Americans Want More Chocolate, Vacation & Sleep, But Less Celebrity News & Reality TV, a New Survey Reveals

HACKETTSOWN, N.J., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Give us more chocolate, vacation and sleep, but hold the celebrity gossip and reality TV.  Mars Chocolate North America today announced the results of a survey commissioned by 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand, which recently launched a tastier 3 MUSKETEERS® Bar, featuring an updated recipe that delivers more chocolate taste.

"The updated 3 MUSKETEERS® bar still has the same fluffy personality," said Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer for Mars Chocolate North America. "But now the bar is packed with even more chocolate taste that consumers love."

To spotlight that richer, more chocolate taste, the 3 MUSKETEERS® "More or Less" survey delved into what else Americans want more – and less – of.  While more than 90 percent of Americans want more chocolate, vacation and sleep, nearly an equal amount of those surveyed (89 percent) indicated that they've had enough of the bicep-bulging, fist pumping, feuding, shore-loving friends. Splitting hairs, slightly more Americans (51 percent) want more face-to-face, real world interactions with their social media contacts.

The 3 MUSKETEERS® survey also found:

• With nearly 1,000 channels available on cable and satellite systems, the majority of Americans want more TV channels (58 percent).
• Two out of three Americans want to watch less dancing celebrities, amateur singers and fashion or culinary hopefuls on TV.
• As crucial and cool as technology has become, slightly more people (54 percent) are interested in having less Gs, Ds, Apps and other technology.
• An average of $200 million is being pumped into summer blockbusters; but, nearly two out of three (66 percent) Americans would like to watch less super hero-themed movies.
• Three out of four Americans would like less fashion weeks, film festivals and award shows.
• Before campaign season official begins, nearly 90 percent of those surveyed would like to see less bickering elephants, donkeys and tea cups. Also, 82 percent of respondents would like to see less politically slanted cable TV shows.
• Nearly 80 percent of Americans want less celebrity gossip.

The 3 MUSKETEERS® "More or Less" survey participants include a representative group of 1,040 men and women ages 18 - 64 years and was conducted by Impulse Research.

More Chocolate Taste, Same Fluffy Personality

Today, 3 MUSKETEERS® continues to offer a delicate, light and fluffy nougat center wrapped in delectable 3 MUSKETEERS® chocolate.  The new recipe adds more satisfying chocolate taste to the delicious nougat and with 45 percent less fat than average of the leading chocolate brands, the new 3 MUSKETEERS® bar still offers a great tasting, lighter way to enjoy chocolate.  

For more information on the new 3 MUSKETEERS® Bar, visit www.3musketeers.com or the 3 MUSKETEERS® Facebook page at www.facebook.com/3musketeers.

About 3 MUSKETEERS®:

For the past 75 years, 3 MUSKETEERS® has provided chocolate lovers a light and fluffy chocolate treat, with 45% less fat than average of the leading chocolate brands. In 2010, 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand expanded its portfolio to include 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand Truffle Crisp, a unique merger of whipped truffle, airy crisp and milk chocolate.  In 2007, 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand added 3 MUSKETEERS® MINT, the perfect combination of delicate mint nougat dipped in dark chocolate. 3 MUSKETEERS® is owned by Mars Chocolate North America, a division of Mars Incorporated, one of the world's leading food manufacturers. Detailed product information is available online at www.3musketeers.com.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated.  In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today.  Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.  More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience –SERAMIS®, CIRKU™ and COCOAVIA™.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America