Deck the Halls With Whimsical New Holiday Gifts From M&M'S® Brand!

MOUNT ARLINGTON, N.J., Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Spread some whimsical holiday spirit this season with fun, festive gifts from M&M'S® Brand.  Just in time for the holidays, Mars Retail Group (MRG) delivers a sleighful of colorful new gift ideas, designed to delight the M&M'S® Brand lover in all of us.  Create new holiday traditions with inflatable yard decorations, Laplander hats, iPhone 4/4S cases and wallets, all featuring the M&M'S® Brand logo or M&M'S® Characters. Sweeten the deal by including a bag of M&M'S® Brand Chocolate Candies, and your holidays are a wrap.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/CL01608-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/CL01608-b )

"The M&M'S® Brand appeals to all generations, so we're introducing a range of items that will spread joy and colorful family fun during the holiday season," says John Capizzi, general manager of Licensing for MRG. "You'll find something for everyone on your gift list."

Nothing says "happy holidays" (or inspires yard envy) like having the coolest yard inflatables in the neighborhood! Choose from nine holiday-themed inflatables by Gemmy Industries Corporation, from $29.99 to $79.99, starring Ms. Green, Red and Yellow, each in their own jolly pose. And every holiday hostess will appreciate the gift of animated M&M'S® Character "Shakerz," in Green, Red and Yellow, which shake merrily and play holiday music for only $9.99. Select items are available online at www.homedepot.com and in retail stores, including: Albertsons, Dollar General, H.E. Butt Grocery, Home Depot, K-Mart, Lowe's, Menards, Sears and Walmart.

As a sweet treat for iPhone owners, MRG and Incipio introduce two mouth-watering, protective iPhone 4/4S covers. The dotties® case, $34.99, is available in four background hues, sprinkled with colorful and interchangeable M&M'S® Brand Chocolate Candies dots. The feather® case, $29.99, features an M&M'S® Character face in one of four colors. Each silicone case comes with an Incipio Vanity Kit, with clear screen protector, microfiber cleaning cloth and applicator card.  www.myincipio.com

Making your list for hard-to-buy-for teens and twenty-somethings just got easier with irresistible M&M'S® Character-themed wallets and Laplander hats. They range in price from $14.99 to $17.99, available at www.spencersonline.com. In addition, M&M'S® Character "Big Face" Laplanders in blue and red are available at select Burlington and JC Penney locations for $20.

Other accessories from BioWorld and MRG include a $12 hinge wallet starring M&M'S® Character Yellow, available at Walmart.

'Tis the season to deck the halls with whimsy and fun from M&M'S® Brand!

About Mars Retail Group:

The retail specialist division of Mars, Incorporated, Mars Retail Group operates M&M'S® World retail stores, manages Licensing for the company, and runs the Ethel M® Brand retail gourmet chocolate business.  Mars Retail Group is headquartered in Mount Arlington, New Jersey.

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today.  Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.  More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: 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 – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience –SERAMIS®, CIRKU™ and COCOAVIA™.

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

SOURCE Mars Retail Group