Mars's Secret Ingredient: An Employee-Approved Workplace Culture

MCLEAN, VA – January 21, 2026 – Mars, Incorporated, the family-owned behemoth behind iconic brands like M&M'S®, Pringles®, and PEDIGREE®, has secured a rare dual honor, earning top spots on two of Glassdoor's prestigious 2026 Best Places to Work lists. The company was ranked sixth among all large U.S. companies and, in a significant industry achievement, claimed the number one position on Glassdoor's inaugural list of Best Places to Work in Manufacturing & Energy.

These accolades are not the result of a corporate submission or a panel of judges. They are determined entirely by the anonymous and voluntary feedback of the company's own workforce, offering an unfiltered look into the employee experience at the $65 billion global enterprise. This direct validation from its more than 70,000 U.S. Associates underscores a strategy that intertwines deep financial investment with a deeply ingrained, people-centric culture.

A Recognition Built on Employee Voice

The Glassdoor Employees' Choice Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark for employer satisfaction precisely because of their methodology. Companies cannot apply or pay for inclusion. Instead, Glassdoor's proprietary algorithm analyzes millions of reviews submitted by employees over the past year. It weighs factors such as overall company rating, CEO approval, and employee sentiment across eight key workplace attributes, including career opportunities, compensation and benefits, work-life balance, and culture and values. To even be considered for the large company list, an employer must receive at least 75 ratings and maintain a high overall score.

For Mars, the high rankings serve as a powerful external validation of its internal philosophy. The company has long been guided by its "Five Principles"—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom—which it credits for shaping its business decisions and workplace environment.

"A company is only as strong as the people behind the work," said Rebecca Snow, Vice President, People & Organization at Mars, Incorporated, in a statement responding to the awards. "The world-class talent we have at Mars, coupled with our Associates' shared commitment to delivering high-quality products and services for our consumers, is what makes working at Mars so special. Receiving these honors reinforces that our culture and the way we work is aligned with our purpose."

This sentiment is echoed in employee data, with studies showing that 84% of Mars employees consider it a great place to work, far exceeding the 57% average at a typical U.S.-based company. High marks for feeling welcome, having pride in their work, and being given responsibility point to a culture that successfully translates its principles into daily practice.

Leading the Pack in American Manufacturing

While a top-ten finish on the overall Best Places to Work list is a significant achievement, it is the number one ranking in the Manufacturing & Energy category that casts a spotlight on a core pillar of Mars's modern strategy: its commitment to American manufacturing. This distinction places the company ahead of 24 other industrial giants in a sector critical to the national economy.

This leadership position appears to be no accident. It is directly correlated with a massive and sustained wave of capital investment into its U.S. operations. In 2025, Mars announced it was injecting an additional $2 billion into its American manufacturing footprint through 2026. This came on the heels of an already staggering $6 billion invested over the previous five years, a period that also saw the company add over 9,000 U.S.-based jobs.

The impact of this investment is tangible. In July 2025, the company opened a new $240 million, 339,000-square-foot facility for its Nature's Bakery brand in Salt Lake City, Utah, creating over 230 new jobs. Earlier that year, a state-of-the-art, $450 million Royal Canin dry pet food factory—the brand's largest in the world—opened its doors in Lewisburg, Ohio, bringing up to 270 new positions to the area.

This strategy ensures that 94% of the Mars products sold in the United States are also produced here. The investment not only enhances production capacity and supply chain resilience but also creates stable, desirable jobs in a sector that, according to recent Glassdoor economic analysis, is gaining favor among workers for its perceived stability compared to more volatile white-collar industries.

More Than Candy: A Culture of Empowerment

From the factory floors where Snickers bars are made to the advanced veterinary hospitals in its Banfield and VCA networks, Mars's high employee satisfaction appears to be a unifying thread across a remarkably diverse portfolio. The company's #6 overall ranking on Glassdoor's list places it in the elite company of the nation's most sought-after employers.

Company leaders attribute this to a deliberate focus on empowering employees. "At Mars, we're proud of our people-first environment, where Associates are empowered to shape their own futures," commented Anton Vincent, President of Mars Snacking North America. "From our global headquarters to veterinary clinics, to factory floors, this recognition shows that our Associates see Mars as a place where they can learn, grow, and build meaningful careers."

This empowerment is rooted in the company's century-long history as a private, family-owned business, which it argues allows for a longer-term perspective focused on mutual benefit rather than short-term shareholder pressure. This philosophy is reflected in consistent high ratings for professional development, compensation, and benefits. The company's consistent presence on "best of" lists, including being named a Glassdoor Best-Led Company in 2025, suggests that its leadership's vision resonates from the executive suite down to its newest hires.

The breadth of the business, spanning snacking, food, pet food, and an international network of veterinary services, provides a wide array of career paths under one cultural umbrella. This diversity, combined with a stable and supportive environment, creates a powerful proposition in the ongoing competition for top talent. The Glassdoor awards indicate that for thousands of employees, this proposition is not just a promise, but a reality they experience every day.