Mars to combine Chocolate and Wrigley segments

Mars, a global confectionery company, is planning to combine its Chocolate and Wrigley segments to create Mars Wrigley Confectionery.

The company said that the new segment would help them to improve their service to the customer, understand consumer trends, as well as accelerate growth opportunities in the global confectionery category.

Wrigley global president Martin Radvan said: “Mars Wrigley Confectionery brings together two great businesses, strengthening our ability to create win-win relationships with our customers, and improving our opportunities to address dynamic retail and consumer trends together.”

Radvan is also a former employee of Mars, who served the company for 30 years. He will be leading the new Mars Wrigley Confectionery segment as well as guide the segment’s 30,000 Associates operating in about 70 countries.

Mars Wrigley Confectionery segment will feature chocolate brands such as Snickers, M&M’s, Dove, Galaxy, Maltesers, Twix,  in the gum and mints category it has Doublemint, Extra, Orbit, 5, Altoids, Lifesavers, while in the fruity confections category it will have brands like Skittles, and Starburst.

Mars president and CEO Grant Reid said: “We are grateful for the strong and productive partnership we have with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.

“It is a great relationship that has yielded value on both sides.

"We’re equally pleased that sole ownership of Wrigley provides us with an opportunity to rethink how we simplify our Chocolate and Wrigley businesses so that we can bring a more holistic approach to this vibrant category.”

The global hub for the new Mars Wrigley Confectionery will be in Chicago, Illinois.

---

Image: Soem of the brands owned by Mars. Photo: courtesy of Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates.