M&M'S® Racing Goes For Green In Kansas

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., April 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the green flag drops at the NASCAR^® race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Mars Chocolate North America will commemorate Earth Day by planting one tree in the Topeka, KS, area for every lap that Kyle Busch and the No. 18 M&M'S Toyota leads during the race.

As the Official Chocolate of NASCAR, Mars Chocolate North America is partnering with the sport's governing body on its "NASCAR RACE TO GREEN™" program, which includes a number of activities taking place across the industry during the month of April to highlight the sport's sustainability efforts. The company chose Topeka to be the beneficiary of any tree planting efforts, given the city is the site of a new Mars Chocolate North America production facility that will be completed in late 2013. As part of Mars' commitment to sustainability, the new facility in Topeka will be built to meet leading-edge environmental standards, including a pursuit of LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council upon completion.

NASCAR Earth Day Efforts
To help build interest around its sustainability efforts, NASCAR has launched a month-long green initiative consisting of two programs to help preserve the environment. The "NASCAR RACE TO GREEN™" initiative is a call-to-action for NASCAR teams, tracks, partners and most importantly, fans to pledge trees that will be planted across the country as well as in areas that have been recently damaged by natural disasters. The NASCAR "Green Clean Air Tree Planting Program" will work to plant trees in an effort to absorb carbon emissions equivalent to all racing in NASCAR's three national series for the entire season.

For more information, visit M&M'S Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmsracing.

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