Share |

mars

Top 100 family businesses in North America

June 15, 2011

Family businesses are alive and well in the US, with the top 100 generating approximately $1.6 trillion to America’s $14.6 trillion GDP in 2010. Just under half of the top 100 are owned outright by the family, a higher proportion than in Europe, where Campden’s top 100 family business for the region found that less than a third were fully controlled by the family.

Will the Wrigley brand survive scion's departure?

February 3, 2010

Bill Wrigley Jr made a big decision for his company and his shareholders when he agreed in 2008 to sell the family firm to Mars Inc, another family-owned company, for $23 billion, writes Darrell Delamaide

Wrigley Jr leaves family business

January 25, 2010

William Wrigley Jr, the fourth generation of the family to work in the chewing gum empire, has officially left his position as executive chairman of the company.

Mars and Wrigley complete merger

October 7, 2008

The merger between family-owned confectionery giants Mars, Inc and WM Wrigley has been completed after Wrigley stockholders approved the deal and regulatory hurdles were cleared.

Mars, backed by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway investment house, is paying $80 per share for all Wrigley Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, valuing the chewing gum manufacturer at $23 billion. The deal was originally signed in April this year.

World exclusive: Pamela Mars-Wright on life at Mars, Inc

October 6, 2008

For the first time in 30 years, a member of the Mars family agreed to speak publicly about life at one of the world’s most private and successful businesses. Fourth-generation Pamela Mars-Wright talks exclusively to Marc Smith about life on Mars, Inc

For the first time in 30 years, a member of the Mars family agreed to speak publicly about life at one of the world's most private and successful businesses. Fourth-generation Pamela Mars-Wright talks exclusively to Marc Smith about life on Mars, Inc.

A bright new start

September 29, 2008

Making good on our promise to bring you something extra special for this launch issue of Campden FB we’ve pulled out all the stops.

Making good on our promise to bring you something extra special for this launch issue of Campden FB we've pulled out all the stops. As Families in Business, we brought you incisive interviews with some of the top names in family business. George Vanderbilt, Christof Bosch, Bill Ford, Andrea Illy, JW Marriot Jr and Giuseppe Lavazza are just some of the names that have graced our pages. We've even thrown in a few famous family celebrities over the years, like Paul Newman and Playboy heiress Christie Hefner.

Confectionery giants Mars and Wrigley unite

April 28, 2008

Two of the world’s largest family-owned confectionery firms are to merge.

Two of the world's largest family-owned confectionery firms are to merge. Mars Inc has agreed to acquire 100% of the WM Wrigley Company for $23 billion.

A global pawprint

May 1, 2007

Family-run VIP Petfoods has made a fortune down under. Having built up a large share in the Australian economy, the firm is about to expand worldwide. But how does it plan to change its USP in order to be accepted by western markets? Melanie Stern finds out

Melanie Stern is the former section editor of Families in Business.

Managing for the long-term

May 1, 2006

In a world that seems increasingly focused on the benefits of super-quick results and earning a fast buck, families in business tend to look towards a different goal. There are more rewards to be gained from a solid long-term strategy than just continuity, writes John Ward

John Ward is the Wild Group Professor of Family Business, IMD; Professor of Family Enterprises, Kellogg School; Principle of The Family Business Consulting Group.

Expanding the family business overseas: strategies for success

March 1, 2004

With a comprehensive business plan, the backing of their shareholders and a will to travel, there is no reason that family businesses should not be embracing business expansion outside their domestic market

Ernesto J Poza is Professor of Family Business and Director of the Partnership with Family Business at Case Western Reserve University (USA). He consults and serves on the boards of sseveral family companies in the US, Latin America and Europe.