can pursue big investments and acquisitions with a longer time horizon.
Clear values need constant alignment with actions. The Five Principles give Mars a strong cultural story, but the company still faces scrutiny on issues like climate and sourcing, which keeps pressure on execution.
Services can complement products. The move into veterinary hospitals and diagnostics shows how a company built on products can add service businesses that deepen customer relationships.
Brand stewardship never stops. Mars continues to refresh brands, adjust names, and expand into new snack formats to stay relevant as consumer tastes shift.
Global scale brings both advantages and responsibilities. Mars’ size helps with innovation and distribution, but also brings higher expectations from consumers, employees, and regulators.

Sources: Mars, Incorporated, Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia, Reuters, Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal