Masterfoods Returns to Roots
Five years ago, Mars Inc. changed its corporate name to Masterfoods North America and began centralizing its three top divisions. Although initially intended to drive efficiencies and cut costs, the idea of shared resources proved ineffective and actually slowed innovation. In response, the company is now trading in the Masterfoods name and returning to its Mars roots, which is both the better-known and preferred name among retailers and consumers. The name change is the final step in the decentralization begun last October of Mars' top three U.S. divisions: snack food, main meal food and pet care.