M&M'S® Brand Commemorates 30-Year Relationship With NASA by Honoring Final Mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Mars Chocolate North America announced its M&M'S® Brand is commemorating the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis by providing personalized M&M'S for the crew, as well as NASA personnel at both launch control Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral and mission control at Johnson Space Center in Houston.  NASA's space shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is scheduled to launch its final mission this morning.

M&M'S® have been a part of every space shuttle mission since Columbia first launched on April 12, 1981.  M&M'S are included in NASA's space food system, as well as featured on the International Space Station (ISS) menu.

"We've been honored to fly on more than 130 missions with hundreds of American heroes over the last three decades," said Debra A. Sandler, chief consumer officer, Mars Chocolate North America. "It's bittersweet to see this program, which has inspired millions to reach for the stars, come to an end, but we wish the crew of Atlantis a safe and successful mission."

The commemorative M&M'S feature NASA colors (red, silver and blue) and include the launch date and a space shuttle graphic. In addition, the four astronauts scheduled to serve on the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis will receive personalized M&M'S with their names on them.

For more information about M&M'S, visit www.facebook.com/mms.  For more information about personalized M&M'S, visit www.mymms.com.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of 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 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 Chocolate North America