Mars Chocolate North America to air 30-second commercial about M&M's Peanut product during first half of Super Bowl on Feb. 2

Nevin Barich

HACKETTSTOWN, New Jersey , January 23, 2014 (press release) – Beloved Character Yellow to Star in Super Bowl XLVIII Spot for M&M'S® Peanut

It's been 60 years in the making, but on Sunday, February 2, beloved M&M'S® Brand character Yellow will finally get his moment in the spotlight. Today, Mars Chocolate North America announced that M&M'S® will debut a new 30-second commercial in the first half of Super Bowl XLVIII about M&M'S® Peanut, with Yellow taking the lead role in the Big Game for the first time.

Yellow, widely considered "America's Favorite Nut," was first introduced along with M&M'S Peanut in 1954. Since then, the irresistible chocolate-coated peanut has captured the hearts and "taste buds" of the nation, but he usually plays a supporting role to his best friend and fellow spokescandy Red.

"It's about time we remind the world how irresistible M&M'S Peanut really is," said Seth Klugherz, Senior Director, M&M'S Chocolate Candies. "Each M&M'S Peanut is literally 1 in 100 – meaning we have to sort through 100 different peanuts, just to find one that's lucky enough to make its way into a bag of M&M'S Peanut."

The highly anticipated commercial, created by BBDO New York, will remain secret until Super Bowl Sunday, but fans can get a taste of what the brand and Yellow have in store for them by watching an original teaser trailer for the spot, which is available on the M&M'S Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mms).

Yellow's Super Bowl XLVIII ad is just the latest exciting activity in the M&M'S Brand's "Year of Peanut" campaign, a yearlong effort to showcase the irresistibility of M&M'S Peanut. The brand kicked off the year with a star-studded event on New Year's Eve in Atlanta – the unofficial peanut capital of the nation – as well as launched a humorous online video series called the "Search for the One," which starred actor and comedian David Koechner as an eccentric explorer searching for the "perfect peanut."

Following Super Bowl XLVIII, M&M'S plans to continue to roll-out the integrated marketing campaign focused on M&M'S Peanut, which includes multiple English and Spanish television, print and digital ads, in-store displays, consumer promotions, public relations and social media.

For more information on M&M'S Peanut or the Super Bowl XLVIII ad visit M&M'S Facebook page or get up close and personal with Yellow on Twitter via the handle @mmsyellow.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™ and WISDOM PANEL™.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars

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