Americans Can Put Their Face on M&M's(R) as Mars Reveals Latest Trends in Confections at All Candy Expo
World's Leading Confectioner Redefines Premium and Personalized
Chocolate, Announces New Products and Innovations
From M&M'S(R), DOVE(R) Chocolate and More at All Candy Expo
CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
Mars Snackfood US announced today that America's favorite candy is
getting a little more personal with the introduction of MY M&M'S(R)
Faces, which lets consumers print their faces on an M&M - available
only at mymms.com. This head-turning innovation was the spotlight new
product revealed at the National Confectioners Association All Candy
Expo, the largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in America. The
world's leading confectioner, Mars Snackfood US also announced the
launch of M&M'S(R) Premiums - the brand's entry in redefining the
premium chocolate category; and introduced a new way for Americans to
enjoy the classic tablet chocolate bar through revolutionized
packaging via its DOVE(R) Chocolate brand.
"It's our commitment to innovation, developing quality products,
giving our consumers choices, and staying relevant and fun that has
made Mars the undisputed leader in chocolate," said Michele Kessler,
vice president of marketing, Mars Snackfood. "That leadership is
evident in our breakthrough product launches and creative marketing
programs across all our major brands including MY M&M'S(R), M&M'S(R),
DOVE(R), and SNICKERS(R)."
Personalization Comes To Candy
While consumer personalization has hit products from cell phones
to sneakers, Mars Snackfood US is leading the way in bringing this
trend to the candy category. In an industry first, Mars Snackfood US
is giving consumers the ability to print their face on an M&M with the
launch of MY M&M'S(R) Faces. Now, images can be combined with two to
three custom messages creating a powerful and personalized
story-telling experience. Consumers can purchase MY M&M'S Faces at
mymms.com and prices vary per order.
Premiumization Redefined
Mars Snackfood US has also helped make America's chocolate palette
more sophisticated by leading the growth in premium chocolates. These
nuanced flavors and textures will come to candy aisles across the
country in a whole new package when, for the first time in the brand's
history, M&M'S(R) Premiums hit store shelves. The M&M'S(R) brand is
offering adults a modern complement to the classic chocolate favorite.
The fanciful chocolates are enrobed in thin, jewel-toned shimmering
shells that resemble precious gemstones. The smooth, rich chocolates
burst with layers of sophisticated flavor including Chocolate Almond,
Mint Chocolate, Mocha, Raspberry Almond and Triple Chocolate and are
available nationwide this Summer for $3.99 per box.
The growth in premium is largely fueled by DOVE(R) Chocolate,
which has grown faster than the entire category. In the past year, the
premium chocolate category increased more than nine percent*. Today,
Mars Snackfood US announced a first-in-category innovative new format
for its DOVE(R) tablet bar collection. The tablet bar features three
individually-wrapped pieces in an elegant, recloseable
pack--addressing consumers' desire for portion control, portability,
share-ability and freshness. The DOVE(R) tablet bar collection is
available nationwide this Summer retails for $1.99 per individual bar.
DOVE delivers premium personalization with MY DOVE(R) chocolate.
Consumers can print personalized messages inside the wrappers -
allowing them to make special moments more memorable. Product and
pricing can be found only at mydovechocolate.com.
Other innovative quality products that deliver Mars Snackfood US
signature sense of fun for 2008 include:
-- M&M'S(R) Ice Cream Treats deliver an old favorite in a cool
new way. America's number one candy brand takes over the ice
cream freezer, featuring creamy vanilla ice cream dipped in a
chocolate coating and covered with a colorful candy shell.
M&M'S(R) Ice Cream Treats hit freezers in June 2008.
-- MY Team(R) M&M'S(R) features the team logos and colors of all
Major League Baseball(TM) teams on M&M'S(R), giving fans a fun
and delicious way to demonstrate their team spirit and show
their true team colors. MY Team(R) M&M'S(R) can be ordered
online at www.mymms.com/mlb or by calling 888-696-6788.
-- SNICKERS(R) Rockin' Nut Road(TM) Limited Edition delivers the
delicious ice cream flavor of Rocky Road(TM) ice cream in a
SNICKERS(R) bar. New SNICKERS(R) Rockin' Nut Road(TM) has a
marshmallow-flavored nougat base underneath a mixture of
almonds and caramel, all wrapped in dark chocolate. This new
line extension will be available nationwide in September 2008.
STARBURST(R) GUMMIBURSTS(TM) Liquid Filled Gummies produce a juicy
burst of intense fruit flavor with a chewy gummi outside and a
luscious, fruit-flavored liquid inside. Featuring real fruit juice,
STARBURST(R) GummiBursts(TM) come in cherry, lemon, orange and
strawberry. The product became available in spring 2008.
About Mars Snackfood US:
Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars
North America. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the U.S.,
Mars North America includes food, snack and pet care segments, which
are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in
Hackettstown, New Jersey, Mars North America employs more than 12,000
associates in the United States, with 54 facilities nationwide. Mars
Snackfood US includes some of the world's favorite brands such as DOVE
CHOCOLATE(R) Brand, M&M'S(R) Brand, MILKY WAY(R) Brand, SKITTLES(R)
Brand, SNICKERS(R) Brand, , STARBURST(R) Brand, THREE MUSKETEERS(R)
Brand, TWIX(R) Brand and more. Additional popular brands in the
petcare and food segments for Mars North America include UNCLE
BEN'S(R) Brand, PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS(R) Brand
Food for Cats. Please visit mars.com
*Based on IRI data for the 52 weeks ending Feb. 24, 2008.
Mars Snackfood U.S.
Ryan Bowling
908.850.2396 - office
908.914.1702 - mobile
ryan.bowling@effem.com
or
Pin Point Communications
Karen Haggerty
770.579.9897 - office
770.570-7056 - mobile
Karen@Pinpointcom.net
Copyright Business Wire 2008
