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Tuesday October 4, 2011

Mars Debuts Items At NACS

Hackettstown, NJ — Mars Chocolate North America revealed additions and new pack sizes for its 3 Musketeers, M&M’s, Snickers and Dove brands at the NACS show.

Hitting retail in December will be 3 Musketeers Coconut bars featuring coconut flavor mixed into chocolate nougat and covered in milk chocolate. The 1.49-ounce bars have a SRP of $1.09 and ship six 24-ct displays per case.

In response to consumers’ request for more variety, Mars is also introducing M&M’s Mint Dark Chocolate candies. The items will comprise mint and dark chocolate with a candy shell. Available in 1.5-ounce bags with a SRP of $1.09, they ship 12 24-ct displays per case.

M&M’s in Mint Dark Chocolate, Dark Raspberry and Milk Chocolate are available in new eight-ounce standup bags. The pouches have a SRP of $2.99 and ship 12 and 18 bags per case and in 80-ct floorstands.

Also new from the M&M’s line is a branded snack mix available in three varieties. Milk Chocolate Candies Snack Mix features milk chocolate M&M’s, mini chocolate chip cookies, mini pretzel twists and peanuts, while Dark Chocolate Candies Snack Mix comprises dark chocolate M&M’s, raisins, almonds and mini pretzel twists. Peanut Chocolate Candies Snack Mix has peanut M&M’s, mini shortbread cookies, almonds and mini pretzel twists. The snack mixes will be available in May 2012 and pack in eight-ounce reclosable bags with a SRP of $3.29. Single variety cases ship with 12 bags and in 18-ct displays. Milk Chocolate and Peanut Chocolate also ship in 24-ct shippers and 72-ct mixed quarter pallets, while Dark Chocolate packs in 12-ct shippers and 36-ct mixed quarter pallets.

Mars is reintroducing Dove Singles in milk and dark chocolate in 1.44-ounce bars, which are 10 percent larger than the current versions. The bars will be available in January with a SRP of $1.09. Dove singles ship in 18-ct cases. Milk and Dark chocolate singles are available in 168-ct powerwings and in 72-ct displays.

Dove Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins & Peanuts mix is new from the company. Packing in five-ounce bags with a SRP of $3.49, they ship 12 bags per case.

Snickers 3X Chocolate 2 To Go bars featuring peanuts in chocolate caramel on top of chocolate nougat, covered in milk chocolate and are new from the company. The 3.14-ounce bars have a SRP of $1.69 and ship six 24-ct displays per case.

Also new from the company are Sharing Sizes for the M&M’s and Snickers brands. M&M’s Pretzel and Almond varieties will be available in bags holding two servings each, while Snickers Almond bars will come in singles six-packs. Snickers Peanut Butter Squared bars will be available in 4 to Go packs.

M&M’s Sharing Size 2.83-ounce packs have a SRP of $1.69, while 9.78-ounce Snickers Almond six-packs and 3.56-ounce Peanut Butter Squared 4 to Go packs have SRPs of $4.89 and $1.69, respectively.