Who Owns the Mars Candy Company
The Mars candy company is owned by Mars, Inc., a privately held multinational confectionery and pet food corporation. The company is controlled by the Mars family, with the majority of voting shares held by descendants of Frank C. Mars and Forrest Mars Sr. Mars, Inc. is one of the largest privately owned companies in the world and does not trade on any public stock exchange, so its financials are not disclosed in the same way as public companies according to Forbes.
Mars, Inc. operates through three primary business segments: Mars Chocolate, Mars Petcare, and Mars Wrigley. The Mars Chocolate segment includes iconic candy brands such as M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, and Dove. Mars Wrigley, which handles the chewing gum and candy business, was spun off from the broader Mars company in 2016 and is now a separate subsidiary focused on brands like Wrigley's, Extra, Orbit, and Skittles per SEC filings.
The Mars Family and Corporate Structure
Mars Family Ownership and Control
The Mars family maintains control through a complex trust structure that limits public access to ownership details. The company is known for its secrecy, and Forbes has repeatedly ranked the Mars family among the wealthiest in the world. The family's combined net worth is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, with the majority of that wealth tied to their stake in Mars, Inc.
The Mars family governance model is designed to keep the company private across generations. Unlike many large family businesses, Mars, Inc. has no plans to go public, and the family has consistently reinvested profits into the business rather than distributing them as dividends. This structure allows long-term decision-making without pressure from public markets or quarterly earnings expectations.
Mars Inc. Business Segments and Revenue
Mars, Inc. generates tens of billions in annual revenue globally, with its confectionery and pet care divisions driving the majority of sales. The company is a dominant player in the global pet food market through brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin, and it competes directly with Nestlé and other major food conglomerates.
Key Mars Candy Brands and Market Position
Major Brands Owned by Mars
Mars, Inc. owns some of the most recognizable candy and pet care brands in the world. In the confectionery space, Mars Chocolate produces M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, and Dove chocolate, while Mars Wrigley manages gum and candy brands such as Wrigley's, Extra, Orbit, and Skittles. Together, these brands make Mars one of the largest players in the global candy market.
Mars competes directly with other major confectionery companies such as Mondelēz International, Nestlé, and Ferrero. The company's private status gives it a competitive advantage in terms of flexibility and long-term investment, but it also means that detailed financial comparisons are harder to make. Industry analysts often cite Mars as a benchmark for private company success in consumer goods as noted by Forbes.