Mars Bar

The Mars bar is a globally recognized chocolate confectionery featuring a signature blend of caramel and nougat coated in milk chocolate. It was first introduced in 1932 by Forrest Mars Sr. in Slough, England. While inspired by the American Milky Way bar created by his father, Frank C. Mars, Forrest adapted the recipe to better suit European palates.

Today, the Mars bar remains a flagship product for Mars, Incorporated. A significant portion of the production for the UK and European markets still takes place at the original factory in Slough, Berkshire, which is capable of producing millions of bars daily. Additionally, international production occurs in facilities such as Veghel in the Netherlands and Ballarat in Australia to serve various global markets.

Mars, Incorporated remains a private, family-owned enterprise, a status it has maintained since its founding in 1911. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the company is owned by the descendants of the Mars family. It has grown into one of the world's largest food and pet care companies through a series of tactical acquisitions—most recently acquiring Kellanova in 2025/2026—while keeping its core chocolate brands central to its identity.