Mars Chocolate North America Goes 'Nuts' To Celebrate The 50th Anniversary Of Albany (GA) Plant

ALBANY, Ga., Oct. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- If you've enjoyed a Mars Chocolate North America product in the last 50 years that features peanuts or peanut butter – whether it be SNICKERS^® Bars, SNICKERS^® Ice Cream Bars, M&M'S^® Peanut Butter Candies, TWIX^® PB Bars, or DOVE® Peanut Butter Promises – chances are those peanuts have been roasted at the company's Albany, Ga., facility.

Situated in the heart of the "peanut state," the Mars Chocolate North America Albany facility first opened its doors in 1964 and specialized in sourcing peanuts from local shellers to be used in SNICKERS® Bars and M&M'S® Brand Peanut candies.  Today the facility employs approximately 175 associates who roast high-quality peanuts -- 90 percent of which are sourced from Georgia -- for a variety of Mars' iconic brands. The site also produces all varieties of COMBOS® Brand Variety Snacks and MARATHON® Energy Bars.

The golden anniversary celebration was led by Frank Mars, Member of the Mars Board of Directors and Global President of Mars Symbioscience.  Guests included current and former associates, as well as Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop and Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. 

This is just the latest milestone for Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business that started in the Tacoma, Wash., kitchen of Frank C. Mars in 1911, where he made the first Mars candies.  Over the last century, the Mars business has blossomed, guided by five key principles – quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom. Today more than 75,000 Mars associates put the company's principles in action in 74 countries daily, where they make some of the world's most beloved brands including M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, SKITTLES® and UNCLE BEN'S®.

"Mars has been proud to call Albany home for the past 50 years," said Mack Phillips, Albany Site Director, Mars Chocolate North America. "The people of this community have always treated us like family, which is why we look forward to roasting Georgia peanuts right here for the next 50 years."

"Considering Georgia farmers are responsible for growing nearly 50 percent of the nation's peanuts and Mars is one of the world's five largest buyers of our favorite crop, it's only appropriate for Mars to have a facility like this in our great state," said Governor Nathan Deal.  "The fact that the plant has flourished for the past half-century and is poised for continued growth in the next 50 years is a testament to Mars, its associates and the residents of this community."

A Fixture in the Albany Community
As part of Mars' ongoing commitment to the communities in which they live and work, the company and associates have made substantial contributions in the Albany area.

Mars Chocolate North America recently approved a $13.8 million investment in new technologies to help enhance the 100 percent landfill-free facility.  The company has also been long-standing sponsors of the Plains Peanut Festival in President Carter's hometown (Plains, Ga.), as well as the Albany Marathon.  Albany associates also regularly donate hundreds of volunteer hours each year to support local organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Albany and Habitat for Humanity. 

"For the past 50 years, the Mars Chocolate North America Albany facility and the associates who work there have been fixtures in our community," said Dorothy Hubbard, Mayor of Albany. "To commemorate their many contributions to our city, I'm proud to announce that we will honorarily rename a section of Oakridge Drive in front of the facility to 'Mars Chocolate Boulevard'."

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

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America