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Laura Turner
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Abstract: Most veterinary students know Mars, Inc. as the company behind M&M’s and Snickers. Fewer realize that the same privately held corporation is now one of the world’s largest owners of veterinary hospitals. Mars Veterinary Health runs thousands of clinics across North America, Europe, and Asia, shaping the profession that today’s students will soon enter. This article explains Mars’s role, its revenues, and whether this corporate consolidation is ultimately good or bad for veterinary medicine.
Mars, Inc. started as a confectionery business more than a century ago. Alongside chocolate, gum, and snack foods, it expanded into pet nutrition (brands like Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin). Since the 1990s, Mars has aggressively invested in veterinary care. Today it owns:
In total, Mars operates nearly 3,000 veterinary hospitals worldwide .
Despite its image as a candy company, Mars now earns most of its money from pets. Revenues were about $45 billion in 2022, $50 billion in 2023, and $55 billion in 2025. Analysts estimate that pet care accounts for more than half of Mars’s sales, making it bigger than its confectionery division .
As future practitioners, you will likely work in a world where Mars or similar corporate groups are major employers. This has three implications:
Mars, Inc. is no longer only maker of candy; it is one of the most powerful forces in veterinary medicine. Consolidation under Mars has brought high-tech specialty care and research funding, but also raises concerns about cost, competition, and clinical autonomy. For veterinary students, the challenge will be to navigate this corporate landscape while preserving the profession’s ethical core: putting animal health first.
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Abstract: Most veterinary students know Mars, Inc. as the company behind M&M’s and Snickers. Fewer realize that the same privately held corporation is now one of the world’s largest owners of veterinary hospitals. Mars Veterinary Health runs thousands of clinics across North America, Europe, and Asia, shaping the profession that today’s students will soon enter. This article explains Mars’s role, its revenues, and whether this corporate consolidation is ultimately good or bad for veterinary medicine.
From Candy to Clinics
Mars, Inc. started as a confectionery business more than a century ago. Alongside chocolate, gum, and snack foods, it expanded into pet nutrition (brands like Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin). Since the 1990s, Mars has aggressively invested in veterinary care. Today it owns:
- Banfield Pet Hospital – more than 1,000 general practices in the U.S.
- BluePearl Specialty and Emergency – Advanced referral hospitals in 29 U.S. states.
- VCA Animal Hospitals – over 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada, acquired for $9.1 billion in 2017.
- AniCura and Linnaeus – major European groups with hundreds of practices.
In total, Mars operates nearly 3,000 veterinary hospitals worldwide .
How Big is Mars?
Despite its image as a candy company, Mars now earns most of its money from pets. Revenues were about $45 billion in 2022, $50 billion in 2023, and $55 billion in 2025. Analysts estimate that pet care accounts for more than half of Mars’s sales, making it bigger than its confectionery division .
The Debate: Is Veterinary Consolidation Good or Bad?
Potential Benefits
- Access to Specialty Care: Students entering the profession will find opportunities in oncology, neurology, and 24/7 emergency medicine that are hard to sustain in solo practices. BluePearl and VCA hospitals invest in MRI, ICUs, and oncology services on a national scale.
- Standardized Protocols: Large networks allow research and consistent clinical guidelines. Mars funds a massive pet biobank that may change how diseases are understood .
- Employment Stability: Corporate groups can provide benefits, mentorship programs, and clear career tracks that independent practices sometimes struggle to match.
Potential Drawbacks
- Rising Costs: Regulators in the U.S. and UK have opened investigations into whether Mars’s market share reduces competition and raises prices for pet owners .
- Loss of Independence: Many veterinarians value autonomy in clinical decision-making. In corporate settings, financial targets may pressure clinicians.
- Market Concentration: In the U.S., Mars is estimated to own nearly half of all corporate-owned veterinary clinics . This dominance gives it enormous influence over hiring, wages, and even which drugs and diagnostics are promoted.
What This Means for Veterinary Students
As future practitioners, you will likely work in a world where Mars or similar corporate groups are major employers. This has three implications:
- Career Options: Corporate practices can offer structured training, mentorship, and mobility between clinics.
- Ethical Awareness: You may face conflicts between cost control and best medical care. Understanding business models will be as important as clinical skill.
- Policy Engagement: Regulatory debates about transparency and pricing will affect your future patients and employers. Staying informed will help you advocate for both animals and clients.
Conclusion
Mars, Inc. is no longer only maker of candy; it is one of the most powerful forces in veterinary medicine. Consolidation under Mars has brought high-tech specialty care and research funding, but also raises concerns about cost, competition, and clinical autonomy. For veterinary students, the challenge will be to navigate this corporate landscape while preserving the profession’s ethical core: putting animal health first.
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2025). Mars, Inc. Retrieved from Mars, Inc. | Candy, Pet Care, Food, & Facts | Britannica Money
- Reuters. (2024, August 14). Mars’ biggest deal clinched by secretive, deep-pocketed family. Retrieved from Mars' biggest deal clinched by secretive, deep-pocketed family
- Time. (2024). Why Mars Boss Poul Weihrauch Wants to Help Others on Climate Goals. Retrieved from Why Mars Inc.'s CEO Wants to Help Others on Climate Goals
- Warren, E., & Blumenthal, R. (2023). Investigation into Mars’ impact on veterinary workers and pet owners. U.S. Senate Press Release. Retrieved from Press Releases | U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
- The Guardian. (2024, June 29). Love of animals and love of profit? Inside the $500bn pet boom. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jun/29/mars-pet-care-food-businesses
- Wikipedia. (2025). BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital. BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital - Wikipedia
The post Mars, Inc: Candy, Clinics, and the Consolidation of Veterinary Medicine appeared first on Student Doctor Network Review.
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