This year at Mars Food UK we’re celebrating 50 years of manufacturing at our site in King’s Lynn in the UK. We have witnessed consumer demand change dramatically during that time and with it, the offering of food manufacturers.

At King’s Lynn, our own production line has evolved considerably, from manufacturing Chipples - a vacuum-dried potato stick - in 1963 to making the Dolmio and Uncle Ben’s products that roll off the line today.

A new report we’ve published into the dining behaviours of the British public reveals how the quest for convenient products has shaped many of our current attitudes towards food. We now spend an average of 38 minutes in the kitchen preparing our main meals, with people shaving time off food preparation to make more time for themselves and their families. Providing quality products to create meals that taste great, have good nutrition and are quick and easy to prepare is at the heart of what we do.

Understanding consumers is paramount - and predicting and providing what they want is key. But understanding of the communities in which our business functions is also vital. We believe that having a commitment to both is essential to the success of any principled business.

” Employees share their knowledge and expertise far and wide”

Our expertise in health and nutrition is a prime example. Across the UK, we have used this expertise to work on a number of projects - for example ‘Wellness Events’ in partnership with schools to educate and engage children about healthy eating.

We’ve also spread our knowledge about sustainability by partnering with Norfolk County Council’s Environment and Outdoor Learning Team to help 10 local schools embrace sustainability in their teaching and learning, as well as promoting sustainable behaviour through the Eco-Schools programme (an international award scheme that supports schools to become more environmentally aware). Working in communities this way also enables our Associates (employees) to spread their knowledge and expertise far and wide - which we know they find enormously engaging.

Global businesses affect communities in many different ways and we annually report on the progress we have made in line with the Mars Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom, which are the foundation of our culture and our approach to business. In 2012, the Global Mars Volunteer Program saw nearly 12,500 Associates volunteer 50,000 hours to local projects around the world, with Mars Food UK Associates contributing 1,000 hours.

At this scale, we can be sure that as a business, we are utilising one of our most valuable assets, our workforce, and lending a helping hand to projects that require a little extra manpower, as well as expertise.

It is important for businesses, both big and small, to play a similar role in their local community. It’s about looking beyond the walls of factories and offices and working together to share knowledge, whatever that may be, to help make a difference - whether you’ve been there five decades, or five months.

Emma Evison is general manager of Mars Food UK

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