Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Friday, May 21, 2010 | 9:28 a.m.
Ethel M/Mars factory
Sun Coverage
Henderson is losing about 25 jobs because of a reorganization involving the Ethel M and M&M'S World chocolate businesses.
The companies are part of privately held food giant Mars Inc., headquartered in McLean, Va., and maker of M&M'S candy, Snickers and Milky Way candy bars, Wrigley gum, Uncle Ben's rice, Pedigree and Whiskas pet food and other products.
Mars Retail Group, which runs the Ethel M and M&M'S world businesses, told employees in February that it would relocate some operations from Henderson to Mount Arlington, N.J., by July.
About 10 employees will relocate to New Jersey and another approximately 15 Henderson jobs are being eliminated as part of the reorganization, spokeswoman Alice Nathanson said Thursday.
"The factory in Henderson will continue to manufacture Mars chocolate products and maintain the well-known cactus garden. Given the company’s commitment to its Ethel M retail gourmet chocolate business in Las Vegas, the eight Ethel M stores will continue to operate and the Ethel M management team will remain in Las Vegas," she said.
"Many Henderson-based Mars Retail Group associates have been offered positions and relocation opportunities. Salaried and non-salaried associates leaving the business have been offered a great deal of support, including separation benefits and outplacement assistance," she said.
"Mars Retail Group remains committed to the Ethel M brand and to its retail gourmet chocolate business in the Las Vegas market, where it operates eight stores, as well as to its two M&M’S World stores and the Henderson factory," she said, adding the company will continue to employ about 250 people in Las Vegas and Henderson.
Besides the two Southern Nevada M&M'S World stores -- at the Las Vegas Strip's Showcase mall and at the Henderson factory -- there are M&M'S Worlds in New York and Orlando.
The reason for the reorganization?
"We determined that it is in the best interests of the business to locate our key resources in one primary location where they are best positioned to drive our growth agenda. Previously our teams were scattered across the country in multiple locations. The New Jersey location is close to the Mars Chocolate U.S. business and will enhance our ability to collaborate with the M&M'S brand team and build our mutual business interests for M&M'S World and licensing," Nathanson said.
The company says the Ethel M/Mars factory at 1 Sunset Way in Henderson dates to 1981, when M&MS co-creator Forrest Mars Sr. retired to Henderson and created Ethel M Chocolates to honor his mother by creating a line of gourmet chocolates that reminded him of how he learned about quality chocolate making.
That hurts. 25 good non gaming jobs support another 40 service jobs.
neiman1
Then you have to buy more EthelM and M&M's
The poor folks that have to give up Las Vegas to move to New Jersey. I would rather find new work, you could not get me to move to New Jersey if you gave me the company.
Oh, come on Ethel M - you pay your people next to nothing to begin with and you can't find someplace for 15 people - good grief :(
How many jobs have you created azsk8fan? How many people do you employ? If you know how to do it, then you hire those 15 people.
Mars, Incorporated is a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery, pet food and other food products with US $21 billion in annual sales in 2008, and is ranked as the 6th largest privately-held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, the company is entirely owned by the Mars family. Mars operates in six business segments in the U.S.: Chocolate (Hackettstown, NJ) , Petcare (Franklin, TN), Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (Chicago, IL), Food (Los Angeles, CA), Drinks (West Chester, PA) & Symbioscience (Gaithersburg, MD).
On April 28, 2008, Mars, Incorporated, together with Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated, announced the buyout of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, the world's largest chewing gum producer, for $23 billion in an all cash deal. The two companies together are expected to generate sales in excess of $27 billion.The Mars family is a family that owns the confectionery company Mars, Inc., bearing their name. The family was called the richest family in America by Fortune magazine in 1988.
Upon the death of Forrest Mars, Sr., he and his two sons were ranked #29, 30, and 31 by Forbes magazine's list of richest Americans, and they each had a worth of approximately $4 billion. As of 2009, Forrest Mars's three children are ranked by Forbes List of "The World's Billionaires" as #43, with $9.0 billion each [1].
The family is fiercely protective of their privacy, refusing to give press interviews or, with the exception of Jacqueline Mars, be photographed in public.[2]
The Mars family was among 18 billionaire families who lobbied Congress to eliminate the estate tax. [1]. According to Public Citizen, since 1994 the families have spent approximately $500 million on lobbying efforts.
But New Jersey has HIGH taxes and the GOP said low taxes will bring great jobs...
Libertarians continue to ruin this city with their short sighted policies.
Mars could have done like Hershey and move to Mexico. Buy and support goods made in the USA!
In defense of Mars Inc. by moving some operations o N.J. it will be closer to HQ. If given the opportunity to stay with a company, even if it means moving, you move. Military people do it everyday, it's part of being employed. Employees were advised in February that some operations were moving, that is when you dedicate yourself in finding another position in Las Vegas if you don't want to relocate, if you don't find anything by your cut off date, then you have to consider moving. N.J. isn't that bad, gas is really cheap, then you throw-in NYC, east coast, its not bad.
Thanks for Sleazy Harry Nevada has the HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT in the country! What's another 25 jobs. Vote all the INCUMBENTS out whether Repub, or DEMS!!! With our low corporate taxes it just shows u something about the CO. New Jersey is one of the highest taxed states in the country.
This is the beginning of the end for Ethel M chocolates,Mars will do just fine but with this change in management the quality of chocolate at Ethel M has already suffered. You will see sales decrease rapidly because the choclate isn't as good as it used to be, and the contact people for sales have changed. Change is not always good,this is a gamble and will prove to be a loss for Mars , but they dont really have any interest in Ethel M with Mr And Mrs Mars not around anymore. Greed and proffit from here on out.
OBAMA and Reids fault - they don't eat enough chocolate . now Reagone ate Jelly Beans, there was a President.
Jim Gibbons: I guess none of the Ethel people will make the move--WRONG. After all, NJ has an income tax, and business taxes and, and, and. Oh yeah, it has funded schools, paved road, street lamps with working bulbs, open parks. Guess M&M Mars knows what is important. So away they go...
Being a former New Jersey Girl for over 50 years, it is a great state. It is convenient to NYC and Philadelphia, a beautiful state. The shore, mountains, lakes, Pine Barrons and great farm land make up New Jersey. We moved with great reservation leaving family, friends, great jobs and all we knew because of the insane taxes or we would still be there. This is not a state where you can consider retirment and maintain your lifestyle on anything less than $70,000 a year retirement fund. How may of us will have that to spend, so we moved to Nevada.
neiman1, I am assuming you are using an economic multiplier of 1.6 which gives you that total of 40. That means that 15 people will be affected by the layoff of those 25 for a total of 40. Is the economic multiplier for the Las Vegas SMSA 1.6 or is it lower because of the 57% Depression?
new jersey also has a way better education system and less crime than nevada. LIBERALS are ruining this city.
While John Ensign is having sex with employees and laughing while preaching family values.
Impeach the sexual predator John Ensign (Republican Nevada)
I have relatives in New Jersey residing in Edison and Union, all professionals and well established but I will not live there even with rent free. Miserable especially during the Winter. One Winter was enough for me. Goodluck to all those employees of Mars getting relocated.
Without libertarians, Las Vegas would never have been founded.
Someone above had it right: the corporate culture will not perpetuate a specialty brand that was the vanity project of the founding family. Ethel M will likely disappear within three years. Forward we go!
Noindex, I'm not an employer but if I were I can tell you the FIRST thing I'd do is look at some of the over-inflated BONUS numbers these Company big-shots make - you know the ones who continue to get a bonus (which, I would THINK should be for a JOB WELL DONE???) Ya, doing a real swell job when you have to start laying people off huh? Well that is the FIRST place I'd look to SAVE MONEY and in the process I could probably chop off enough bonus from those who didn't EARN their bonus and use it to pay the 15 employees who would otherwise be getting laid off. That's what I'd do - IF I were an employer.
Sal, I do that (buy American) every chance I get - isn't it a shame it's getting harder and harder to find a label or any packaging that proudly touts MADE IN AMERICA ?? But trust me - I still check and I still buy American every chance I get. I also DO NOT use self-check-outs at the stores - I refuse to do the job of a cashier FOR FREE especially when the store doesn't give you a discount at the end of the order for saving THEM money (you know, the cashier's wages??) But I see people every time I go in the store who are in such a hurry using these blasted machines... I realize the store has little to no help at the check-stands these days but that's all the more reason to load up your cart and then go find a manager and tell them to put more help on the front-line - and if they don't then LEAVE YOUR CART and walk out - but not before letting Management know exactly why you're taking your business elsewhere.
I would really like to know what positions the people who moved to NJ hold with Ethel M. They pay their factory workers such a meager wage that I can't imagine that with the high cost of living in New Jersey they would be able to afford to move and live in New Jersey on that meager sum. Perhaps it was some company big-whigs huh? Maybe THEY could afford the expense of living in New Jersey on their inflated salaries - but the common factory worker? Nah...
I can tell you this, I have a very close relative that was one of the 25 let go. She recieved a nice buy out after nearly 30 yrs of service but not enough to last very long. It won't be long and you will see the Ethel M brand chocolates gone. The corporate change includes out sourcing sales to other companies,that will be a disaster in itself. Farewell Ethel M it was good while it lasted.
they can hire me - I just need pay, I already have benefits! .......NO! I will not remove my degree or credentials off my resume.
I have to wonder about the comments from those who say NJ has great roads, parks and schools. In fact I think most of you have never been there or to any east coast city or state for that matter. The schools in NJ suck, just like most of the rest of the country, the roads are filled with holes from bad weather, salt, and neglect, the over paid unions control most industry in the state including the schools and brought it to bankruptcy.
Too often people get the grass is greener syndrome without knowing what they are talking about at all.
I currently live in WI but have lived in 20 other states and visited every state except Alaska for work.
Despite the many negatives about Las Vegas and the abuses of the developers and local politicians, boards, and agency management there are many states in far worse shape than Nevada.
Las Vegas wants to be sin city but then complains when the fruits of those sins come home to roost. Las Vegas is hostile toward most small businesses and drives them from the state even as leadership pretends to be working to attract them. It's no wonder Ethel M is leaving. I agree it has much to do with the family not being interested in a boutique brand but the city could have done much to make it a crown jewel rather than an after thought and helped it grow, instead Henderson like LV can't see past the graft from handouts of greedy casinos and builders and ignore the value of real business development.