Ben's Original Mediterranean Rice

Ben's Original, formerly known as Uncle Ben's, is a household name in the global rice market. The brand was originally created by Converted Rice Inc., which was co-founded by Forrest Mars Sr. and Erich Huzenlaub in the United States during the 1940s. It revolutionized the market with its parboiling process, which helped preserve vitamins and minerals in the rice.

In 2020, the brand underwent a significant global rebranding to Ben's Original to address historical racial stereotypes associated with its previous name and imagery. The brand is currently owned by Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's largest privately held multinational food companies headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Manufacturing for Ben's Original products, including its popular microwaveable pouches, occurs in multiple locations worldwide to serve different regional markets. Key manufacturing hubs include the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. For the German and European markets, products are often distributed through Mars GmbH, the local subsidiary which manages logistics and branding within the region.