Ferrero Group vs Mars
Founding story, key facts and history — side by side.
Ferrero Group
A secretive Italian confectionery dynasty that conquered the globe by transforming scarce post-war hazelnuts into luxury chocolate kingdoms.
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founders | Pietro Ferrero, Piera Cillario |
| HQ | Alba, Italy (Operational) / Findel, Luxembourg (Corporate) |
| Symbol | PRIVATE |
VS
Mars
A fiercely private family dynasty managing a jaw-dropping $65 billion empire split between iconic confectionery treats and global veterinary health grids.
| Founded | 1911 |
| Founders | Franklin Clarence Mars |
| HQ | McLean, Virginia |
| Symbol | PRIVATE |
The Story — Side by Side
1946
The post-war Alba cocoa shortage and the hazelnut solution
Operating out of a small pastry shop in Alba, Italy, Pietro Ferrero faced extreme post-war cocoa rationing. To extend his limited chocolate supplies, he blended abundant local Piedmont hazelnuts into a sweet, moldable paste called Giandujot, laying the direct chemical foundation for what would later become the global Nutella phenomenon.
1968
The Kinder and Tic Tac rollouts and international expansion
Under the leadership of Michele Ferrero, the company scaled internationally by introducing Kinder Chocolate—designed explicitly to appeal to mothers wanting portion-controlled milk treats for children—quickly followed by the debut of Tic Tac mints, establishing a massive confectionery distribution grid across Europe and North America.
2018
The $2.8 billion Nestlé US confectionery cash sweep
Breaking its historical aversion to large-scale acquisitions, Ferrero bought Nestlé's entire US confectionery business for $2.8 billion in cash. The massive transaction instantly handed the Italian firm control of iconic American brands like Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, and Crunch, positioning it as a dominant player in the US market.
2025
The record €19.3 billion turnover and WK Kellogg acquisition closing
Ferrero Group achieved record financial milestones, reporting a consolidated global turnover of €19.3 billion for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Guided by Executive Chairman Giovanni Ferrero, the company finalized its acquisition of WK Kellogg Co's breakfast cereal business to scale its North American footprint.
1911
The Tacoma kitchen counter origins and the Milky Way explosion
Frank Mars began hand-dipping chocolates in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen counter alongside his wife. The company achieved explosive financial success in 1923 after introducing the Milky Way bar, which was brilliantly engineered by his son Forrest Mars Sr. to taste like a premium malted milkshake but cost far less to mass-produce.
1935
The European pet care pivot and the multi-category mutation
Following a bitter family estrangement, Forrest Mars Sr. moved to the United Kingdom, where he independently purchased Chappel Bros, a pioneering British canned dog food company. This brilliant acquisition laid the foundation for Mars Petcare, transforming the candy company into a multi-category consumer goods giant.
2017
The $9.1 billion VCA acquisition and the absolute veterinary takeover
Mars executed a massive, highly unexpected $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA Inc., absorbing hundreds of animal hospitals across North America. This transaction consolidated Mars' position as the single largest provider of private veterinary medicine and diagnostics on Earth, making pet care more profitable than its candy division.
2026
The Kellanova mega-acquisition closing and $65 billion revenue scale
By mid-2026, Mars, Incorporated finalized its monumental, industry-shifting acquisition of Kellanova, absorbing iconic snack brands like Pringles and Cheez-It into its portfolio. Under the tight control of the billionaire Mars family, the private conglomerate saw its consolidated global revenues surge past $65 billion.