Mars Snackfood US Will 'Treat' Consumers to Halloween Million Dollar Contest

Mars Snackfood US Will 'Treat' Consumers to Halloween Million Dollar Contest

Company Unveils Million Dollar Contest, Halloween-themed Treats and Ad Campaign

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Snackfood US announced today that its Halloween Million Dollar Contest will "treat" lucky consumers to prizes -- including a $1 million award -- when they purchase their favorite candy, including M&M'S(R), MILKY WAY(R), SNICKERS(R), SKITTLES(R), STARBURST(R), 3 MUSKETEERS(R) and TWIX(R). Consumers can enjoy these popular brands in new flavors and Halloween-themed packaging, while watching a television commercial starring the M&M'S(R) characters and the Headless Horseman.

"Halloween is not just a one-night event, but a nine-week season of decorating, entertaining, trick-or-treating and Booing activities," explains Michele Kessler, Vice President Marketing, Mars Snackfood US. "We're adding more excitement to the season by introducing a contest and several new items that build on our Halloween staple brands such as M&M'S(R), SNICKERS(R), SKITTLES(R) and STARBURST(R)."

The Halloween Million Dollar Contest, an online sweepstakes based in a haunted mansion at HalloweenMillion.com, will "treat" one lucky person to a $1 million prize, and an instant win game will award 20,000 other prizes.

To take part in the sweepstakes, consumers visit HalloweenMillion.com, where they key in their birthdates to ensure they are at least 13 years of age. Next, the consumer enters a UPC code on participating products from M&M'S(R) brand, MILKY WAY(R) brand, SNICKERS(R) brand, SKITTLES(R) brand, STARBURST(R) brand, 3 MUSKETEERS(R) brand and TWIX(R) brand. The consumer automatically enters that brand's "room" in the Million Dollar Mansion, such as the M&M'S(R) Ballroom, MILKY WAY(R) Observatory and SKITTLES(R) Gaming Parlor. Besides offering games, each room contains a "clickable" item which, when clicked, will reveal Instant Win Messages to lucky consumers. Prizes range from free product coupons to $1,000 M&M'S(R) branded VISA(R) debit cards, and all participants are entered in the sweepstakes for the $1 million grand prize.

The Million Dollar Mansion also includes an M&M'S(R) Racing Carriage House, which promotes the special Halloween paint scheme for the Kyle Busch No. 18 M&M'S(R) Toyota in the NASCAR(R) Sprint Cup Series race in Atlanta Oct. 26. The BrightIdeas.com kitchen in the Million Dollar Mansion features a recipe for spider cupcakes and a link to additional recipes for spooky snacks. BrightIdeas.com is an online destination that features recipes and crafts created with ingredients from Mars Snackfood, such as M&M'S(R) and SNICKERS(R).

The Halloween Million Dollar Contest is supported by an extensive advertising campaign, including television and print, as well as two national free-standing newspaper inserts. The humorous television commercial features the Headless Horseman with the Red and Yellow M&M'S(R) characters. The TV spot airs nationally October 6 to 31.

New Halloween-themed Treats

Halloween is the largest season for candy consumers, so to satisfy their sweet tooth, Mars Snackfood is unveiling new items:

-- COOL GHOUL'S(TM) MIX is a new Halloween M&M'S(R) blend that will add festive color to any snack bowl. Colorful purple and "electric green" join the traditional black and orange M&M'S(R), and the mix is available in 45-ounce stand-up pouches in Milk Chocolate and Peanut varieties.

-- SKITTLES(R) Chocolate Mix in FUN SIZE(R) format leverages the new flavor from the number one sugar brand by offering it in the perfect size for snacking and Trick-or-Treating.

-- 3 MUSKETEERS(R) Dark Chocolate Mint in FUN SIZE(R) format provides a lighter option for trick-or-treaters and something special for moms and dads, since 90 percent of parents consume trick-or-treat items (according to the National Confectioners Association).

-- SNICKERS(R) Rockin' Nut Road(TM) in FUN SIZE(R) format offers a fun twist to the original bar, with a marshmallow-flavored nougat base underneath a mixture of almonds and caramel, all wrapped in dark chocolate.

-- Full-Size Singles in 10-packs are ideal for snacking, parties and trick-or-treating. Available for SNICKERS(R), M&M'S(R) Milk Chocolate Candies and M&M'S(R) Peanut Chocolate Candies, this format capitalizes on the 26 percent of households that will include full-size candy in their Halloween activities (according to the National Confectioners Association).

-- 26-ounce BIG TIME Variety Bag featuring SKITTLES(R) and STARBURST(R) FUN SIZE(R) offers convenient snacking and trick-or-treat items at a value.

About Mars Snackfood US:

Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars North America. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the United States, Mars North America includes food, snack and pet care segments, which are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Mount Olive, N.J., Mars North America employs more than 12,000 associates in the United States, with 54 facilities nationwide. Mars Snackfood US, headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., includes some of the world's favorite brands such as DOVE(R) Brand Chocolate, M&M'S(R) Brand, MILKY WAY(R) Brand, SKITTLES(R) Brand, SNICKERS(R) Brand, STARBURST(R) Brand, 3 MUSKETEERS(R) Brand, TWIX(R) Brand and more. Additional popular brands in the petcare and food segments for Mars North America include UNCLE BEN'S(R) Brand, PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS(R) Brand Food for Cats. Please visit www.mars.com .

Source: Mars Snackfood US

CONTACT: Ryan Bowling of Mars Snackfood US, +1-908-850-2396,
+1-908-914-1702 - mobile, ryan.bowling@effem.com; Karen Haggerty of PinPoint
Communications, +1-770-579-9897, +1-770-570-7056 - mobile,
khaggerty@pinpointcom.net, for Mars Snackfood US

Web Site: http://www.mars.com/
http://halloweenmillion.com/
http://brightideas.com/

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