MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. -- Mars Chocolate has announced that the company has met a significant benchmark in ensuring the sustainability of edible peanuts. In 2014, 51% of the peanuts used for the company's U.S. products were high-oleic-acid peanuts (HOAPs), helping the company keep pace with increasing product demand.
The peanut industry faces a challenge today to make sure that it is growing enough high-quality, edible peanuts to meet growing demand. Mars Chocolate has committed to using 100% HOAPs in its products by 2017, working with peanut farmers, shellers and the industry as a whole to support the production of a sustainable supply of HOAPs by investing in science, creating more advanced breeding approaches, mitigating disease and encouraging greater agricultural efficiencies.
Edible peanuts are one of Mars Chocolate's foundational ingredients and are a critical component to two of the company's most popular products worldwide--M&M's Peanut Chocolate Candies and Snickers. Mars, one of the top global buyers of high-quality edible peanuts, projects that its need for high-quality whole peanuts will triple by 2025.
"The industry recognizes a need to work with farmers to grow peanut varieties that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the crop by keeping peanuts competitive, free of disease, and satisfying to consumers," said Anne-Marie DeLorenzo, strategic sourcing manager of peanuts for Mars Chocolate North America. "[HOAPs] are more likely to stay fresh while also possessing all of the qualities that have made peanuts an attractive crop for U.S. farmers for years."
Mars Chocolate's initiative to improve peanut sustainability contains three main elements: support of crop improvement and breeding; expanding supply and the use of HOAPs in places where peanuts are grown; and developing quality and food safety, especially in managing the aflatoxin contamination, a toxin that can contaminate peanuts.
"We have every expectation we will meet our 2017 goal of utilizing 100% of HOAPs in our products." said DeLorenzo. "We are also pleased to see more members of the industry and farmers excited about the growth and use of [HOAPs]."
Based in McLean, Va., Mars Inc. has net sales of more than $33 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience.
Mars brands include Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Kitekat, Banfield Pet Hospital and Nutro); 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, The Bright Tea Co., Klix and Flavia); and Symbioscience (Cocoavia and Wisdom Panel).
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