goodnessknows® Snack Squares Ushers In New Era Of Snacking

CHICAGO, May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at the National Confectioners Association's Sweets & Snacks Expo, Mars Chocolate North America announced the national launch of goodnessknows® snack squares – a tasty and amazingly satisfying treat that answers America's hunger for both taste and goodness. This newest innovation from Mars is part of a long-term commitment to health and well-being, introducing more choices for consumers to enjoy a variety of delicious Mars brands.

goodnessknows® is crafted with the goodness of whole nuts, real fruits, toasted oats and dark chocolate, and is divided into four snackable squares per serving – all for 150 calories. It contains no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. One individual, two-bite square contains about 40 calories. Each goodnessknows® snack square is nestled in a layer made with dark chocolate, and each serving of goodnessknows® snack squares contains 100 milligrams of naturally-occurring cocoa flavanols. 

"Healthier ways to snack are important right now – and people want it all when it comes to taste, convenience and nutrition," said Kerry Cavanaugh, Senior Brand Director, goodnessknows® Brand. "This puts goodnessknows® squarely at the center of a huge trend and in addition to all of the real ingredients in goodnessknows®, the individual snackable squares, dark chocolate and cocoa flavanols truly sets us apart from other snack bars out there right now."

goodnessknows® snack squares will be available nationwide in August in three flavors: Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate, Apple Almond & Peanut Dark Chocolate, and Peach & Cherry Almond Dark Chocolate.  Depending on retailer, goodnessknows® snacks are $1.59 - $1.99 per serving (four squares) and $4.99 - $6.99 per 5-serving multipack carton.

Leaders in Cocoa Flavanol Research
Mars is a pioneer and leader in cocoa flavanol research, with over 80 patents and the only company to offer Cocoapro®. The Cocoapro® process was developed by the cocoa experts at Mars Symbioscience. This process gently handles unfermented cocoa beans to preserve the naturally occurring flavanols that may be destroyed in conventional cocoa processing. 

Bringing goodnessknows® to the marketplace reinforces Mars Chocolate North America's commitment to providing delicious products that offer a wide array of options so consumers can make the most informed decisions about how treats fit within their personal nutritional goals.  The national launch of goodnessknows® is another important milestone in the company's long-term commitment to health and well-being as Mars Chocolate North America was the first in the industry to have calorie counts displayed prominently on the front of all packaging, the first not to market its chocolate to children and the first to lower levels of saturated fat.

For more information about goodnessknows®, visit goodnessknows.com or Facebook.com/goodnessknows. And, follow us on Twitter at @gksnacksquares.

About 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 objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® and LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars.

Contacts:
Jessica Greco
Mars Chocolate North America
(973) 691-3536
[email protected]

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated

Related Links

http://www.mars.com