Mars, Incorporated Completes Acquisition of Procter & Gamble's Pet Food Business in Australia and New Zealand

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 30, 2014 /CNW/ -- Mars, Incorporated announced today that it has successfully completed its acquisition of the IAMS^® and EUKANUBA^® brands from The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) in Australia and New Zealand. This follows an agreement announced by the companies earlier in 2014 and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Mars has already acquired Procter & Gamble's pet food business in North America, Latin America and other select countries.

The IAMS^® and EUKANUBA^® brands will be part of Mars Petcare, joining leading brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, MY DOG®, DINE®, OPTIMUM®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO® and ADVANCE®. This move is a strategic addition to the company's robust pet care portfolio that will enable Mars Petcare to meet the needs of more customers and pets in Australia and New Zealand.

"Owning a pet is an important part of many people's lives in Australia and New Zealand – there are over 8.5 million pet cats and dogs. Pets are an essential part of society and provide invaluable support in facilitating human interaction, social connections and providing companionship," said Sylvia Burbery, General Manager Australia, Mars Petcare. "IAMS and EUKANUBA are great products and are a welcome addition to our pet food offering. They complement our existing brands and will help us better meet the needs of our much loved pets."

Mars Petcare, the largest business for Mars, Incorporated in Australia and New Zealand, is one of the world's leading pet food and veterinary care providers.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, NUTRO®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and CESAR®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food –UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA ® Coffee Roasters coffee,  THE BRIGHT TEA CO.® tea, DOVE®/GALAXY® Hot Chocolate, and FLAVIA® brewer; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

About Mars Petcare in Australia and New Zealand

With the support of nearly 1,000 Associates across four manufacturing sites (Wodonga, Bathurst, Wacol and Wanganui, New Zealand) and two multi-segment sales offices (Sydney and Melbourne), Mars Petcare produces eighteen market leading brands in Australia and New Zealand including PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, MY DOG®, DINE®, ADVANCE®, NUTRO ®, GREENIES®, OPTIMUM® AND SCHMACKOS®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars.

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated

Australia queries: Lisa Maguire, Director Corporate - [phone] or [email protected], or New Zealand queries: Vicki Hamilton, Corporate Affairs Manager - [phone], or Global queries: Alison Clark - Mars Petcare Media Contact - [phone], http://www.mars.com/