In 2016, Mars announced that the WrigleyCompany would be merged with its chocolate segment, Mars Chocolate North America, LLC, to form a new subsidiary, Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The new company would maintain global offices in Chicago, while moving its U.S. offices to Hackettstown and Newark, New Jersey, Wrigley CEO Martin Ravdan would lead the combined business.[1][2]
In 2018, the company appointed Andrew Clarke as its CEO, replacing Martin Ravdan, he started his tenure as CEO in September of the same year.[3][4]
In November 2020, Mars acquired full ownership of snack food company Kind North America for $5 billion, the company previously owned a stake in the company.[5][6][7]
In December 2022, it was announced that Mars had acquired the Utah headquartered whole-fruit snacking brand, Trü Frü, the acquisition formed a new health and wellness sub-brand which will include the brand, Kind and Nature's Bakery.[8]
In November 2023, Mars announced the purchase of British Chocolatier Hotel Chocolat for £534 million, the company would remain independent from Mars' brands and for such will have no recipe changes or no Mars products within its stores, the company hopes to bring it to more markets. It increases Mars' retail presence, a presence they already had with M&M's World. The acquisition was complete by January 25, 2024[9][10][11]
On August 14, 2024, Mars Inc. announced its acquisition of Kellanova, which was known as Kellogg's until 2023 (its spun-off North American cereal business is WK Kellogg Co, now owned by Ferrero SpA), for $83.50 per share in cash, for a total consideration of $35.9 billion, including assumed net leverage. According to the companies, this is the largest acquisition of 2024 to date, while analysts described it as the largest CPG transaction since the merger between Kraft and Heinz in 2015.[12][13]
The agreement has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Kellanova. The transaction is subject to Kellanova shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and was expected to close within the first half of 2025.[14] On December 11, 2025, Mars successfully acquired Kellanova after its $36 biillion bid won European Union approval after regulators backtracked on earlier concerns.[15]
Following the acquisition, Kellanova was integrated into a rebranded Mars Snacking (which now uses the Kellogg K and the Wrigley G as part of the logo), Kellanova was also delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and its CEO Steve Cahillane stepped down from the company. The acquisition expanded the division's reach, with more than 50,000 associates and it operating across more than 145 markets with a workforce of around 50,000 employees, the division was valued at more than $30 billion.[16][17][18][19]
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