World Cocoa Foundation Names Mars’ Barry Parkin As New Chairman

Barry Parkin will complete the term of Nicko Debenham, who recently became the new vice-president of cocoa sustainability at Barry Callebaut. “We are grateful to Barry Parkin for taking on this important position at WCF. Barry brings great drive and a real passion for cocoa sustainability to the WCF chairmanship. Under his leadership we are guaranteed to continue to advance our mission of creating a sustainable cocoa supply chain,” says Bill Guyton, president of WCF. “We thank Nicko Debenham for his leadership during a very dynamic and exciting period and wish him every success in his new role at Barry Callebaut,” he continued.

“I’m honored to accept this chairmanship and confident we can improve the lives of millions of farmers and the sustainability of cocoa by harnessing the collective influence and resources of the WCF membership,” says Parkin.

As chief sustainability officer at Mars, Incorporated, Parkin is responsible for developing Mars’ sustainability programs across the value chain from farmers through to consumers. He works with the business unit’s sourcing teams to develop Mars’ corporate sourcing strategies across all raw materials and with the operational teams to build programs to make Mars’ operations sustainable in a generation.

About WCF

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is an international membership foundation that promotes a sustainable cocoa economy by providing cocoa farmers with the tools they need to grow more and better cocoa, market it successfully and make greater profits. WCF’s membership includes cocoa and chocolate manufacturers, processors, supply chain managers, and other companies worldwide, representing more than 80% of the global cocoa market. For more information, visit www.worldcocoa.org.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars