Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2025)
Here are some of the reasons why Mars Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026):
- Mars Canada's head office facility is located north of Toronto and situated on a rural acreage surrounded by outdoor spaces and wilderness -- unique aspects of the workplace include indoor and outdoor doggie play areas (in support of the company's pet-friendly policies), sheltered outdoor patio with barbecue, and a 2-kilometre walking trail around the property
- Mars Canada maintains progressive maternity and parental leave top-up policies, providing new mothers 100 per cent of salary for up to 23 weeks and 100 per cent of salary for up to 18 weeks for fathers and adoptive parents
- Mars Canada offers new employees four weeks of starting vacation allowance and allows them to carry forward one week of unused time off into the following year -- long serving employees may also be eligible to cash out unused vacation time over the statutory minimum
Mars Canada sweetens its next generation of talent
Mars Canada has always thought in generations, investing in the next wave of leaders while seizing each day as an opportunity to shape the future. Its three early talent programs go beyond traditional work experience, offering students diverse opportunities, personalized development, mentorship and a springboard for meaningful careers.
“Mars is a private, family-owned company and that structure allows Mars to think differently than many other consumer goods companies,” says Erin Hancock, global business transformation lead. “We think in generations, as opposed to quarters. That means we make decisions other companies that are bound to shareholder expectations often can’t.”
Hancock is a perfect example of how Mars invests in young talent. She joined the Bolton, Ont.-based company 15 years ago through its student recruitment program on the pet care side of the business. “I’ve had the chance to grow across marketing, supply, sales and now global and regional transformation roles,” she says. “So, all very different. That variety, and the encouragement from leaders to stretch myself, is why I’ve stayed at Mars.
“I’ve always had the opportunity to learn and grow, and my line managers and leadership teams have always encouraged me to stretch myself.”
Mars offers three student program launchpads: early talent, internships and the summer student family program, all of which provide around 40 students annually with real-world experience and mentorship in a purpose-driven culture. The student programs vary in duration, from the family-focused, four-month program for children of company associates to co-op placements for post-secondary students and internship programs such as the One Mars sales internship program. Through this internship, participants gain exposure across all business segments (ranging from Mars Snacking to Pet Care and Food and Nutrition), building connections and learning new skills as they work on challenging projects.
“One of things that surprised me when I was recruited out of school was how quickly I was immersed in all of the high-visibility, high-impact projects,” says Bovey Huang, who heads the sales internship program and is the district sales manager, leading a team of retail sales associates. “My initial reaction was, ‘Wow, this is a lot of responsibility.’ I felt a bit of impostor syndrome. But very quickly through that experience, for which I’m forever grateful, I realized I’m fully capable of doing these things, and Mars gave me the platform to find that out.”
Ellen Thompson, general manager at Mars Wrigley Canada, believes Mars is one of the best kept secrets for students. “Students don’t come in knowing everything — how could they? But they bring new perspectives that we learn from too. Everyone benefits from the experience.
“One of the amazing things about Mars overall is we encourage our associates to try different functions and segments to get a breadth of experience, which I haven’t experienced at other companies. At Mars, we promote enterprise thinking — being able to look at other people’s perspectives,” says Thompson.
Reflecting on her own journey, Thompson says, “When I think back to when I joined and where I am now, I’m a completely different person. Mars gave me confidence, professional coaching, and the opportunity to bring my whole self to work every day. That’s shaped the leader I am today and the parent I am to two teenage girls.”
Mars Canada drives positive change in its communities
They are posted on company websites and shared in town halls, but how does a global company bring its core principles to life in its employees’ own communities? At Mars Canada, volunteering runs in tandem with career growth. It’s where purpose meets action and where associates make a tangible impact that creates positive local changes.
“At Mars Canada, community work creates a positive feedback loop,” says Derin Bello, general manager, Mars Food & Nutrition. “There is nothing more engaging than when our associates see the impact they have every day. When we share those stories at town halls, it engages more people and truly becomes part of our culture.”
Whether it is donating food to local food banks, maintaining a long-term partnership with Caledon Community Services and other non-profit organizations, or supporting animal adoption through shelters, rescues or animal welfare organizations, the strategy is to be intentional at the grassroots level, says Bello.
Working for a company that believes in business as a power for good is one of the key reasons Samantha Rose has built her career at Bolton-based Mars Canada, where she currently works as corporate affairs head for the Pet Nutrition segment. Addressing the rising rates of pet homelessness, Mars Canada is spearheading programs at local shelters that educate on responsible pet ownership, encourage adoption, and ensure that pets are included in emergency response plans, such as the forest fires in northern Ontario.
Four years ago, Mars Pet Nutrition launched the Pedigree Foundation Canadian Grant Program, which donates $125,000 annually to animal shelters for dog adoption programs, including $25,000 for immediate disaster relief to cover veterinary costs, crates and transport needs.
This kind of community care is a two-way street — everyone is positively affected by the experience. A good example is the Mars Wrigley Purpose Day kits for everyday heroes. The idea came from an associate who saw a family at a grocery store build “thank you” gift boxes. That simple gesture and idea amplified and brought together associates to create 1,000 gift boxes filled with Mars treats as surprise gifts to thank everyday heroes like teachers, crossing guards and local volunteers.
“It’s exciting to be at an organization that nurtures your growth and takes into account how we can bring purpose to life within Mars Canada,” says Nina Solomun, manager, internal communications. “Purpose Day kits reached teachers, firefighters, crossing guards and nurses across the Greater Toronto Area and even made their way to an aviation technician who helped fight the wildfires.”
For Rose, volunteering at a local animal shelter created a meaningful experience with a family member. “It was our third year of giving Pedigree Foundation grants and as part of it, I was fortunate enough to visit a shelter with my mom. For her, seeing the impact of the work I’m doing meant the world to me. It demonstrated the real reason I wake up every day to come to work: to give back to pets in need. To share that experience with her was incredibly rewarding.”
Volunteering is part of career building at Mars Canada. “The Mars Volunteer Program spans the entire breadth of our operations,” says Bello, “so no matter how your career progresses across markets and segments, you can participate in related local volunteer activities. It’s a global program that is at the heart of our business.”
