Mars Inc.

6885 Elm St.

Year founded: 1911

Industry: Manufacturing

Post 200 Category: Top Private Companies

Revenue: $16.00 Billion

Net Income/Loss: n/a

Earnings per share: n/a

Dividend: n/a

Stockholder equity: n/a

Auditor: n/a

Assets: n/a

Market capitalization: n/a

52-week high: n/a

52-week low: n/a

Chairman: Paul S. Michaels

Employees: 31000

Local employees: n/a

Description: Mars is the nation's No. 2 candy maker. It sells M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way and other treats. The company also makes non-snack food, such as Uncle Ben's rice, and pet foods. Company ventures include cash-acceptance technology used in vending machines. The private company is owned by the three grandchildren of founder Frank Mars — John, Jacqueline and Forrest Jr. — who have a combined worth of more than $30 billion, Forbes magazine estimates.

Developments: The candy company faces increased competitive pressure from rivals, coupled with rising obesity concerns in the United States and the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. The company has fought back in recent years by entering the lucrative energy-bar field, rolling out the Snickers Marathon and other energy bars packed with calories but containing half the fat of a regular Snickers bar. Mars began test-marketing CocoaVia, a low-fat snack rich in flavanol, which is said to reduce blood pressure and improve blood flow. On the other hand, Mars Mexico subsidiary Effem Mexico was hit by a recall, pulling back Lucas Limon salt seasoning and other Lucas products after tests in California showed elevated lead levels. Mars made a bid for Kraft Foods Inc.'s Life Savers and Altoids last year, but would not match the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.'s winning $1.48 billion offer. Along with Hershey, Mars slightly raised its wholesale prices in 2004. Last year, MEI (formerly Mars Electronic International) — the Mars subsidiary that makes bill and cash acceptors for vending machines — announced that its technology was being designed into machines that allow consumers to order meals in restaurants using touch-screens and into kiosks that let users surf the Internet and pay bills. Last year, MEI rolled out technology that can accept most international currencies. MEI is one of the world's largest manufacturers of coin-changing, bill-acceptor and cashless payment technology used in casino gambling machines. In February, the company said it would join with gambling ticket-printer FutureLogic Inc. to distribute the machines internationally. (The very private company indicated it had $16 billion in revenue last year, but Forbes magazine estimated Mars had revenue of $18.2 billion as of 2003.)