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Mars Targets Resilient Cocoa Supply With Sourcing Shift

Mars’ approach places supplier capability alongside procurement decisions, with the conglomerate supporting farmers to improve productivity, farming practices, management capabilities and income reliability.

These advancements follow Mars surpassing the initial goals set in 2018 under its decade-long, US$1bn Cocoa for Generations initiative.

The company is also using science, technology and AI-powered tools designed to identify cocoa diseases and modernise wet and dry bean supply chains.

Benjamin Guilbert, Global Senior Vice President, Cocoa Enterprise at Mars, says the next stage will require deeper collaboration across the cocoa ecosystem.

“2025 was a landmark year for Cocoa for Generations, signifying a turning point in our efforts to help address the industry's most deep-rooted, interconnected challenges,” says Benjamin. “These challenges require collaboration and collective efforts among the stakeholders in the cocoa sector; the development and implementation of integrated, scalable and sustainable solutions; and transparency from companies on progress made.”

Mars-Kellanova: The $36bn merger transforming the snacking sector

What does the Mars-Kellanova megadeal mean for industry? Summary

• Mars completed $36bn acquisition of Kellanova, forming Mars Snacking
• Combined portfolio spans Pringles, Cheez‑It, Pop‑Tarts, Snickers, M&M’s, Twix
• Deal strengthens multi‑category scale and retailer appeal, intensifying competitive consolidation
• Innovation expected in healthier, protein‑rich, breakfast, and flavour‑mashup launches
• Risks include antitrust scrutiny, higher leverage, integration complexity, retailer pushback

As 2025 came to a close, the world’s biggest confectionery company Mars, Inc quietly completed its landmark acquisition of snacking giant Kellanova – a deal that cements its dominance across the global snacking landscape.

The transaction, valued at around $36bn (€30bn), brings together two of the industry’s most influential brand portfolios – Kellanova with blockbuster names including Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts, and Mars with megabrands like Snickers, M&M’s, Twix and Skittles – under the Mars Snacking division.

But what does this merger mean for the industry, and what does it mean for the future of confectionery and snacking?

Mars Snacking: Market power shift

By acquiring Kellanova, Mars has taken on multiple big-name snack brands, firmly establishing its stake in the snacking sector.

This, says Issy Perez, managing partner at consultancy firm Boyden, and…