Sweet on agility

SITTING across the table at St Marc's cafe and enjoying a chocolate croissant, Ehab Abou-Oaf, regional president of Mars Wrigley Confectionery, laughs and says: "I like to say I eat 50kg of chocolate every year." This reporter pauses and considers, but somehow, the figure seems believable coming from the self-confessed diehard chocoholic. "When you are with Mars, chocolate is your bread and butter," he quips as he sits back and dusts the pastry flakes off his hands. Mention Mars Inc and chances are, the eponymous chocolate bars automatically come to mind. However, this privately owned company - which made almost US$35 billion in net sales in 2017 - is as diverse as the number of chocolate brands under it, which include Twix, M&Ms, and Snickers, just to name a few.

Indeed, Mars Inc has its fingers in many pies, one of which includes petcare. The firm boasts brands such as Whiskas and Pedigree; and Mars Petcare, together with Mars Wrigley Confectionery, account for more than 90 per cent of sales.

And Mars Inc has been in the petcare business for more than 75 years, says Mr Abou-Oaf, who has joint Egyptian-Belgian citizenship. The firm started out with pet food brands but has since expanded further into veterinary care and diagnostics.