Mars Highlights Its Real Chocolate Relief Act and New Products and Promotions at All Candy Expo

Relief Act Aims To Spread Joy Across America By Giving Away As Many As Seven
Million Full-Size Packages of Mars Chocolate

CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
At All Candy Expo this year, Mars Snackfood US highlighted its innovations
through new products and promotions, while underscoring its values to consumers
through the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act. The Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act
is a nationwide effort to bring sweet smiles to millions of Americans via free,
full-sized samples of Mars real chocolate, product discounts and coupons, along
with the proclamation of Free Chocolate Fridays. Todd Lachman, president, Mars
Snackfood US, shared specifics of the new products and promotions, as well as
the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act today at the All Candy Expo.

As part of the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act, now through September, Mars will
give away as many as seven million full-size packages of its M&M`S, SNICKERS,
MILKY WAY, TWIX, DOVE, and 3 MUSKETEERS brand chocolate in the United States.

TGIFCF!

As part of the campaign, every week through the end of September, Mars will give
away a quarter-of-a-million full-size packages of real chocolate on Free
Chocolate Fridays. Americans can claim one of 250,000 full-value coupons each
Friday beginning at 9 a.m. EDT by visiting RealChocolate.com.

Coupons, which will be mailed to consumers, will be distributed on a first-come,
first-serve basis and are redeemable for any full-size Mars real chocolate
product. The coupons will be limited to one per person, per week.

"Response to the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act has been overwhelmingly positive
across the country," Lachman said. "It's our way of giving Americans a little
relief during challenging times with free chocolate and reminding everyone that
if it`s Mars, it`s real chocolate."

Is Your Chocolate Real?

Another reason for people to smile is because Mars remains committed to its
industry-leading stance of using only 100 percent cocoa butter in its U.S.
chocolate products, even in this challenging environment. As a privately-held
company, Mars has the freedom to invest in the highest quality, real, authentic
chocolate.

"Mars Snackfood US chocolate brands do not compromise on the purity and
authenticity of chocolate by diluting it with a cocoa butter substitute,"
Lachman added.

At the All Candy Expo, Mars Snackfood US announced:

* This summer, SNICKERS®, the country`s most popular candy bar, will partner
with Feeding America. From July through December, SNICKERS® will make a donation
to Feeding America for every SNICKERS® Bar purchased. In 2009 alone, Mars
estimates that SNICKERS® will donate the equivalent of at least 3 million meals
to help feed the hungry.
* Transformers®-themed M&M`S Strawberried Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies and
SNICKERS Nougabot Bar roll out this spring to celebrate the June 24 release of
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." M&M`S and SNICKERS fans are sure to
"fall" for the limited-edition product, which will be available from May through
July in food, drug, mass and convenience outlets.
* SNICKERS® will introduce a new SNICKERS®
Fudge Bar in August. This limited-edition bar includes a peanut-packed
chocolate fudge layer atop chewy peanut butter nougat, wrapped in delicious milk
chocolate.
* M&M`S®will unveil a new tropical flavor -- M&M`S® Coconut Chocolate Candies.
These limited-edition candies, which hit store shelves in July, are a colorful
chocolate twist to coconut candies.

About Mars Snackfood US:

Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack
operations of Mars, Incorporated. Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned
company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including
151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia,
U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world`s largest food companies,
generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in
six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and
Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world`s leading brands:
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 - KLIX and FLAVIA; Symbioscience -
WISDOM PANELTM MX, SERAMIS, and COCOAPROTM.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

Mars Snackfood US
Ryan Bowling
908.850.2396 - office
908.914.1702 - mobile
ryan.bowling@effem.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Dana Metz
312.988.2378 - office
773.960.0004 - mobile
dmetz@webershandwick.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009