AMERICAN HERITAGE™ Chocolate Takes Chocolate History to a New Level With Its Debut At M&M'S World® Las Vegas

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Chocolate North America is pleased to announce that American Heritage™ Chocolate—the company's authentic historic chocolate brand—is expanding west and will now be available at the company's iconic M&M'S World® store in Las Vegas.  This is following the brand's recent launch in the M&M'S World® store in New York City in November 2014.  Chocolate lovers and entertainment enthusiasts from around the world will get to learn more about chocolate's rich history and heritage as part of their M&M'S World® experience with American Heritage™ Chocolate's permanent display on the fourth floor. A team of Mars Chocolate History Ambassadors will share hands-on historic chocolate-making demonstrations complete with a sampling of American Heritage™ Chocolate today, April 16, from 9am-3pm PDT.

"We are excited to now be offering American Heritage™ Chocolate at M&M'S World® Las Vegas," said Gail Broadright, Director of Mars Sponsorships, Mars Chocolate North America. "People are fascinated by the story of chocolate's rich history, and what better place to tell that story than at one of the world's favorite chocolate stores!"

"After the successful launch of American Heritage™ Chocolate at M&M'S World® New York City, it made perfect sense to bring the brand to our consumers in Las Vegas," said Ralph Lucarelli, Global Visual Merchandising & Design, Mars Retail Group. "Shoppers at our stores love all things chocolate, so the history aspect of American Heritage™ Chocolate is an added bonus to their overall experience."

American Heritage™ Chocolate was developed from chocolate recipes from the 1750's and will be available in four formats at M&M'S World® for drinking, baking and eating: 

• Chocolate Sticks: Individually-wrapped single serving chocolate sticks
• Chocolate Bites: Individually-wrapped, bite-size chocolates in a keepsake muslin bag
• Chocolate Block: Two chocolate blocks, perfect for grating, chunking, shaving or baking
• Finely Grated Chocolate: Re-sealable canister filled with a bag of finely grated chocolate for drinking or baking

Made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, American Heritage™ Chocolate is an artisanal dark chocolate containing 63% cacao.  American Heritage™ Chocolate is flavored with a blend of spices and ingredients available during colonial times, including cinnamon, nutmeg, chili pepper, orange, anise and vanilla making for a mildly spicy, and slightly sweet treat. The product line is Kosher-certified, made without dairy, wheat, peanuts, or tree nuts, and is made in a facility that does not contain peanuts and tree nuts.

Historic chocolate lovers can also find American Heritage™ Chocolate at over 160 living history and museum gift shops in the United States and Canada or online at www.AmericanHeritageChocolate.com.

About American Heritage™ Chocolate:
In 2003, Mars Incorporated undertook an extensive global research initiative to uncover the true history of chocolate.  A group from Mars led a multi-disciplinary team of more than 115 experts from around the globe who accessed over 200 archives, libraries, museums and private collections to reveal chocolate's origin and history in the Americas. "CHOCOLATE: History, Culture, and Heritage," has contributions from 45 authors, including researchers, culinary chefs, food scientists and historians from leading historic institutions, and was published in 2009 by Wiley.

Out of this research project, the American Heritage Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Chocolate North America to help educate consumers about the history of our nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods…chocolate!  Fashioned off an ingredient list from 1750, American Heritage Chocolate is an authentic historic chocolate made from ingredients available in the 18^th Century. The recipe represents a true taste of chocolate the way our ancestors would have enjoyed it.  The product line celebrates chocolate's important role in the lives of Americans during the 18^th century. Made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, American Heritage Chocolate comes in four unique formats: chocolate sticks, chocolate bites, chocolate baking/grating blocks, and finely grated chocolate drink mix. American Heritage Chocolate is sold exclusively at over 130 fine gift shops at historic sites, museums and historic inns across the USA and Canada.

For a complete listing or to purchase online, please visit our website at www.americanheritagechocolate.com.  Learn more about American Heritage Chocolate at Facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate, on Twitter @Choc_History and NOW on www.Pinterest.com/ChocHistory.

About Mars Retail Group:
Headquartered in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, U.S., the Mars Retail Group creates and builds retail businesses that build the brands of Mars, Incorporated.  The iconic M&M'S World® stores, located in New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, London and Shanghai, currently represent Mars' largest retail business.  MRG also operates the company's Licensing and My M&M'S businesses, as well as the gourmet chocolate business that is sold under the ETHEL M® brand name. Mars Retail Group is a division of Mars, Incorporated.

About M&M'S World®:
Offering a wide range of M&M'S® Brand Chocolate Candies and merchandise, the M&M'S World® stores reflect the huge popularity of M&M'S®, the world's most popular confectionery brand.  The stores' merchandise includes apparel, kitchenware, plush, and glassware, as well as seasonal items and specially-designed M&M'S® branded items that reflect the personalities of the cities -- Las Vegas, New York City, Orlando, Henderson (Nevada), London and Shanghai -- where the stores are located. 

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SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America

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