Consumers to Pick City Most in Need of Mars’ Sweet Relief

Mars Snackfood US will bring its Real Chocolate Relief Act™ to a city that American consumers deem most deserving of a chocolate break. Through Aug. 31, 2009, visitors over the age of 13 can log onto RealChocolate.com and select one of almost 350 U.S. cities to receive a Free Chocolate Friday™.

The city that garners the most votes will get a visit from NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, who will deliver and help distribute thousands of free full-sized Mars chocolate products, including M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, TWIX®, DOVE® Chocolate and 3 MUSKETEERS® at a live Free Chocolate Friday in September.

The giveaways are a key component of Hackettstown, N.J.-based Mars’ Real Chocolate Relief Act, which rolled out in May as a national push to bring cheer up recession-weary Americans with free, full-sized samples of Mars chocolate, product discounts and coupons. Additionally, U.S. consumers can keep experiencing their own individual Free Chocolate Fridays by visiting RealChocolate.com every Friday through September to claim one of 250,000 full-value coupons redeemable by mail. By the end of the promotion, Mars will have given away up to 7 million full-size packages of chocolate products.

“We’re continuing our mission to stretch a feeling of optimism across the country by literally bringing a Free Chocolate Friday to the city that America decides needs it most,” explained Michele Kessler, VP of marketing, Mars Snackfood US. “It’s our way of giving Americans another moment of joy this summer.”

To mark the next phase of the Real Chocolate Relief Act promotion, Mars unveiled a racecar made entirely of 100 percent real chocolate. The vehicle, which made its debut at the Lifelock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11, was a full-sized chocolate version of the actual No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Busch raced during the Lifelock.com 400.

The winning city will be revealed Sept. 10.

Mars Snackfood US is the American snack division of McLean, Va.-based Mars, Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies.