Mars Inc. Acquires IVD brand

Mars Inc. is a privately-held candy and confectionery products manufacturer. Mars Inc.'s products include: chocolates, toffee, caramel, hard candies, gummies, other candies (including jelly beans, marshmallow products, powders, and spreads), gum, reduced-sugar confections, and energy bars. Mars, Inc. was founded in 1911 with headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

Del Monte Foods Co. is a privately held company that specializes in the production, distribution, and marketing of branded pet products and food products. In 1967, California Packing Corporation, which did business as Calpak, changed its name to Del Monte Corporation and in 1971 became the first major U.S. food processor to voluntarily display nutritional labels on its products' packaging. In March 2011, Del Monte Foods Company was acquired via leveraged buyout and taken private by a private equity consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts, Vestar Capital Partners, and Centerview Partners (for more details, please see PrivCo's M&A Table for Del Monte Foods). In May 2011, David J. West, CEO of Hershey announced he would be leaving to step in as CEO of Del Monte Foods.