Mars Launches Nutrition Business Unit

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.--The makers of M&Ms are getting into the nutrition business. Mars Inc. launched a new business unit--Mars Nutrition for Health & Well-Being--designed to develop and launch a line of foods, beverages and other products in the health and nutrition arena.

"Our unit's mission is to be a trusted partner in healthy lifestyles, enabling consumers to look perform and feel their best every day," said Michael Mars, president of the new business unit. "We will bring great taste to products that are designed to provide real health benefits supported by sound nutrition science."

According to the company, it has already spent the last 15 years working in partnership with leading academic institutions exploring the health benefits of cocoa and its flavanols. As such, the first product coming out of the new Mars Nutrition business is a chocolate snack--CocoaVia (www.cocoavia.com). The snack bars include 100 mg of cocoa flavanols and 1.5 g of phytosterols, and use an oat, soy and rice granola base. They are targeted for their heart health benefits, with the tagline "Be Good To Your Heart Everyday".