How to Invest in Mars Inc. in 2026: A Realistic Guide
No, Mars Inc. is not publicly traded. Retail investors usually have to look at public peers like Mondelez, Hershey, and Nestlé, or wait for a rare IPO that currently has no visible signal.
Mars is one of the biggest consumer companies most people can’t buy directly. It owns some of the best-known names in candy, snacks, and pet care, and it keeps showing up in the news thanks to its scale, its $35.9 billion Kellanova deal, and its huge footprint across global food and pet brands.
That combination makes Mars a natural target for retail investors asking the same question: how do I invest in a company this large if there’s no stock symbol to buy? Here’s the practical answer, including what Mars does, whether it’s public, and the closest ways to get exposure.
What is Mars Inc.?
Mars, Incorporated is a global consumer and pet-care company founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars in Tacoma, Washington. It is now headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and operates across three main segments: Petcare, Snacking, and Food & Nutrition. Its brand portfolio includes M&M’S, SNICKERS, SKITTLES, EXTRA, PRINGLES, KIND, Ben’s Original, PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, Banfield, VCA, BluePearl, and AniCura.
The company says it operates in more than 70 markets, speaks 100+ languages, and has about 150,000 associates worldwide. Its latest annual-report figure shows 2025 net sales of $75.048 billion, and it says it employs over 70,000 associates in the U.S. across 38 factories. That makes Mars one of the largest privately held consumer businesses in the world, with a mix of branded packaged food, confectionery, and veterinary services that gives it broad reach with shoppers and pet owners.
