Germany busts choc giants for price fixing; ordered to pay €60m

Eleven chocolate companies including Nestlé and Kraft have been fined over €60m ($82m) for colluding to raise chocolate prices in Germany, while price fixing investigations continue in the US and...

Cocoa economy in ‘critical state’, says Mars sustainability chief

The chocolate industry is behind in tackling some cocoa supply issues and must work more closely to avert shortages, according to Mars’ head of sustainability.

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Mars to address heart health cocoa flavanol conference

Mars scientists are among the speakers at a conference later this month in Brussels to discuss breakthroughs linking cocoa flavanols to cardiovascular health.

Wrigley wants to reinvigorate declining German impulse channels

Gum titan Wrigley is modernizing its strategy in impulse channels such as gas stations to rekindle falling sales in the German market.

Hershey, Mars and Nestlé to face $727m chocolate ‘price fix’ case

Hershey, Mars and Nestlé may be liable for $727m in damages for alleged conspiracy to raise chocolate prices in the US between 2002 and 2007.

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Mars, Mondelez and Callebaut gear up for World Cocoa Conference

Major industry players including Mars, Mondelez International and Barry Callebaut are due to appear at the World Cocoa Conference in the Ivory Coast, which gets underway today.

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Mars Chocolate UK seeks strategy controller

Mars Chocolate UK is on the hunt for a new head of commercial strategy to handle top brands such as Mars, Snickers and Twix.

Sweet Politics

Mars pumps bucks into sugar reform

Mars Incorporated has focused much of its lobbying on driving reform of US sugar policy in this presidential election year.

Mars North America unveils Easter 2013 lineup

Mars North America has revealed the new products that will form part of its 2013 Easter offerings.

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Mars to devote $30m per year on sustainable cocoa

Mars has announced that it invested $30m on cocoa sustainability initiatives last year, and plans to invest the same amount each year until the decade is out.

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‘M&M's colored’ honey prompts Mars action

Mars France is working with beekeepers to determine whether blue and green honey produced by bees in Northeastern France is caused by its nearby M&M's processing plant.

Mondelez will struggle to topple Mars in China and Russia – analyst

Kraft’s global snacks spin-off Mondelez will face fierce competition from the likes of Mars and Nestlé in the emerging confectionery markets of China and Russia, according to an analyst from...

Mars and Hershey: beneficiaries of US Halloween candy glut, says analyst

US Halloween candy spending is projected to rise this year and the major players Mars and Hershey will be raking in the profits with seasonal variants of popular brands, according...

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Mars opens £6m R&D center in UK

Mars Chocolate has opened a new R&D facility in Slough, UK, which will be home to around 100 scientists.

Deep fried Mars bar ‘not in line with our marketing code’, says Mars

Global food and drink giant Mars has issued a letter to a local fish and chip shop in Scotland asking it to add a disclaimer on battered Mars bars as...

Mars set for UK launch of low calorie caramel bar

Confectionery giant Mars is set to launch a slimmer sister to its trademark Mars bar in the UK later this month, with a new caramel only version containing 20% less...

Mars spends $67 million on US factory expansion to up Pretzel M&M capacity

Mars Chocolate is to invest $67m on a plant expansion in the US as it looks to introduce a new production line for Pretzel M&Ms.

High flavanol cocoa can boost brain functioning, finds Mars study

Cocoa flavanols can improve mild cognitive impairment, according to new research funded by chocolate giant Mars.

Haribo fined €2.4m for conspiring with rivals after Mars tip-off

Gummi-bear manufacturer Haribo has been fined €2.4m by German antitrust authorities for exchanging sales information with competitors.

Mars opens €80m chocolate factory in Russia

Mars has opened a €80m (RUB 3.3bn) chocolate factory in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region as it looks to capture a greater share of the highest value BRIC chocolate market.

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Mars launches Fairtrade certified Malteasers in UK

Mars Chocolate has introduced Malteasers made with Fairtrade certified cocoa to the UK market as part of its ongoing pledge to achieve cocoa sustainability.

Mars funded study finds cocoa fertilisation can double production

Using fertiliser on degraded farms with mature trees can double cocoa production, according to a study funded by Mars.

Mars ups sustainability commitments with two new agreements

Confectionery giant Mars has reached two agreements as it reaffirms its commitment to sustainable sourcing.

MPs tour Mars to ‘see inside food manufacturing’

Mars Chocolate UK in Slough – home of Mars, Snickers, Galaxy and Maltesers – hosted a visit by MPs and Peers yesterday (June 12) as part of ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ (SIM) initiative.

Mars urges action on cocoa to beat shortage

Urgent action was necessary to avoid the “bleak situation” of a serious global shortage of cocoa supplies within a decade, Fiona Dawson, president of Mars Chocolate UK, warned yesterday (June 12).