goodnessKnows® Partners With Reality TV Star Trista Sutter to Give Riders the Ultimate Good-For-You Experience on Denver Bike to Work Day

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Denver's Bike to Work Day today, goodnessKnows® luscious snacksquares is encouraging local residents to ride into a healthy lifestyle during the city's annual event. Available exclusively in Denver and Boulder, goodnessKnows® – a naturally nutritious snack – is teaming up with Colorado resident Trista Sutter and Breathe Yoga & Cycling Studio to celebrate the thousands of commuters committed to reducing their carbon footprint.  Joining other local businesses at the Civic Center Park, the goodnessKnows® experience will include 15 minute power yoga sessions, product giveaways and entertainment to refresh riders throughout the event's morning and evening sessions.

"We're thrilled to have had the opportunity to launch our brand in the Denver market last year," said John Wyckoff, Vice President of Chocolate New Ventures for Mars Chocolate.  "As we expand our availability in Colorado, we wanted to celebrate the healthy lifestyles that Colorado residents lead, so supporting Bike to Work Day was a natural fit."

goodnessKnows® luscious snacksquares get their goodness from slow-roasted whole almonds, tangy fruits and toasted whole grains, and contain no artificial ingredients, colors or flavors. Each serving is nestled in an extraordinary deep chocolate – a special Mars recipe that delivers cocoa flavanols to help support the body's healthy circulation of nutrients and oxygen. Each four-square serving has 150 calories and delivers 2-3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

"As a mother of two committed to living an active and healthy lifestyle, I'm always looking for snack options that are nutritious, great tasting and convenient," said Trista Sutter. "I love goodnessKnows because it is a smart snack choice that fits into my family's on-the-go lifestyle, whether we're at home or on the road."

Riders participating in Bike to Work Day will have the opportunity to try goodnessKnows® luscious snacksquares at the Civic Center breakfast station at 100 W 14th Avenue Parkway, in addition to four other breakfast and evening stations along the official biking route - Denver Crowne Plaza Hotel, REI Flagship Store, The MacSpa and Denver Water. goodnessKnows® currently is available in three delicious flavors:

• Almonds & Berries – For an experience that's fruity and crunchy all at once, this naturally nutritious snack combines delicious red raspberries and tangy blackberries with deep chocolate for a truly satisfying real-food snack, day or night.
• Very Cranberry – Nestled in extraordinary deep chocolate, tangy-sweet cranberries, roasted almonds and toasted rolled oats, Very Cranberry is a perfect snack during your favorite indoor or outdoor activity.
• Fruity Nuts & Grains – Roasted almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and pumpkin seeds are combined with toasted oats, rice and tangy cranberries nestled in extraordinary deep chocolate for the ultimate snacking experience.

goodnessKnows® is available in select Denver King Soopers, Safeway, Whole Food Markets, Sunflower Farmers Markets and Sprouts stores.  Found in the snack bar aisle, a single serving size (4 squares) is available for a suggested retail price of $1.49 and a five-serving multipack carton is available for a suggested retail price of $5.39. For more information, visit www.goodnessknows.com, www.facebook.com/goodnessknows and follow the brand on Twitter www.twitter.com/gksnacksquares.

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.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America