Can I Buy Shares in Mars?
No. Mars is private — one of the largest private companies in the world — and owned by the Mars family. There's no listing, no ticker and no public route in.
At a glance
- Listed?
- No
- Owned by
- The Mars family
- Ticker
- None
- Brands
- Mars, Snickers, Whiskas, Pedigree
- Listed rivals
- Nestlé, Mondelez, Hershey
Bigger than you'd think
Mars isn't only confectionery. The group spans:
- Chocolate and snacks — Mars, Snickers, Galaxy, Maltesers, M&M's
- Petcare — Whiskas, Pedigree, Royal Canin, plus veterinary businesses
- Food and other brands — including Dolmio and Uncle Ben's
Petcare is a very substantial part of the business, which surprises people who think of Mars purely as a chocolate company.
The family has kept it private for generations, and private companies publish far less than listed ones — so even the financial picture is limited.
Listed alternatives in the sector
If you want exposure to global food and confectionery, the listed names include Nestlé (Switzerland), Mondelez (NASDAQ, which owns Cadbury), Hershey and Unilever.
None of them is Mars, and each brings its own mix of brands — worth looking at what you'd actually be buying rather than assuming the sector is interchangeable.
How to check whether any company is listed
The same three checks work for any name you're curious about:
- Search the company plus "investor relations". Listed companies always have an investor relations page; private ones don't.
- Look for a ticker and an exchange — something like LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ or TYO followed by a short code. No ticker, no shares to buy.
- Check who the parent is. Plenty of famous brands are subsidiaries. You often can't buy the brand, but the parent may well be listed.
If a company is private, the only routes in are usually employee schemes, or a stake being sold to institutions — neither of which is open to ordinary investors.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mars a publicly traded company?
No. Mars, Incorporated is privately owned by the Mars family and has never been listed on a stock exchange.
Why is Mars still private?
The family has chosen to keep ownership, which means no obligation to publish detailed results or answer to outside shareholders.
What does Mars own besides chocolate?
A large petcare business including Whiskas, Pedigree and Royal Canin, plus veterinary services and various food brands.
You can't — private or member-owned: FC Barcelona · Liverpool FC · West Ham United · John Lewis · Rolex · Lego · Aldi · Dyson · SpaceX · BrewDog · Monzo · Thames Water · Octopus Energy
You buy the parent instead: Rockstar Games · Primark · Cadbury
Yes — these are listed: Greggs · Wetherspoons · Nintendo (Tokyo)
General information only, not investment advice, and not a recommendation to buy any share. Ownership and listings change — check a company's own investor relations pages for the current position. Investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you put in.
