Forrest Mars Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forrest Mars Sr.
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Forrest Edward Mars
March 21, 1904 Wadena, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Died | July 1, 1999 (aged 95) |
| Education | Yale University |
| Occupation | Director of Mars, Inc. Founder of Ethel M Chocolates |
| Net worth | US$4.0 billion (1999) |
| Spouse(s) | Audrey Ruth (Meyer) Mars |
| Children | Forrest Edward Mars Jr. John F. Mars Jacqueline Mars |
| Parent(s) | Frank C. Mars Ethel G. Mars |
Forrest Edward Mars Sr. (born March 21, 1904 – died July 1, 1999) was an American businessman. He was a very important person in building the Mars candy company. You might know some of the famous treats he helped create. These include the Milky Way (in 1923) and Mars (in 1932) chocolate candy bars. He also helped launch M&M's chocolate candies in 1941. Besides candy, he was key in starting the Uncle Ben's Rice brand. Forrest was the son of Mars, Inc. founder Frank C. Mars. His mother was Ethel G. Mars.
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Growing Up and Starting Out
Forrest Mars was born in Wadena, Minnesota. After his parents divorced when he was young, he grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada. He didn't see his father very often during this time. After finishing high school, he went to the University of California, Berkeley. He later moved to Yale University, where he earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1928.
As an adult, Forrest Mars started working with his father at Mars, Inc. However, they didn't always agree. Forrest wanted the company to sell its products all over the world, but his father did not. For a few years, Forrest worked at a new factory in Chicago. There, he helped create the Snickers and 3 Musketeers candy bars. A chemist who worked with him remembered that Forrest often brought new ideas for them to try.
Forrest then decided to leave the company and moved to England. While he was there, away from his father, he created the Mars bar and Maltesers in 1933. In Europe, he also worked for other big food companies like Nestlé and Tobler.
New Business Ideas
In 1934, Forrest bought a British company called Chappel Bros. This company made canned meat for dogs. Since there wasn't much competition, Forrest became a leader in the pet food market. He launched and sold Chappie's canned dog food.
After some time, he returned to the United States. There, he started his own food business called Food Products Manufacturing. This is where he created the Uncle Ben's Rice brand. He also started a pet food business called Pedigree.
Later, he worked with a partner named Bruce Murrie. Together, they created M&M's in 1940. These are the famous chocolate candies with a crunchy shell that "melts in your mouth, not in your hands." Some people think they might have been inspired by another candy called Smarties. Even though Forrest was allergic to peanuts, Peanut M&M's were introduced in 1954. Bruce Murrie later left the business.
Leading the Family Business
After his father passed away, Forrest Mars took over the family business, Mars, Inc. He combined it with his own company in 1964.
Forrest was married to Audrey Ruth Meyer. They had three children: Forrest Jr., John, and Jacqueline.
In 1973, Forrest Mars decided to retire from Mars, Inc. He handed over the company to his children.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1980, after he retired, Forrest Mars was living in Henderson, Nevada. He started a new chocolate company called Ethel M Chocolates. He named it after his mother. Mars, Inc. later bought Ethel M Chocolates in 1988.
Forrest Mars died when he was 95 years old in Miami, Florida. He had built a huge fortune of $4 billion. Forbes magazine listed him as the 30th richest person in the United States at the time. He left the Mars business to his three children to share.
In 1984, Forrest Mars was honored by being added to the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
