Mars, Incorporated Joins Inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces List For 2011

World-leading food company praised for its global Associate engagement program

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Oct 27, 2011, 10:29 ET

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars, Incorporated has been ranked 19th in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list, the world's first global workplace excellence ranking by Great Place to Work®. The list, announced today at a ceremony and gala dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, honored the top 25 global companies to work for in the world. The World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is based upon all the Best Workplaces Lists published between September 2010 and August 2011 and is featured on Fortune.com.

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Mars, Incorporated, alongside other qualifying companies, were required to feature on at least five national Great Place to Work lists, have at least 5,000 Associates and have at least 40 percent of their workforce located outside the country in which their company is headquartered. Twelve of Mars, Incorporated's operations are featured on the list including Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

"As a global business, we are united by our Principles-based culture," commented Paul S. Michaels, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mars, Incorporated. "Although we operate in 71 countries, speak different languages, and have diverse perspectives and opinions, our culture remains consistent and provides our 65,000 Associates with the opportunity to make their work mean more every day."

"To receive this recognition from Great Place to Work and to be featured in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is testament to every Mars Associate who is passionate about their work and takes pride in putting the Five Principles of Mars into action every day," adds Michaels.

The Mars Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom are the foundation of its culture and approach to business. They unite Mars across generations, geographies, languages and cultures. First expressed by Forrest E. Mars, Sr. in the 1930s as his business model based on delivering a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders, and later articulated as the Five Principles by the next generation of the Mars family, these philosophies guide Mars Associates' relationships with consumers, customers, business partners, communities and one another.

The World's Best Multinational Workplaces list collates the views of a company's employees based on a criterion of five key attributes: credibility, fairness, respect, pride and camaraderie. With over 65,000 Associates in 71 countries globally, Mars, Incorporated's reach extends to 365 locations around the world. The company was credited by Great Places to Work in three key areas for its unique working environment and Associate culture:

Developing and implementing a successful global Associate engagement program since 2003, based on a mechanism of communication and involvement. Regular town hall meetings, 'site involvement teams' and suggestion boxes in local sites support feedback and recommendations to management
Ombudsman program in local sites to help Associates address work related issues in a confidential setting
Developing a Mars working culture that facilitates collaboration and a sense of communication. An open door policy that seeks to break down barriers and makes everyone, CEO through to Associate, more approachable

Additionally, Mars, Incorporated was recognized for its high percentage of women in executive and senior management positions – 27 percent globally – and its low employee turnover rate – 8 percent globally.

To learn more about Mars as a workplace and a company, please visit mars.com.

About Mars, Incorporated

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 1920's, 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, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 65,000 Associates worldwide that are putting our Mars Principles in action to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYKO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™, WISDOM PANEL™ and SERAMIS®. For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars.

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® Institute is a global research, consulting and training firm that helps organizations identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust workplace cultures. Great Place to Work serves businesses, non-profits and government agencies in 45 countries on all six continents.

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated