CHICAGO — Through its snacking division, Mars and the Unreasonable Group have entered into a three-year partnership called Unreasonable Food.
The Unreasonable Food partnership will focus on supporting rapid growth companies that are re-defining the food systems, the company said. The partnership also will support the Mars Net Zero Roadmap and Mars Snacking’s sustainability journey.
“Mars is committed to improving sustainability and quality of lives throughout the food supply chain,” said Gulen Bengi, chief growth officer at Mars Snacking. “Our brands and their global communities have the reach and scale to make meaningful impact, helping shape real change.”
The partnership will focus on four pillars: Shaping the Future of Food, Improving Farmer Livelihood, Transforming Food Supply Chains, and Reimagining Sustainable Packaging. The four pillars are designed to identify, and then accelerate, the areas Mars may make a meaningful and differentiated impact, the company said.
Every year Unreasonable will search its network of investment funds and partners to identify, invite and bring together growth-stage entrepreneurs who are positioned to profitably solve sustainability issues. Winners will be selected by the Unreasonable Group’s team and the Mars Snacking team.
“More than 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity can be attributed to the way we produce, process, and package food,” said Daniel Epstein, chief executive officer at Unreasonable Group. “As one of the world’s largest food companies with some of the world’s most admired brands, Mars Snacking, in partnership with Unreasonable and the entrepreneurs we support together, is uniquely positioned to put that statistic where it belongs — in a museum. We cannot imagine a more compelling partner to set a new standard for sustainability in our food systems than Mars.”
The first group of ventures and mentors will be announced later this spring and will join Mars Snacking’s first Unreasonable Food program for a week-long gathering.
The gathering will help growth-stage founders with mentorship from the Mars Snacking global leadership team and Unreasonable mentors.