I still have a soft spot for Mars, as the confectionery division of the company kindly gave me my first job post university and employed me for nine generally very good years. I didn’t realise what a great company it was until I left, and that realisation grew over the years as I experienced more and more organisations that frankly were far inferior to Mars in most ways.
Mars is still a family owned business, and the family ethos has always permeated everything Mars does. It has been good to see in recent years that the firm has taken a lead in many areas of sustainability, for instance in working with cocoa growers to increase the welfare of workers and growers, and improve human rights in that supply chain.
But Mars is pushing the boundaries in other areas too. An interesting article here on the Procurement magazine website looked at what the firm is doing to reduce emissions in the dairy supply chain. As you may know, gas emissions from cows (“burps and farts”) are a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas which is probably “worse” than CO2 for the environment. Incidentally, my first ever job in procurement was as dairy products buyer for Mars and I can honestly say we never thought about these issues for a minute back in the 1980s!
To address the sustainability and emissions issues in the dairy sector, Mars is investing some $47 million over three years in collaborative projects with suppliers, in particular Fonterra, Land O'Lakes, Interfood, and FrieslandCampina who all “share the vision”, according to the article.
In one programme, Mars is looking at innovative solutions dubbed "burp-busting technology." That includes adding supplements to cattle feed, such as the Seaforest seaweed supplement, being trialled in Tasmania by Fontera. Management of cow manure is another aspect of sustainability, and new management techniques that I’m not sure I want to know too much about look promising here (“solid separators and manure lagoon covers”, anyone?)
There is also interesting work going on around regenerative agriculture, a hot topic these days. Cover cropping and minimising topsoil disturbance for instance can promote soil health and bolster carbon storage. Mars is also a founding member of the Sustainable Dairy Partnership, an industry group for dairy buyers and producers which look at progress against the Dairy Sustainability Framework’s 11 sustainability criteria.
So well done Mars. However, there was surprising news this week that might raise a few questions about the firm’s commitment to sustainability and purpose. Mars agreed to pay $36 million to buy Kellanova, the business that was spun out of WK Kellogg Co last year. Kellanova sells Kellogg’s branded cereals such as Corn Flakes and Frosties outside the US, (WK Kellogg retains those brands in the US) as well as a wide range of snack products globally including Pringles crisp-like snacks and Nutri Grain bars.
Overall, this is not perceived as the most health-conscious portfolio of products! Pringles for instance, delicious though they are, fall into the category of “ultra-processed foods”, which some experts believe are responsible for major health issues. The BBC Good Food website lists Pringles in its “10 worst ultra-processed foods you can eat”. The site described Pringles like this.
“Reformulated potato snacks, such as Pringles, are made from dehydrated processed potato, refined vegetable oils, rice and wheat flour, emulsifiers, salt and colouring. Depending on their flavour, they may also include monosodium glutamate, hydrolysed protein powders and glucose syrup.
During manufacture the ‘dough’ is rolled, pressed and cut into stackable shapes; these are then fried in hot oil and coated with flavourings. The high temperature potentially generates a substance called acrylamide, exposure to which may be carcinogenic, although the findings from human studies is inconsistent”.
Now, you may say that Mars is hardly the bastion of healthy eating already with its chocolate and sugar products. But that is historical. The firm has made chocolate for over 100 years and I wouldn’t expect them to just stop that – and there are some (limited) positives about chocolate from a health point of view.
However, this purchase of Kellanova is a positive choice to buy a firm with a portfolio that includes many ultra-processed and other questionable products from a healthy eating standpoint. I guess ultimately, it is market share, profit and money that matters, but it doesn’t feel like an acquisition that quite fits with the Mars ethos.