Matthias Berninger to Join Mars, Inc. (Masterfoods) as Director for Corporate Health and Nutrition Affairs

BRUSSELS, December 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Masterfoods Europe today announced that Matthias Berninger has been appointed Director for Corporate Health and Nutrition Affairs, effective 5th February 2007. This newly created group will advise Mars, Inc. in Europe and the CIS on public policy matters and food regulation.

Berninger, 35, who will be based in Mars, Inc.'s European headquarters in Brussels, has represented the German parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen as a Member of the Bundestag since 1994. He was Parliamentary State Secretary (Staatssekretär) in the German Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture from 2001-2005. This ministry was reformed in the wake of the BSE crisis. During this time he was actively involved in reforming policies on agriculture and food. Alongside his engagement in reforms in food safety and storage, Berninger has been involved in policies to address obesity, and consequently in the founding of the German 'Plattform Ernährung und Bewegung' ('Platform for Nutrition and Physical Activity'). Berninger has announced his retirement from duties as Member of the Bundestag and will join Mars, Inc. in February 2007.

Pierre Laubies, President of Masterfoods in Western Europe, said, "We are proud to be able to welcome such a distinguished policy expert to our team. His arrival and the creation of the Corporate Health and Nutrition Affairs group is a testimony of our commitment to actively participating in the European health debate. As a corporation, we have already made important contributions through our 'Smart Choice' vending programme and our product reformulation programme, which includes the radical reduction of saturated fats in all of our food products and the reduction of salt levels in all of our sauces and soups. Matthias and his team will help our Snackfood, Food, and Nutrition for Health and Wellbeing categories to even better respond to future consumer concerns and policy challenges in the Health and Nutrition debate."

Media contact: Roland Klein, roland.klein@cnc-communications.com +44(0)7776-162-997

About Mars, Inc.:

A privately-held company, Mars, Incorporated produces some of the world's leading confectionary, food, pet food, health and beverage brands, and operates in more than 65 countries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars, Inc. employs 40,000 associates worldwide with 100 manufacturing facilities globally. In Europe, Mars, Inc. employs more than 15,000 associates. The company owns some of the world's favourite brands including MARS(R), M&M'S(R), SNICKERS(R), DOLMIO(R), UNCLE BEN'S(R), PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food for Dogs and WHISKAS(R) and SHEBA(R) Brand Food for Cats. The company's global sales approximate USD 19bn. annually.

Media contact: Roland Klein, roland.klein@cnc-communications.com +44(0)7776-162-997