Mars bar

Two different chocolate bars have been sold as Mars bars.

File:Mars Logo Alt.svg

In most of the world, a Mars bar is a chocolate bar with nougat and caramel, coated with milk chocolate.

It was first manufactured in Slough, England under the Mars bar name in 1932 by Forrest Mars Sr., son of American candy maker Frank C. Mars.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=http://www.marsbar.co.uk/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131101532/http://www.marsbar.co.uk/history/ |archive-date=31 January 2011 |access-date=23 June 2010 |website=marsbar.co.uk |quote=1932: Frank C Mars gives his son, Forrest, $50,000 and the formula for ‘Milky Way’ to go to the UK and start his own business, Mars Limited, in Slough.}} He modelled it after his father's Milky Way bar, which was already popular in the US, adjusting the recipe to better suit European tastes.{{cite book |last1=Berry |first1=Steve |last2=Norman |first2=Phil |title=A History of Sweets in 50 Wrappers |date=2014 |publisher=The Friday Project |location=London |isbn=9780007575480 |pages=64–65}} He had a staff of twelve people, and originally advertised it as using Cadbury's chocolate couverture.Sweet Talk: the Secret History of Confectionery, Whittaker, Nicholas, Gollancz, 1997 The bar and the proportions of the main components have changed over the years. With minor variations, this version is sold worldwide, except for the US, and is packaged in a black wrapper with red gold-edged lettering. Three million Mars bars accompanied the British task force to the Falklands in 1982.{{cite book |last1=Otter |first1=Chris |title=Diet for a large planet |date=2020 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=USA |isbn=978-0-226-69710-9 |page=96 }}

The Mars brand logo went through several changes. In 1932, the first logo had a black colour font and was tilted. In 1978, the logo was rebranded to being white and having a star on the side. In 1988, the Mars bar had gone through a significant change with its logo. At that time, the logo was given a more bombastic treatment, written with red thick font and golden outlier. This logo became the standard-form for future logos. The logo then changed again, in the early 2000s. This time the logo was given a much more modern and sleeker look. It was updated to have a more cursive appearance to it and has retained that appearance ever since.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/netnotes/article/0,,669665,00.html|title=Guardian Unlimited, "Mars bar"|website=TheGuardian.com|date=18 March 2002|access-date=23 July 2006}}

The nougat was made lighter, the chocolate on top became thinner, and the overall weight of the bar was reduced slightly. The slogan "Pleasure you can't measure" was intended to appeal more to women and youths.{{cite web|url=https://www.just-food.com/news/uk-mars-re-branding-offers-consumers-pleasure-not-power/|title=UK: Mars re-branding offers consumers pleasure, not power|date=18 March 2002|publisher=Just Food}}

Various sizes are made. As of 2008: miniature bars called "Fun Size" ({{cvt|19.7|g|disp=comma}}) and "Snack Time" ({{cvt|36.5|g|disp=comma}}) (both sold in multiple packs); a larger multi-pack size of {{cvt|54|g}}; the regular-sized single {{cvt|51|g}} bar, and a "king-size" {{cvt|84|g}} bar, since replaced by "Mars Duo" ({{cvt|85|g|disp=or}}), a pack of two bars. The regular {{cvt|58|g}} single bar contains 260 calories.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In the second half of 2008, Mars UK reduced the weight of regular bars from {{cvt|62.5|g}} to {{cvt|58|g}}. Although the reduction in size was not publicised at the time, Mars claimed the change was designed to help tackle the obesity crisis in the UK, but later acknowledged that the real reason for the change was rising costs.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5432642/Mars-bars-shrink-in-size.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5432642/Mars-bars-shrink-in-size.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Mars bars shrink in size | date=3 June 2009}}{{cbignore}} In 2013, the "standard" Mars bar was further reduced to {{cvt|51|g}}, for a reduction of about 20% in 5 years;{{cite web|url=http://www.marsbar.com/|title=Mars|author=Linney Group|work=marsbar.com|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208045212/http://marsbar.com/|archive-date=8 February 2011|url-status=dead}} it continued to be {{cvt|51|g}} in 2023.{{cite web | title=OUR PRODUCTS | publisher=Mars | url=https://www.marsbar.co.uk/our-products | access-date=5 October 2023}}

In May 2009, the Mars bar size reduced from {{cvt|60|g}} to {{cvt|53|g}} in Australia, citing portion sizes and the obesity debate as the primary driver.[http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/mars-bars-size-slashed-but-price-to-stay-the-same/news-story/38142735a2faaa419e841e6666] {{dead link|date=July 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/smaller-mars-a-taste-of-things-to-come-20090511-jmvwf |title= Smaller Mars a taste of things to come|first=Neil|last=Shoebridge|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review|date=11 May 2009}} By 2022 it was noted the Mars bar size had been reduced further to {{cvt|47|g}} in Australia and New Zealand.

File:US-Mars-Wrapper-Small.jpg

File:Mars-Almond-split.jpg

In the United States, the Mars bar was a candy bar with nougat and toasted almonds coated with milk chocolate. The same candy bar is known outside the United States as a Mars Almond bar. Originally it did not have caramel, but at some point caramel was added. It was discontinued in 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.candyfavorites.com/Snickers-Almond-Mars-bar-pr-295.html |title= Snickers Almond Mars bar |access-date=7 August 2007 |website=Candyfavorites.com|quote=Snickers Almond "is the replacement for the classic Mars bar"}}

In 2003, the company introduced a replacement called Snickers Almond containing nougat, almonds, caramel, and a milk chocolate coating, It is similar to the Mars bar, with some differences; for example, the pieces of almond are smaller in Snickers Almond than in the Mars bar.

The Mars bar was relaunched in January 2010 (initially exclusively through Walmart stores), discontinued again at the end of 2011,[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/brits-only-just-realising-mars-31237258 Brits are only just realising why Mars bars are called Milky Way in America] . Mirror UK. and relaunched again in September 2016 by Ethel M, the gourmet chocolate subsidiary of Mars, Inc. The 2016 version was the "original American recipe", without caramel. It was available in their stores and on Amazon.com.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-relaunch-of-a-blast-from-the-past---ethel-m-chocolates-brings-back-original-1932-mars-bar-300522193.html|title=The Relaunch of a Blast from the Past – Ethel M Chocolates Brings Back Original 1932 Mars Bar|last=Chocolates|first=Ethel M|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=20 September 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/desserts/candy/original-mars-bar-comeback|title=The Original Mars Bar Is Back|work=Food & Wine|access-date=20 September 2017|language=en}}

The European or Canadian version of the Mars bar is sold in some American grocery stores that stock imported food products.

File:Mars-Delight-Whole-&-Split.jpg

File:Mars Ice Cream (split).jpg

Other products have also been released using the Mars name.

• Mars Bites/Bouchées (Canada)
• Mars Milk (1998)
• Mars Delight (discontinued in the UK in 2008){{cite web |last1=Tesia |first1=Ria |title=Chocolate lovers confirm their most-missed discontinued treat |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/mars-delight-crowned-uks-most-25147704 |website=Wales Online |access-date=1 April 2024 |language=en |date=30 September 2022}}
• Mars Choc Brownie
• Mars Extra Chocolate Drink
• No Added Sugar Drink
• Mars Ice Cream bars
• Mars and Mars Midnight Ice Cream bars
• McVities Mars Mini Rolls
• Mars Biscuits (Australia and the UK – a biscuit with Mars topping)
• Mars Pods (Australia and New Zealand – a small crunchy wafer shell with Mars filling, also available in variants)Mars Pods Packet 2014
• Mars Rocks
• Mars Planets
• Mars Mix
• Mars Frozen Dessert Bar{{Cite news|url=http://www.just-food.com/news/mars-launches-range-of-frozen-desserts_id133839.aspx|title=Mars launches range of frozen desserts|website=Just-food.com|author=John Shepherd|date=18 July 2016|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224125813/http://www.just-food.com/news/mars-launches-range-of-frozen-desserts_id133839.aspx|url-status=dead}}
• Mars Protein – A 50 g Mars bar with less sugar and more protein; packaging states "More protein, 40% less sugar".

File:Mars Believe Bar.jpg

The Original Mars bar in "Believe" packaging was sold in the UK from 18 April 2006 until the end of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in July. "Believe" took prominence on the packaging ("Original Mars" appeared in smaller print) to indicate support for the England national football team. Advertising in other nations of the UK was tailored to reflect their own teams after public condemnation, although in Scotland the "Believe" packaging was still used – causing negative publicity.{{cite web|last=Davidson |first=Lynn |title=We're Not Buying It |publisher=Daily Record |year=2006 |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17164545&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=we-re-not-buying-it--name_page.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903150750/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid%3D17164545%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D66633%26headline%3Dwe-re-not-buying-it--name_page.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2009 |access-date=19 February 2008 }}

On 30 July 2008, the Tasmanian government announced that it had secured a major sponsor, Mars for a bid to enter the Australian Football League in a deal worth $4 million over 3 years and will temporarily change the name of its top-selling chocolate bar in Australia to Believe, to help promote Tasmania's cause.Mars has committed $4 million over three years and will temporarily change the name of its top-selling chocolate bar in Australia to Believe, to help promote Tasmania's cause.

Mars were re-branded "Hopp" ("Go!" in English) in Switzerland during UEFA Euro 2008. Like the "Believe" packaging sold in the UK in 2006, "Original Mars" was also shown in smaller print.{{cite web|title=Mars/Hopp |publisher=Wirz Gruppe |url=http://www.wirz.ch/wirz-gruppe/totalwork/mars-hopp/ |access-date=9 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105020942/http://www.wirz.ch/wirz-gruppe/totalwork/mars-hopp/ |archive-date=5 January 2011 }}

In 2010, to promote England's involvement in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the background of the UK Mars packaging became the St. George cross.

{{More citations needed section|date=June 2011}}

• "Maxis from Mars" – United Kingdom (1969) A number of white Austin Maxis were driven around the country with numbers on the doors. If the number inside a Mars Bar wrapper matched that on the car, the purchaser of the Mars Bar won the car.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
• "Mars bringt verbrauchte Energie sofort zurück." (Mars replenishes lost energy instantaneously) - Germany (1960s) {{Cite web|url=https://brand-history.com/mars-austria-og/mars/mars-fein-vollmilch-schokolade-gibt-neue-kraft-mars-bringt-verbrauchte-energie-sofort-zuruck|title = Mars - Fein Vollmilch-Schokolade gibt neue Kraft. Mars bringt verbrauchte Energie sofort Z}}
• "Mars macht mobil bei Arbeit, Sport und Spiel" (Mars mobilises you at work, sports and play) – Germany (1980s and 1990s)
• "A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play" – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom
• "Out of this world!" – Australia, UK
• "Earth – what you'd eat if you lived on Mars" – New Zealand
• "Another way to make your day" – UK (2005){{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_200509/ai_n19896393 | title=Mars to make your day | work= Grocer }} {{dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}
• "Feels good to be back! " – Australia (2005)
• "An almond in every bite!" – US
• "Un Mars, et ça repart" (A Mars, and here we go again) – France (late 1990s and renewed from 2006)
• "Mars, que du bonheur" (Mars, only happiness) – France
• "Mars, haal eruit wat erin zit!" (Mars, get the most out of it!) – Netherlands, Belgium
• "Who knows? In 1,000 years we could all be sitting on Mars eating Earth bars." – United Kingdom (a full-page advertisement placed in the official Guide Book for the Millennium Dome in 2000)

• "Mars your day" – Australia
• "A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play" – UK, Australia
• "Recharge on Mars" – Canada
• "Mars, pleasure you just can't measure" – Europe
• "Un coup de barre? Mars et ça repart!" (Feeling tired? A Mars and here we go again!) – France
• "Nimm Mars, gib Gas" (Take Mars, step on the gas) – Germany
• "Mars, momento di vero godimento" (Mars, a moment of pure enjoyment) – Italy
• "Mars, geeft je energie" (Gives you energy) – The Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium
• "Work-Rest-Play" – UK (later "Work-Rest-Play your part")
• "Turn Up the Heat!" – (UK promotional packs in 2010)

{{Main|Deep-fried Mars bar}}

File:DeepFriedMarsBar.jpg

First reports of Mars bars coated with batter and deep-fried being sold in Stonehaven, Scotland{{cite news | last = McColm | first = Euan | date = 26 February 2000 | title = No Haven for the Deep Fried Mars Bar; Birthplace of the Battered Choccy Treat Closes Down | work = Daily Record }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/654750.stm|title=French batter Mars bars menu|work=news.bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC News}} date back to 1995.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4103415.stm|title=Deep-fried Mars myth is dispelled|work=news.bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC News online|author=Original source, Scottish Daily Record|date=2004-12-17|access-date=15 November 2006}} Mars says that it is "not authorised or endorsed".{{cite news|last=Brocklehurst|first=Steven|title=Deep-fried Mars bars: A symbol of a nation's diet?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19463119|access-date=6 September 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=6 September 2012}}

Deep-fried Mars bars were also sold in New York.{{Cite web |title=The Atlantic ChipShop Menu |url=http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/chipshop01/menus/main.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522153619/http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/chipshop01/menus/main.html |archive-date=22 May 2008 |website=nymag.com}}

In Kathmandu, Nepal, momo dumplings in tourist areas have used Mars bars as an unusual filling.{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/dumplings-worlds-best | title=The world's tastiest dumplings | date=2 December 2021 }}

In July 2005, Mars bars, along with the Snickers bar, were recalled due to an anonymous extortion attempt against Star City Casino in Sydney.{{Cite web |date=2005-07-19 |title=Mars extortion bid aimed at casino |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/mars-extortion-bid-aimed-at-casino-20050720-gdlprw.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} The extortionist claimed to have poisoned seven Mars and Snickers bars at random stores in New South Wales.{{Cite web |date=2005-07-01 |title=Threat sparks Mars, Snickers bar recall |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/threat-sparks-mars-snickers-bar-recall-20050702-gdlm3i.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} As a result, Masterfoods Corporation, the company that manufactures Mars bars in Australia, recalled the entire Mars and Snickers product from store shelves in New South Wales. In the later half of August 2005, the threat to the public was deemed negligible and the bars returned to shelves.{{cite web | title=AUSTRALIA: Free Mars bars after extortion threat ends | website=Just Food | date=2005-08-15 | url=https://www.just-food.com/news/australia-free-mars-bars-after-extortion-threat-ends/ | access-date=2022-11-02}}

In February 2016, Mars, Snickers and various other Mars, Inc. chocolate products were recalled in 55 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The precautionary recall was issued after a customer found pieces of plastic in a Snickers bar purchased in Germany. The error was traced back to a Mars, Inc. factory in Veghel, The Netherlands.{{cite news|title=Mars recalls chocolate in 55 countries|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35642075|access-date=23 February 2016|work=BBC News|date=23 February 2016}}{{cite news|title=Mars Recalls Chocolate Products in 55 Countries|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/24/business/international/mars-candy-bar-recall-germany.html|access-date=7 March 2016|work=The New York Times|date=23 February 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Hanif|first1=Nadeem|title=UAE part of worldwide chocolate recall by Mars|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/uae-part-of-worldwide-chocolate-recall-by-mars|access-date=7 March 2016|work=The National|date=24 February 2016}}

In May 2007, Mars UK announced that Mars bars, along with many of their other products such as Snickers, Maltesers, Minstrels and Twix would no longer be suitable for vegetarians because of the introduction of rennet, a chemical sourced from calves' stomachs used in the production of whey.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6653175.stm|title=Mars starts using animal products|work=news.bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC News website}} Rabbinical authorities declared that the products remained kosher for Jewish consumption.{{cite web|url=http://www.theus.org.uk/jewish_living/file/?file_id=184 |title=LBD Kashrut Division — It's Kosher anyWhey! |work=theus.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406120947/http://www.theus.org.uk/jewish_living/file/?file_id=184 |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}

The decision was condemned by several groups, with the Vegetarian Society stating that "at a time when more and more consumers are concerned about the provenance of their food, Mars' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step".

Mars later abandoned these plans, stating that it became "very clear, very quickly" that it had made a mistake.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6673549.stm| work=BBC News| title=Mars bars get veggie status back| date=20 May 2007}}

It has been observed on several occasions that the price of a Mars bar correlates fairly accurately with the change in value of the pound sterling since World War II, much in the way that the Big Mac Index has proven to be a good indicator of the actual relative purchasing power of world currencies.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/9f128868-68b4-11da-bd30-0000779e2340.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/9f128868-68b4-11da-bd30-0000779e2340.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Mars bar|work=ft.com|publisher=Financial Times website|author=Nico Colchester Fellowship|date=26 January 2001|access-date=13 January 2007}}

Northern Irish pop-punk band The Undertones wrote and recorded a song called "Mars Bars", released as a B-side in 1979.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHGOk_bxDcM | title=Mars Bars | website=YouTube | date=21 July 2021 }}

1960s Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers were originally known as Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars before changing their name due to the objection of the Mars company.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/arts/music/gerry-marsden-dead.html|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406034756/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/arts/music/gerry-marsden-dead.html|archive-date=6 April 2023|title=Gerry Marsden, a Hitmaker With the Pacemakers, Dies at 78 |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=4 January 2021 |website=NYTimes.com}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Mars Bar}}

• [http://totl.net/VisibleMars/ The Visible Mars bar project], which shows the difference between US and UK Mars bars.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031139/https://oregonl5.nss.org/mist/marsbar.html Site with cross-sections of both the original US and Canadian Mars bars]
• [http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=slough&f=generic_theme.htm&%3dtheme_record_id=sl-sl-mars Slough History Online]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDr9vjc1w50 Television commercial for original US Mars bar showing ingredients]

{{Mars brands}}

Category:Products introduced in 1932

Category:British confectionery

Category:Chocolate bars

Category:Kosher food

Category:Mars confectionery brands

Category:Slough

Category:Brand name confectionery