Who Owns Milky Way?
Milky Way is owned by Mars, Incorporated, the private American confectionery company. Milky Way was introduced in 1923 and is one of the best-selling candy bars in the United States. Note that US and European Milky Way are different products: US Milky Way contains chocolate nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate and is equivalent to the European Mars Bar; European Milky Way is a lighter nougat-only bar.
Parent Company
Mars, Incorporated
Founded
1923
Status
Private
Headquarters
McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars)
Who Owns Milky Way?
- Parent Company: Mars, Incorporated
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Milky Way | Mars, Incorporated | Wholly owned |
History of Milky Way
- Founded: 1923
- Founders: Mars, Incorporated
Milky Way was introduced in 1923 by Frank C. Mars, founder of the company that would become Mars, Incorporated. It was one of the first mass-produced candy bars in the United States and helped establish Mars as a major confectionery company.
The bar combined chocolate nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate in a format that was novel for the era and accessible to working-class consumers as an affordable sweet treat. The name was inspired by a malted milk drink of the era, not the galaxy.
US vs. European formulation: There is a significant and frequently misunderstood distinction between the American and European versions of Milky Way. The US Milky Way bar is equivalent to the European Mars Bar (chocolate nougat, caramel, milk chocolate coating). The European Milky Way is a different, lighter product with only aerated nougat in a thin chocolate coating, positioned as a lighter snack. The Mars Bar, which uses the same recipe as the US Milky Way, is sold separately in European markets under the Mars name.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars operates through three primary business segments: Pet Care, Snacking, and Food. The company's private ownership structure means it does not publicly disclose detailed financial results, but industry estimates place annual revenues above $50 billion, making Mars one of the largest food companies in the world by revenue.
The Pet Care segment, operating under the Mars Petcare division, is one of the world's largest pet food businesses, with brands including Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Sheba, Eukanuba, Iams, Cesar, and Nutro. Mars Petcare also operates Banfield Pet Hospital, the largest private veterinary practice in the United States, and various other veterinary and pet health services businesses. The pet care segment has been a major growth driver for Mars as pet ownership and premium pet nutrition spending have increased globally.
The Snacking segment includes Mars's confectionery and snacking brands, encompassing M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, Starburst, Dove, Galaxy, Maltesers, and Celebrations, among many others. The December 2025 acquisition of Kellanova added Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, RXBAR, and other snacking brands to this segment, significantly expanding Mars's presence in savory snacks and better-for-you snacking categories.
The Food segment includes Ben's Original (formerly Uncle Ben's), Dolmio, Seeds of Change, and other food brands. This segment has been the smallest of the three primary divisions but provides important diversification across food categories.
- Founded: 1911
- Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Revenue: approximately $50 billion (FY2024, estimated)
- Employees: Over 150,000
Where Is Milky Way Made / Based?
- Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA (Mars)
Brands Owned by Mars, Incorporated
- Celebrations - British chocolate assortment brand featuring a variety of chocolate candies, own...
- Cheez-It - American brand of cheese cracker snacks originally made by Kellogg's Kellanova d...
- Galaxy Chocolate - British chocolate brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, known for smooth and creamy...
- M&M's - American brand of candy-coated chocolate confections produced by Mars, Incorpora...
- Maltesers - British chocolate confectionery brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, consisting of...
- Pedigree - American pet food brand known for its affordable dog food and treats, focusing o...
- Pop-Tarts - American brand of toaster pastries filled with various flavors, now owned by Mar...
- Skittles - American brand of fruit-flavored candy known for its colorful shell coating and ...
- Snickers - American chocolate bar brand featuring nougat, caramel, peanuts, and chocolate, ...
- Toblerone - Swiss chocolate brand founded in 1908 in Bern, known for its distinctive triangu...
- Twix - British caramel and shortbread biscuit chocolate bar owned by Mars, Incorporated...
- Whiskas - Global brand of cat food products including wet food, dry food, and treats, prod...
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchasesCompetitors to Milky Way
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Inc | USA (Mars) | 1967 | Global top-5-candy-bar | Global | All-consumers | |
| Ferrero | Italy | 1921 | Mass market | United states | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors

Twix
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
British caramel and shortbread biscuit chocolate bar owned by Mars, Incorporated, introduced in the UK in 1967. One of the best-selling candy bars in the world, known for its "two bars in one pack" format.

Baby Ruth
Owned by Ferrero
American chocolate candy bar with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate, founded in 1921 by Curtiss Candy Company and owned by Ferrero Group since January 2018.
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Milky Way competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Jobs at Mars, Incorporated
Latest News About Milky Way
Related Articles About Milky Way
View more articlesWho Owns the Chocolate Industry
Mars, Mondelēz, Nestlé, and Lindt control the vast majority of global chocolate sales. Here is a complete ownership map of the chocolate industry, from Snickers and Cadbury to KitKat and Toblerone.
Mars Inc: The Private Company Behind Billions in Brands
M&M's, Snickers, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Ben's Original, Wrigley. One famously private family company owns all of them. Here is the complete guide to Mars Inc in 2026.
8 Pet Food Brands All Under One Roof
Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Iams, Sheba, Cesar, Eukanuba, and Purina Pro Plan. Two companies control the majority of pet food sold globally. Here is who owns what.
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.

7 Up
American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.

Activia
Probiotic yogurt brand owned by Danone SA, sold in more than 70 countries. Activia is positioned as a digestive health product and is one of Danone's highest-revenue dairy brands globally.

Aero
British chocolate brand known for its distinctive aerated, bubbly texture, produced and distributed by Nestle and sold primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, and select international markets.