The combination of Mars’ Wrigley and Chocolate segments into one entity aims to bring a more holistic approach to the confectionery category.
Mars Inc. has announced plans to combine its Chocolate and Wrigley segments to create Mars Wrigley Confectionery in 2017.
The combination will help deliver greater value to customers, and enable the segment to address consumer trends and insights holistically in what is increasingly seen as one global confectionery category. Mars Wrigley Confectionery is just one of Mars’ diverse global businesses, which also include Petcare, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.
Mars Wrigley Confectionery will include some of the world’s best loved brands in Chocolate (SNICKERS, M&M’S, DOVE, GALAXY, MALTESERS, TWIX), Gum and Mints (DOUBLEMINT, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, ALTOIDS, LIFESAVERS), and Fruity Confections (SKITTLES, STARBURST).
Martin Radvan, current Global President of Wrigley and a 30-year veteran of Mars, Incorporated, will lead the new Mars Wrigley Confectionery. Commenting on the proposed combination, Radvan said: “Mars Wrigley Confectionery brings together two great businesses, strengthening our ability to create win-win relationships with our customers and improving our opportunities to address dynamic retail and consumer trends together.”
Since Mars acquired Wrigley in 2008, Berkshire Hathaway has held a minority stake in Wrigley that was subject to purchase by Mars over time. Mars recently accelerated the purchase of Berkshire Hathaway’s entire equity interest in Wrigley.
“We are grateful for the strong and productive partnership we have with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway,” said Grant Reid, office of the president and CEO of Mars, Inc. “It is a great relationship that has yielded value on both sides. We’re equally pleased that sole ownership of Wrigley provides us with an opportunity to rethink how we simplify our Chocolate and Wrigley businesses so that we can bring a more holistic approach to this vibrant category.”
The Mars Wrigley Confectionery business will have approximately 30,000 Associates operating in about 70 countries. The global hub for the new Mars Wrigley Confectionery will be in Chicago, Illinois.
Mars Chocolate and Wrigley will continue to operate separately for the time being. Jean-Christophe Flatin will continue as president, Mars Global Chocolate, and Casey Keller, previously regional president of Wrigley Americas, will become president, Global Wrigley. The combination is proposed to be phased in during 2017.
