Prashant Peres has become the General Manager for Mars Snacking in India, leading the integrated Mars and Kellanova businesses during a pivotal time for the global snacks and confectionery giant in one of its most challenging markets.

In his new position, Peres will manage the unification and expansion of two portfolios that combine some of the world’s most famous snacking brands, along with recognized distribution and category knowledge.

The mandate he described isn't just about operational consolidation; it involves creating what he referred to as a "truly unique organization"—one that combines scale with exceptional execution.

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India offers both potential and challenges for global consumer goods firms. The market presents ongoing volume growth, opportunities for premiumisation, and a swiftly changing retail environment, yet it requires enhanced localisation, cost management, and quicker innovation cycles.

In Mars Snacking's competitive environment, where both local and global competitors are highly aggressive, achieving success relies on integrating brand power with agility and organizational unity.

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Peres recognized that the upcoming phase will be shaped equally by individuals and culture as by portfolios and outcomes. He emphasized the significance of teamwork among groups in merging the unified business, presenting the integration as a foundation to influence categories and provide lasting value to consumers, customers, and communities.

His appointment arrives during a phase when global food and snack corporations are reevaluating their operations in fast-growing markets such as India, where mere scale is insufficient as a competitive edge.

 

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The quality of execution, depth of talent, and capacity to create resilient organizations have all become equally essential.

Recently, Sucden (General Cocoa) and Mars, Incorporated have announced a five-year partnership (2025-2029) focused on promoting low-carbon, climate-resilient cocoa farming in selected farms in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The initiative seeks to combine innovation, science-informed reductions, and farmer-focused methods to achieve significant greenhouse gas (GHG) cuts on the farms involved in the cocoa supply chain.