DOVE® Dark Chocolate Celebrates The New Year With Celebrity Chef Claire Robinson

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of the New Year, Mars Chocolate North America announces that its DOVE® Brand Dark Chocolate has partnered with celebrity chef Claire Robinson to showcase how to make 5 tasty New Year's resolutions that are easy to keep all year long!  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53595-dove-dark-chocolate-celebrity-chef-claire-robinson-new-years-resolutions

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120113/MM33892)

Many Americans start the year with good intentions to keep resolutions, but a large percentage give up as early as January because of incorrect expectations. DOVE® Dark Chocolate and Claire Robinson want to provide 5 tips and excellent options that can help people enjoy making healthy changes without compromising taste. DOVE® Dark Chocolate's silky smooth creamy taste provides an unparalleled dark chocolate experience.

"Many people resolve each year to give up something they love, but that isn't actually necessary in many cases," says Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America. "We are thrilled to be working with Claire Robinson to kick-off the New Year with resolutions that people will be able to keep year-round without having to sacrifice things like the silky smooth taste of DOVE® Dark Chocolate."

Claire Robinson's Top 5 Tips For Keeping Resolutions In 2012

1. START WITH SMALL STEPS – A common mistake is making drastic resolutions that are difficult to keep and that sacrifice important things.  Choosing dark chocolate as part of a healthier regime doesn't mean you have to sacrifice great taste. DOVE® Dark Chocolate has all of the positive benefits of cocoa flavanols, but still maintains the silky smooth creamy taste the brand is known for.
2. CREATE A BUILT-IN REWARD SYSTEM - To reinforce your long-term goals, implement a built-in reward system that allows you to celebrate the small victories and keeps you motivated.  The portion size of DOVE® Dark Chocolate PROMISES makes it easy to enjoy as a reward every day.
3. ENLIST A FRIEND – Life is about good friendships and accountability. Find a friend who has similar goals and check-in with each other regularly on progress and to find solutions to roadblocks.
4. MAKE YOUR TIME COUNT – From planning a successful workout regimen to getting your errands done, split up your tasks into small, easy-to-accomplish steps.  It may feel like it is taking longer, but you are actually adding space into your life.
5. DO GOOD, FEEL BETTER - Choose a community or philanthropic organization that you are passionate about and get involved.  And remember, by participating in a series of activities over a six-month period—not just a big "one-off" event—will make it easier to keep your commitment and avoid burnout.

As part of the year-long program, Claire will also share her "Top 5" finds for 2012 and a series of delicious, custom recipes featuring her new secret weapon in the kitchen: DOVE® Dark Chocolate. Her first recipe is a Flourless DOVE® Dark Chocolate Cake and is on the brand's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dovechocolate).

In conjunction with the New Year's program, Mars Chocolate North America is pleased to announce that its DOVE® Dark Chocolate brand is now the first mainstream chocolate brand to bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal on its dark chocolate products—reinforcing the company's long-time commitment to cocoa sustainability.  

Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms meet comprehensive standards for sustainable agriculture that protect ecosystems and wildlife, conserve water, reduce agrochemicals, and ensure the rights and well-being of workers, their families and communities.

"I have always been a huge fan of DOVE®'s Dark Chocolate for its silky smooth creamy taste, and how the quality chocolate improves my recipes," says Claire Robinson. "But now through their collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance when you enjoy DOVE®'s Dark Chocolate it not only tastes good, it does good and that is something that is important to me."

About DOVE® Chocolate:                               
DOVE® Chocolate is dedicated to creating the purest, silkiest and highest quality chocolate. Available in large bars, singles bars and iconic PROMISES® individually wrapped treats, DOVE® Chocolate is the perfect guilt-free pleasure any time you need a moment to unwind.  Your moment…your DOVE. DOVE® Dark Chocolate now bears the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal—reinforcing the company's long-time commitment to sustainability. DOVE® Dark Chocolate sources 100% of its cocoa volume from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. When shopping, look for the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ "little green frog" seal on the packaging. The DOVE® Chocolate family of products includes DOVE® Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate, DOVE® Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate, DOVE® Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter, DOVE® Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate Caramel, DOVE® Dark Chocolate Raspberry Swirl, DOVE® Milk Chocolate with Almonds, and DOVE® Dark Chocolate with Almonds.  For more information on DOVE® Chocolate products, please visit www.facebook.com/dovechocolate, www.twitter.com/dove_chocolate or www.dovechocolate.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™.  For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

About the Rainforest Alliance                                               
The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, businesses and consumers worldwide are involved in the Rainforest Alliance's efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America