Editing Mars, Incorporated (section)

===Recent history===

Mars' purchase of Doane Petcare Company in June 2007 significantly increased Mars' position in the U.S. dry pet food category. In addition to these businesses, Mars also operates a chain of premium chocolate shops called [[Ethel M Chocolate Factory|Ethel M Chocolates]].  These shops are an outgrowth of the Ethel M premium chocolate business that Forrest Mars started in Las Vegas in 1980, when he became bored with retirement.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Emperors of Chocolate | author = Brenner, Joel Glenn | publisher = Random House, Inc. | year = 1999 | isbn = 0-679-42190-4  | page = 324 }}</ref>

On April 28, 2008, Mars, Incorporated, together with [[Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated]], announced the buyout of [[Wrigley Company|Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company]], the world's largest chewing gum producer, for $23 billion in an all-cash deal.  The two companies together generate sales in excess of $30 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120935192240148985|title=Mars, Buffett Team Up in Wrigley Bid|last=Karnitschnig|first=Matthew|date=2008-04-28|last2=Berman|first2=Dennis K.|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref>

The company spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying during 2008, almost all of it at [[Patton Boggs]], where it has long been one of the largest lobbying clients. Mars also spent $10,000 at [[Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom]]. In 2009, Mars also hired [[Ernst & Young]] to lobby on corporate and international tax issues, including issues related to tax changes proposed by the [[Obama administration]]. The company spent another $1,655,000 that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/12/mars-lobbying-lifts-off.html |work=Legal Times|title=Lobbying Expenses}}</ref>

In 2014, Mars opened a new $270 million chocolate plant in [[Topeka, Kansas]], the first new plant in the USA in 35 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/27/3370356/270m-chocolate-plant-proof-of.html |title=$270M chocolate plant near Topeka proof of US's sweet tooth |work=The Wichita Eagle |date=March 27, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328234619/http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/27/3370356/270m-chocolate-plant-proof-of.html |archivedate=2014-03-28 |df= }}</ref>

====Mars Petcare====
In February 2003, Mars acquired Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.ukpets.co.uk/?section=Home&sub=News&method=fetch&item=531 |title= Mars Acquires API |publisher= UKPets |date= February 28, 2003 |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> (API, incorporated in 1964) and in 2007 it was renamed Mars Fishcare, Inc. The company manufactures and supplies home [[aquarium]] and [[garden pond|pond]] products.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=6789806 |title= Mars Fishcare Inc. |work= [[Business Week]] |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> Mars Fishcare brands include:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://marsfishcare.com/ |title= Welcome |publisher= MarsFishcare.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API)'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aquariumpharm.com/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= AquariumPharm.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''RENA'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rena.net/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= RENA.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> ''AQUARIAN'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aquarian.com/ |title= Company History |publisher= AQUARIAN.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref> and ''PondCare''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pondcare.com/about-us/company-history.aspx |title= Company History |publisher= PondCare.com |accessdate= April 22, 2011}}</ref>

In Australia, the division operates three sites that are located in [[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (established in 1967 for manufacture of wet pet food); [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]], [[New South Wales]] (established in the 1980s for manufacture of dry pet food); and [[Wacol, Queensland|Brisbane]], [[Queensland]] (for manufacture of birdcare products).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mars Petcare |url=http://www.marsgraduates.com.au/marspetcare.aspx |publisher=Mars Incorporated |work=Mars Australia: Graduates 2012 |year=2011 |accessdate=May 21, 2012 }}</ref>

In January 2017, Mars announced the USD$7.7 billion acquisition of Los Angeles-based animal hospital chain [[VCA Animal Hospitals|VCA Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-09/mars-expands-in-pet-care-with-9-1-billion-deal-for-vca|title=Mars Expands in Pet Care With $7.7 Billion Purchase of VCA|website=bloomberg.com |date=2017-01-09 |accessdate=2017-01-10}}</ref>

Mars manufacters the 'Trill" birdseed range.<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5831e/y5831e04.htm]</ref>