HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.--- DOVE® Chocolate, a MARS Snackfood US brand, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. announced the launch of their program to educate Americans on the high quality of DOVE® chocolate, Mars cocoa sustainability efforts as well as Martha’s holiday tips and traditions. Beginning now through December for the holidays and from January to February 2010 for Valentine’s Day, consumers can purchase special edition DOVE® PROMISES® Chocolate featuring messages from Martha Stewart under the signature foil wrapper. The program will be supported with a multi-media marketing campaign across The Martha Stewart Show, Martha Stewart Living and Everyday Food magazines, Marthastewart.com and DOVE Chocolate, and in-store promotion.
“Martha Stewart represents impeccable taste, and we are thrilled to partner with her team to connect DOVE® Chocolate to savvy consumers with discerning palates,” said Carole Walker, vice president of integrated marketing communications, Mars Snackfood US. “DOVE® Chocolate is high quality chocolate and who better to illustrate this than Martha Stewart.”
MSLO EVP Media Sales & Marketing Janet Balis said: “Our program with DOVE Chocolate aligns our brand equity around celebrations and entertaining. Putting Martha Stewart tips for the holidays inside the wrappers is a powerful means to convey the concept of something special being inside. Our "Omni" program takes full advantage of our cross-platform media solutions, delivering a receptive audience to engage with DOVE's distinct message.”
Special Edition DOVE® PROMISES® Chocolate
Special edition bags of Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Almond, Caramel and new Peppermint Bark DOVE® PROMISES® Chocolate will feature 200 unique holiday messages and tips from Martha Stewart under the wrapper. In addition, DOVE® Brand Silky Smooth Chocolate Hearts in Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, Dark Chocolate with Almonds and Caramel will feature 100 unique Valentine’s Day messages from Martha Stewart.
DOVE® Chocolate and The Martha Stewart Show
On December 9th, The Martha Stewart Show (nationally syndicated, check local listings) will tell the DOVE® Chocolate bean to bar story with highlights from the MARS Center for Cocoa Science in Brazil and the DOVE® Chocolate Center of Excellence in Elizabethtown, PA. The segment will help raise awareness of the brand’s promise and commitment to make 100% real chocolate. On December 10th, DOVE® Chocolate Promises will be featured in a craft segment on The Martha Stewart Show. This segment will focus on gift-giving around the holidays and encourage viewers to include DOVE® Chocolate in their holiday planning.
About Mars Snackfood US:
Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars, Incorporated. Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs more than 65,000 associates at over 230 sites, including more than 135 factories, in approximately 68 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley Gum and Confections, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world’s leading brands: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL™MX, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPRO™.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Wal-Mart, Michaels and independent retailers, Martha Stewart for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, the forthcoming Martha Stewart Living line of home-improvement products at The Home Depot and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products.
