Who Owns Whiskas?
Whiskas is owned by Mars, Incorporated, a privately held American multinational corporation. Mars developed Whiskas as part of its pet care division. The brand was introduced in 1958 in the United Kingdom and is now sold in over 50 countries worldwide.
Parent Company
Mars, Incorporated
Founded
1958
Status
Private
Headquarters
McLean, Virginia, USA
Who Owns Whiskas?
- Parent Company: Mars, Incorporated
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Whiskas | Mars, Incorporated | Wholly owned |
History of Whiskas
- Founded: 1958
- Founders: Mars, Incorporated (internal development)
Whiskas was introduced in 1958 in the United Kingdom, originally under the brand name "Kal Kan." The brand was developed by Mars as part of its expansion into the pet food market, which began with the acquisition of Chappel Brothers (a pet food manufacturer) in 1935.
The brand was renamed "Whiskas" in the 1980s across most markets, a name designed to evoke cats' whiskers and create a more playful, cat-centric brand identity. The rebranding proved successful, and Whiskas became one of the most recognized cat food brands globally.
Over the decades, Whiskas has expanded from basic wet cat food to include dry food, treats, kitten food, and specialized nutrition products. The brand's purple packaging and cat imagery have become distinctive identifiers in the pet food aisle.
Today, Whiskas is sold in over 50 countries and is one of the best-selling cat food brands worldwide, particularly strong in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
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
Where Is Whiskas Made / Based?
- Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, China
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, ...
Whiskas Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Backed by Mars Petcare, the world's largest pet care company
- +Significant R&D resources for pet nutrition research
- +Extensive global distribution through Mars' established retail channels
- +Wide product range covering wet food, dry food, treats, and specialized nutrition
- +Financial stability from one of the world's largest private companies
Considerations
- -Mars is privately held, limiting public financial transparency
- -Competition from premium and veterinary-recommended pet food brands
- -Consumer concerns about ingredient quality in mass-market pet food
- -Dependency on Mars' corporate priorities and strategies
- -Growing competition from direct-to-consumer and fresh pet food brands
Frequently Asked Questions About Whiskas
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Whiskas on AmazonCompetitors to Whiskas
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Whiskasoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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Mars, Incorporated
American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products, and one of the largest privately held companies in the world.
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