Mars, Incorporated was founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars in Tacoma, Washington, initially producing butter cream candy before expanding into the chocolate bars that define the brand today.
The company generates over $50 billion in annual revenue, selling products in more than 80 countries across confectionery, pet care, and food segments.
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars remains entirely privately held and owned by the Mars family today.
About Mars
| Sector | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Confectionery, Pet Care & Food |
| CEO | Poul Weihrauch |
| Website | mars.com |
| Headquarters | McLean, VA, USA |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Status | Private (Mars Family) |
Mars Founders
Frank C. Mars
Founder (1911)
Forrest E. Mars Sr.
Son of Frank Mars; expanded the company globally and created the M&M's brand
Mars History
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1911
Frank C. Mars founds the company in Tacoma, Washington, producing hand-dipped butter cream candies from his home kitchen.
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1932
Forrest Mars Sr. launches the Mars Bar in the United Kingdom, establishing the company's first major international product and production base.
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1941
M&M's launch in the United States, originally developed to allow soldiers to carry chocolate without melting, quickly becoming a mass-market staple.
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1968
Mars acquires Kal Kan pet food, marking its entry into pet nutrition and laying the groundwork for the Pedigree and Whiskas brands.
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2017
Mars acquires VCA Inc. for $9.1 billion, the largest acquisition in its history, adding a major veterinary hospital network to its pet care business.
FAQs
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Who owns Mars?
Mars, Incorporated is 100% privately owned by the Mars family, descendants of founder Frank C. Mars. The family is one of the wealthiest in the United States. Mars has never gone public and has no outside shareholders. -
Is Mars an American company?
Yes. Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, USA. It was founded in 1911 in Tacoma, Washington. Despite its global operations, the company is American-owned and American-headquartered. -
When did Mars come out?
Mars was founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars in Tacoma, Washington. The Milky Way bar launched in 1923, the Snickers bar in 1930, and M&M's in 1941, establishing Mars as a global confectionery company. -
Who made the Mars logo?
The Mars wordmark and corporate identity were developed internally over decades. The current clean sans-serif logotype used across Mars corporate branding was refined as part of ongoing brand evolution. No single external agency is credited with creating it.