Michael Sosa
Mr. Skipper
Encounters 7
March 5, 2023
The Life of Franklin Clarence Mars
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like without the sweet taste of candy? From their sweet to sour taste, they are enjoyed by many at all times of the day. They are sometimes covered by bitter dark chocolate, other times by buttery caramel, but the end result is always something that brings joy. But have you ever thought to ask who made this happen or who started this colorful and sweet trend? If you would like the answer, here it is, the man who started the company that literally owns the world of candy is known as Franklin Clarence Mars. This man did the impossible, he could have been left for dead but instead was brought back to his feet and paved his own way to success by creating such a successful company. His success made the world and its future much sweeter than before, and his story is wonderful and something to be inspired by.
The Birth of the candy king
Franklin Clarence Mars was born on September 24, 1883, in Hancock, Minnesota. There isn't very much known about his dad, but his mom Elva is the one who probably influenced him the most in his life. At a young age, he got polio and had to stay home with his mom instead of going to school like the other children (Frank C. Mars). While at home he learned how to hand-dip chocolate candy and make divinity fudge and peanut brittle from his mother. He also learned how to make some candy recipes, and at the age of 19, he started selling molasses chips (Frank Mars - Story of His Success). His first sale was considered to be in 1902 when he sold his candies from home and within his local community.
Another big event that happened in 1902 was that he got married to his first wife named Ethel G. Kissack, and two years later his first child was born named Forrest Mars (Frank C. Mars). At the time, Franklin Mars was a salesman in Wadena, Minnesota struggling to support his tiny business and young family. In 1910 the young couple came to an end, and Ethel took full custody of Forrest. In the same year he got divorced, Franklin Mars got married to Ethel V. Healy. It was such a funny coincidence that both his wives had the same name, but they really were two different people. In 1911 Franklin Mars established a company that would later lead to his future empire, something that he couldn’t have ever predicted.
The Beginning of the Mars Empire
In 1911 Franklin Mars started the Mars candy Factory in Tacoma, Washington. The company made and sold a bunch of candy but the factory would soon shut down due to a bigger and better company operating in Tacoma. In 1914 he would invent the Double Mint Gum bar or stick, which got its name for its double mint flavor and double value. In 1920 Franklin Mars started the creation of the famous Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue and he also opened the Mar-o-bar company in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he began to make Chocolate bars (Franklin C. Mars). In 1922 Franklin Mars added the Mar-o-Bar to the range of cand options to the company. The company would later be named Mars incorporated. In 1923 Franklin Mars introduced his son Forrest’s idea named the Milky Way (Franklin C. Mars) which led to great success and also led to the hiring of full-time workers working in his company and factory. In 1929 he would move to Chicago and brought 200 workers with him. While in Chicago he invented the Snickers Bar in 1930 named after one of his race horses, which would one day make a profit of 2.5 million U.S. dollars. In 1932 Franklin Clarence Mars added the 3-Musketeers to the list of candies.
Significant Accomplishments
Franklin Clarence Mars was a man who had achieved many accomplishments over the years had been alive. One of his most personal and probably biggest accomplishments was overcoming polio at a very young age (Candy Hall of Fame). His second accomplishment was getting married at the age of 19 plus having a son named Forrest Mars in 1904, (he would later take control of his father's company and turn it into a multimillion business as it is today). While he began to start his own small family he also began starting on the creation of his own grand sugary empire (or business), which would one day lead to the reason for his major fame in the far future. In the same year he began to create his own company, he began to build one of, if not the most iconic buildings in Chicago, Illinois named the Wrigley building (Mars.com), which served as the headquarters for the Wrigley/Mars company. Another big achievement that happened to Franklin Clarence Mars is when his empire soon began its expansion by adding the first ever thing to the future major list of its candy selection, the most iconic candy of the Mars company was made by Franklin Clarence Mars himself, it was named the Mar-O-Bar. Another achievement of Franklin Clarence Mars is creating the milky-way with his son, the candy would in the future make about 100 million dollars a year. His second to last accomplishment is when he was hired to be an honorary captain of the Oak Park, Illinois police department (Geni). His last biggest accomplishment ever was probably creating the Snickers Bar that will be the future of all candy and will be used and eaten for decades to come, it will be used during Christmas, easter, and most importantly Halloween the one main day the candy is praised like a diamond.
The Impact on the world from Franklin Clarence Mars
Franklin Clarence Mars’ impact on the world wasn’t much but was kinda a big part of the past and now the future. In the past, Franklin Clarence Mars’ company did a lot of things for the world like creating the 2 most delicious and iconic candies probably in history called M&M and skittles (Mars.com). They also did things that made the world happy and excited like sponsoring the 1990 Italia (Italy) world cup plus the 1992 Barcelona, Spain Olympics (Mars.com). The company serves a purpose in the future too. The day or holiday of Halloween is basically candy day and money day for candy companies, like most companies Franklin Clarences Mars’ company plays a big role in the holiday because of the variety of candy his company has to choose from, the most popular choices is M&M’s, Skittles, Snickers. His company also has helped the world even during wars by sending the U.S. military the first M&M’s (before being released to the public), to eat during battles and during journeys across countries and rivers (Mars.com). The company has even in the past started making dog and cat food, treats, and toys and going even further and making a mini vet company named Banfield (Pet Hospital) to help all pets alike from dogs to cats. And lastly, the company even went further to make a company to research and test canine (dog) DNA (Mars.com).
Work Cited
“Franklin C. Mars.” Candy Hall of Fame, 2004, candyhalloffame.org/inductee/frank-c-mars/.
Kane, Jason. “Frank Mars - Story of His Success.” Snack History, 2022, www.snackhistory.com/frank-mars/.
“About Franklin C. Mars.” Geni, 2022, www.geni.com/people/Franklin-C-Mars/6000000017697183677.
“Franklin Clarence Mars.” Cook Info, 2021, www.cooksinfo.com/mars-family.