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Malaysian Reserve
08-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Mars Brings Top Tier Innovations to Sweets & Snacks Expo
Mars showcases how evolving treating behaviors and stretched seasons are shaping the future of snacking NEWARK, N.J., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mars, the maker of some of the world's most beloved treats and snacks, will return to the 2025 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis on May 13-15. Onsite, Mars will highlight and sample its latest innovations that are backed by evolving treating trends and discuss how seasonal occasions are positively impacting the category and retailers alike. 'Treating plays an important role in life's moments, big and small,' said Tim LeBel, President of Sales at Mars Wrigley North America. 'As a consumer-obsessed company committed to shaping the future of snacking, Mars is constantly innovating ways for our brands to deliver exciting experiences with our products. Through new and nostalgic flavors, festive shapes and playful textures, we help drive the category and empower retailers to deliver moments of everyday happiness for consumers.' Insights-Backed Innovations from Iconic Brands Across the Mars portfolio, there are several new offerings that deliver on evolving consumer preferences, from heightened demand for better-for-you options, to Gen Z's affinity for adventurous textures and formats, and chocolate's continued reign around seasonal moments. At booth #5202, Mars will showcase a range of its latest innovations including: STARBURST® GOODIES: These new STARBURST® gummies are plant based with 4g of sugar per serving, and are an excellent source of fiber —no wonder why they're called GOODIES. Made with real fruit juice, STARBURST GOODIES are the sweet treat you've been waiting for. M&M'S® Peanut Butter & Jelly: The latest star of the M&M'S® Peanut Butter portfolio features berry flavored bite-sized chocolate treats with a deliciously smooth peanut butter center that will transport fans to the delicious experience of a PB&J sandwich. SKITTLES® POP'D Original & Sour: These new SKITTLES® innovations taps into the freeze-dried candy craze, featuring an unexpectedly crunchy, crispy way to enjoy the fruity SKITTLES Original and new Sour flavors. SNICKERS® Pecan: A delicious twist on the candy bar you love, featuring the perfect blend of caramel, nougat and milk chocolate, now complemented by the savory-sweetness of pecans. SNICKERS® Shapes: SNICKERS Shapes feature the same satisfying roasted peanuts, creamy caramel, smooth nougat and milk chocolate iconic to SNICKERS, but in festive seasonal shapes to maximize holiday joy from Easter to the holidays and every festive moment in between. Leaning into Stretched Seasons Consumers are using festive treats and the traditions around them as a way to extend the joy of seasons. This includes microseasons and new moments for celebration, such as Summerween and Augtober—early Halloween festivities that emerged across social media last year. Seasonal moments are a key driver in how and when consumers plan, shop and treat themselves. With celebrations starting earlier and lasting longer, there is even more opportunity to engage shoppers and grow baskets. To learn more and hear firsthand insight, join Tim LeBel on Tuesday, May 13 at 2 pm on the Gold Stage (booth #4359), in a can't-miss panel discussion around how leading companies are capitalizing on extended seasons to meet demand across the shopper journey and drive incremental growth. For more information on the latest news from Mars, visit or follow us on LinkedIn. If you're planning to be at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, stop by booth #5202. ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M's®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom—inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. For more information about Mars, please visit Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. MEDIA CONTACTJoelle
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Talking Rain Boosts Convenience Store Presence with New C-Store VP, Chelsea Sobran
Talking Rain Beverage Company®, makers of the No. 1 sparkling water brand, Sparkling Ice ®, today announced the hiring of Chelsea Sobran, VP of Convenience Channel, who brings a deep understanding of the consumer landscape and spearheads the company's strategic growth in the convenience store market. 'As with other Talking Rain distribution channels, the convenience store channel strategy revolves around meeting our consumers where they are. When our consumers are on the go, they find the convenience store cold vault a great place to pick out and try new products,' said Sobran. 'Given the pent-up demand for better-for-you beverages, and Talking Rain's wide range of offerings, we expect to see Talking Rain more than double its c-store sales over the next three years.' Sobran's role entails growing the company's sales footprint by developing and maintaining relationships with the largest and most complex retailers in the convenience channel and ensuring Talking Rain products look irresistible on the shelf. Sobran has seen a marked transition take place in beverage options at c-stores, first expanding from regular soda to diet soda, and most recently toward better-for-you beverages. Sobran joins the Talking Rain team at the beginning of a year dedicated to accelerated growth through new flavors and product offerings, as well as an expansion of partnerships. Most recently, Talking Rain announced the launch of its Sparkling Ice STARBURST RED PACK, a continuation of the brand's partnership with STARBURST, which first became a runaway hit in 2024. Flavor fans can expect several new Talking Rain products and formats to launch in 2025. Before joining Talking Rain, Sobran spent ten years at Nestlé Waters North America, where she held roles in sales, analytics and marketing across both Canada and the United States, before moving on to serve as the sales VP at Keurig Dr Pepper. There she developed and led a sales team for the commercial coffee business unit across convenience, foodservice and hospitality channels. 'We are excited to welcome Chelsea to the team, marking another strategic investment in our company's expansive growth trajectory,' said Ken Sylvia, CEO of Talking Rain Beverage Co. 'Chelsea brings a wealth of expertise that will be pivotal as we expand our presence and introduce new Sparkling Ice flavors, along with other Talking Rain products, to the convenience sector nationwide. This move ensures that our flavorful beverages are more accessible to consumers everywhere.' Learn more about Talking Rain at Talking Rain, the makers of Sparkling Ice®, is a family-owned company based in Preston, Washington. Through nearly four decades of redefining the sparkling water category, Talking Rain has crafted a remarkable collection of full-flavored, better-for-you beverages, including the #1 sparkling water brand in the U.S., Sparkling Ice (also available in +Caffeine and +Energy). Talking Rain drinks have zero sugar, are enriched with vitamins and antioxidants, and come in a delicious array of bold flavors. Talking Rain believes in sharing its success to support healthy communities, personal wellbeing, and greater inclusivity. We live life in full flavor and believe the world should, too. Media Contact Annie Alley 206-466-2713
