Supplier Diversity

We recognize the important social and economic contributions that small businesses make in the communities where we operate, including companies owned by ethnic minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals and other groups underrepresented in business. These suppliers give us access to a wider range of backgrounds, experiences, and innovations, thereby increasing the products, services and flexibility available within our supply chain.

In North America, we have initiatives designed to partner with diverse suppliers and business communities to create mutual benefits for all parties. We actively seek qualified, certified diverse suppliers that can provide high-quality goods and services. We also support the development of diverse suppliers by partnering with advocacy groups such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council - Mars Chocolate North America (MCNA) co-chairs its Food & Beverage Industry group;, the United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce – MCNA sits on the corporate Brain Trust Committee;, the Women Business Enterprise National Council; and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

At a market level, we support relevant regional organizations such as the Women’s Business Development Center and the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, which named Wrigley “Corporation of the Year” in May 2011. DiversityBusiness.com, America’s leading multicultural business magazine named MCNA’s Associate as one of the nation’s champions of diversity for 2011.

In addition to our Tier-1 spend with minority and women-owned businesses, MCNA rolled out its second tier procurement initiative in 2011, which in the first half of the year resulted in incremental spend of $22 million with the same group. Wrigley created a Diverse Business Strategies Council — a cross-functional team committed to increasing diversity across the segment’s supply chain. As a result, Wrigley increased spending with diverse suppliers from 3.2 percent in 2009 to 6.5 percent in 2010, compared with a 5 percent target.

Read our Supplier Diversity policy in full.