Forrest Mars senior

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Forrest Edward Mars senior (born March 21, 1904 in Wadena, Minnesota , † July 1, 1999 in Miami, Florida ) was an American businessman and the driving force behind Mars Incorporated . He became known through the introduction of the “ Mars ” chocolate bar and the “ M & M’s ”, as well as for organizing the market launch of “ Uncle Ben’s Rice”. He was the son of Frank C. Mars and Ethel G. Mars.

life and career

Mars grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada after his parents divorced . He attended the University of California, Berkeley and later Yale University , where he graduated as an industrial engineer in 1928 .

He later joined forces with his father at Mars Incorporated . However, they had some arguments, whereupon Forrest Mars Sr. got paid off and went to England; there he designed the Mars chocolate bar. In Europe he worked briefly for Nestlé and Toblerone .

After returning to the States, he started his own food business; Food Products Manufacturing. He established the " Uncle Ben’s Rice" and the gourmet food company, Pedigree. In 1940, he developed the M & M’s in collaboration with Bruce Murrie . Peanut M & M's were introduced in 1954. Murrie later left the company.

After the death of his father Frank C. Mars , Forrest Mars took over the family business. In 1964 he merged Mars Inc. with his own company.

In 1973, Mars retired from the company and passed it on to his three children, Forrest Jr. , John and Jacqueline .

In 1981 he founded the company Ethel M Chocolates, which he named after his mother. The company was bought by Mars Inc. in 1988.

Mars died at the age of 95. His net worth was $ 4 billion, making him the 30th richest American in Forbes Magazine .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Constance L. Hays: Forrest Mars, 95, Creator of the M & M and a Candy Empire . New York Times , July 3, 1999 (English).
  2. ^ The Story of Mars. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013 ; accessed on July 30, 2016 (English). Our history . Mars, Incorporated, accessed July 30, 2016.
  3. ^ Joel Glenn Brenner: Life on Mars: The Mars family saga has all the classic elements . The Independent , July 26, 1992, accessed July 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ # 3 Mars family . Forbes Magazine , accessed July 30, 2016.
personal data
SURNAME Mars, Forrest senior
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mars, Forrest Edward Sr.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH March 21, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH Wadena , Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH July 1, 1999
Place of death Miami