Mars To Lead Discussions On A Sustainable Future For Business

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Oct 24, 2012, 01:41 ET

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, October 25th, 2012, Mars will be featured at two prominent conferences on both sides of the globe, addressing international audiences on the role of business in securing a sustainable future.

BSR Conference 2012 in New York and Global Entrepolis 2012 in Singapore will feature two of Mars' leading spokespeople and industry authorities, both discussing what is required to build a sustainable future and the role that businesses must take in helping to secure that future.

Barry Parkin, Global Commercial Vice President, Mars Chocolate, will speak at the BSR Conference 2012 in New York, a leading platform for sustainable action within business, addressing the audience during a session entitled 'Reaching into the root of supply chain: Perspectives from an End User.'

During his interactive session at BSR, which will encourage participation from the audience, Parkin will highlight the industry opportunity to act responsibly and within Mars, to continue to make a difference to people and the planet, through performance. Parkin will look at how sustainability is a fundamental component of a successful business model and how important the help of external partners from science, academia, government and sustainability is to realizing this success. It is this collaborative approach, he will suggest, that allows Mars to take a long-term approach and tackle the bigger challenges faced by society and the Mars business.

"When it comes to understanding the sustainability landscape of business we need to look through a lens and ask ourselves, 'How big is the issue? What can we influence and are we responsible for leading the change?'" commented Barry Parkin. "We have our own goals within Mars to work with our supply chain and bring about innovation and change wherever and however we can," he added.

At the Asia Pacific Sustainability Leadership Forum 2012, a leading sustainability event held as part of the Global Entrepolis at Singapore, Andrew Hobday, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mars, Incorporated, will address business leaders on the following 'Creating a sustainable future: making tomorrow better.' In his speech, Hobday will discuss how business can create "actionable" solutions, which track progress, deliver on promises and continue to shape business sustainability, communities and environment across the globe.

"Our objective is to manufacture and distribute food products in a manner that creates a mutuality of benefits for all our stakeholders. This objective has guided Mars, Incorporated since its inception," commented Andrew Hobday. "We work hard to identify, understand and prioritize the many ways that our business impacts people and the planet, using science to define the challenge or opportunity and promote innovative thinking and solutions."

Both conferences come shortly after the publication of the second annual Principles in Action Summary, which details Mars' approach to business and its commitment to put its Five Principles into action to make a difference to people and the planet through performance.

To find out more, please visit: http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/people-planet-performance.aspx

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' 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 objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated 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 70,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its 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 ROYCO®; 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.

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated