Mars acquires KIND North America
Mars took a minority stake in KIND in November 2017.
Mars, Incorporated will fully acquire KIND North America, three years after Mars took a minority stake in the snacking company.
KIND North America will join KIND International to create one organization operating across 35 countries, functioning as a distinct and separate business within the Mars Family of Companies. This provides the opportunity to further the KIND Promise, a set of nutrition principles that have guided the company’s innovation since its founding, and KIND’s mission to create a kinder world.
KIND Founder and Executive Chairman Daniel Lubetzky will play a key role in the future development and expansion of KIND, helping to maximize the reach and impact of the KIND mission and products, while upholding the KIND Promise as the brand expands into new categories and geographies. He will retain an ongoing financial stake in KIND, a majority of which was previously donated to charity to further his philanthropic efforts to build bridges across lines of divide.
Over the past three years, Mars and KIND have partnered to bring KIND (including signature KIND Bars) into new geographies and categories. As a result of the partnership, KIND has expanded into more than 35 countries (including China, Germany and France) and into eight total categories (including frozen and refrigerated), and has launched new products such as KIND Bark, KIND Frozen Bars and KIND Smoothie Bowls.
“When we began this partnership, I said it was one built on mutual admiration and a shared vision for growth,” said Mars CEO Grant F. Reid. “After three years, you can see the impact, as together we have grown the healthy snacking category and brought KIND and the KIND Promise to 35 countries and into new categories. We’re delighted to continue to build on this success and welcome KIND North America into the Mars Family of Companies.”
Lubetzky, who became the company’s executive chairman after handing CEO responsibilities to Mike Barkley last year, said he was “proud of how well the Mars and KIND teams have complemented and strengthened each other.”
“We are now well positioned to further advance our efforts and continue building a foremost health and wellness platform,” he said. “As we said in 2017, Mars is a company that shares KIND’s passion for business as a force for good, and I am confident that together, we will be able to make our small contribution to make this world a little kinder.”
KIND remains committed to its mission and will further its purpose to build a kinder world. The company is committed to adding more than 2 billion servings of nutrient dense foods to people’s diets by 2025, sourcing 100 percent of its almonds from bee-friendly farms by 2025, and continuing to break down barriers to create more inclusive and empathetic communities.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
