Associates own their career journey at Mars

In her 15 years at Bolton, Ont.-based Mars Canada, Ashley Harris has enjoyed a diverse career. She started in the scientific side of the company’s pet food business after earning a master’s degree in nutritional science but has since transitioned to a marketing role.

“A few years ago, an opportunity came up to explore a role in marketing, and I couldn’t pass it up,” says Harris, a sales acceleration manager. “It might sound like a big leap, but at Mars we have so many different functions and are encouraged to explore new paths and develop a broad range of skills and capabilities.”

Career mobility is one thing that makes Mars a special place to work, says Ellen Thompson, Canadian general manager of the Mars Wrigley business unit, home to such iconic brands as Mars, M&M’s, Skittles and Excel gum. “We are a purpose-driven organization with a focus on our associates,” she says. “Our associates are not just employees. They are the heartbeat of our organization.”

Mars actively encourages employees to move within the organization. “A lot of companies don’t necessarily encourage it, but Mars is unique,” says Thompson. “I’ve had the opportunity to work across several business segments such as Mars Wrigley and Mars Petcare in both the U.S. and globally. This diverse experience helped prepare me for my current role as general manager in Canada.”

The company’s commitment to its people is reflected in its culture of career mobility and development. “We like to say that associates own their development,” says Stephanie Paradis, association relations manager. “If there’s an experience or skill you want to develop, we will do everything we can to support you.”

Associates are encouraged through classroom training, virtual e-learning and a variety of material accessible through Mars University. “Whether you’re enhancing your day-to-day skills or developing leadership competencies, Mars provides the tools you need to succeed.” says Paradis.

Apart from supporting associates, Mars fosters emerging talent through co-op and internship programs. Coops are for students from second to fourth years of study and can be four, eight or 12 months in duration. The internship program offers fourth-year college or university students four-month summer placements.

“We want students to have meaningful, real-life work experience,” says Thompson. “They aren’t just here to observe – they help us solve real business challenges. Our goal is for them to have a great experience and to experience our fantastic organization.”

Beyond career development, Mars is committed to making the workplace enjoyable and supportive. Corporate associates, for example, benefit from a flexible hybrid work model. While they have the option to work remotely, they come together for hub days in the office, typically on Wednesdays and Thursdays, to connect and collaborate. “Our associates come to the office to experience the Mars culture in action,” says Thompson. “It’s an opportunity to build relationships and foster a sense of community.”

The company’s head office is located on a 96-acre site in Bolton. It was renovated in 2023 with upgraded technology and collaborative workspaces. The office is designed for flexibility. Associates can find “neighbourhoods” tailored to their segments – whether in Mars Wrigley, Petcare, or Food.

The campus also offers a host of amenities to enhance associates’ well-being, including a two-kilometre walking trail along the perimeter of the property, a pickleball court, ping pong tables, and an on-site gym, as well as indoor and outdoor dog parks.

“We’re able to bring our pets to the office,” says Harris, who owns a miniature schnauzer named Marti. “They get colour-coded green, yellow and orange leashes for their dogs depending on how friendly they are.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada's Top 100 Employers winners, published November 15, 2024 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.

Mars Canada is working today for a sweeter tomorrow

Barbara Cooper says Mars Canada associates are driven by a belief – the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. “That gives us permission to be bold and aspirational. We are trying to reimagine what it means to have a meaningful impact in the world,” says Cooper, marketing director, Mars Wrigley Canada. “With the brands I represent, like M&M’s, Skittles and Snickers, we deliver incredibly delicious products. But we need to be more than that.

“These brands are some of the most loved in the world and so we have the opportunity to make a difference and stand for something bigger.”

This includes a commitment to sustainability – for example, working toward 100-per-cent recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025 and investing in sustainable agriculture projects aimed at improving farmer incomes, enhancing food security and restoring ecosystems. It also involves brand campaigns with a purpose.

In 2023, with the launch of the new M&M’s spokescandy, Purple, the company released a limited-edition package of only female M&M’s – Purple, Green and Brown. The campaign, Flipping the Status Quo, also involved ads featuring content creators from the United States and Canada who were breaking barriers and redefining success and happiness. The company pledged $1 per sale of the packs, up to $75,000, to help fund Canadian Women’s Foundation economic development grants, which support programs that aid women and gender diverse people in moving out of poverty through skills training and mentorship.

“These are the things that inspire associates and make them want to come to work in the morning,” Cooper says. “They believe in the products we’re selling. And when they stand for something deeper, we have an emotional connection to the brands we’re selling. That’s what people love about working at Mars. And that’s why I’m still here after seven years.”

Jassica Chouhan, senior brand manager, Ben’s Original, agrees about the value of working for a purpose-led company. “It gives you the confidence that the work you’re doing is not just limited to your 9-to-5 and to driving financial objectives,” she says. “It really is so much more than that. I feel that I get to also fulfil my personal purpose of wanting to create a better tomorrow.”

Chouhan feels pride in being part of the Ben’s Original Seat at the Table program, which aims to create opportunities for students who are Black, Indigenous and persons of colour to pursue a culinary education and careers in the food industry. The brand partners with four culinary colleges across Canada to provide scholarships to help cover tuition, books, equipment and other expenses. Since 2022, the program has awarded 20 scholarships and will be awarding 20 more over the next academic year.

Another program that inspires pride in Mars Canada associates is SHEBA Hope Grows, which has invested more than $10 million in reef restoration over the last decade and is working to restore the equivalent of 148 Olympic-sized pools of coral reefs by the end of 2029. When SHEBA Bistro cat food launched in Canada, the team created an immersive multi-sensory exhibit in Toronto, which took visitors below the ocean with an underwater simulation.

“At Mars we don’t have to choose between profit or purpose – we're encouraged to embrace both,” says Animesh Kumar, marketing director for Mars Pet Nutrition, Canada. “This approach is what inspires us to think creatively and find sustainable solutions for our shared communities and the environment. I love working at a company that motivates their associates to think big, think long term, make a difference, and make a better world for pets and the people who love them.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 5, 2023 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.