MCLEAN, Va., & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food and Kellanova (NYSE: K), a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles and North America frozen foods, today announced that Mars has received unconditional approval from the European Commission for its pending acquisition of Kellanova. As a result, all required regulatory approvals and clearances for the pending transaction have been obtained. About Mars, Incorporated Mar ...

Core Insights - Mars Snacking and Unreasonable Group have welcomed 14 new growth-stage companies into the Unreasonable Food initiative, aimed at building a more sustainable food system [1][3] - The collaboration seeks to address critical challenges in the food supply chain and transform them into unprecedented opportunities for innovation and sustainability [3][4] Company Overview - Mars, Incorporated is a family-owned business valued at approximately $55 billion, with a diverse product portfolio that includes pet care products, high-quality snacks, and food brands [5] - The company operates a global network of veterinary hospitals and diagnostic services, emphasizing its commitment to quality, responsibility, and sustainability [5] Initiative Details - The Unreasonable Food initiative, launched in 2024, focuses on reducing dairy emissions, expanding sustainable ingredient applications, and exploring sustainable color solutions [3][4] - The first cohort of the initiative reported generating nearly $200 million in additional revenue, reducing 140,000 tons of CO₂e emissions, saving 310 million liters of water, and providing safe, nutritious food to up to 24 million people [4] Technological Innovations - The initiative includes various innovative approaches such as genetically engineered crops to produce dairy-like proteins without cows, precision fermentation for animal-free casein, and plant-based sweeteners [6] - Other advancements involve the production of natural color alternatives through fermentation, AI and biotechnology for developing functional plant ingredients, and sustainable protein extraction from plants like lemna [6]