Mars Chocolate North America announced that it is expanding its product portfolio to satisfy consumers, whether they're seeking a delicious and amazingly satisfying snack (goodnessknows® Snack Squares), a rewarding treat (SNICKERS® Brand Mixed Nuts Bar), a substantial bite (COMBOS® Baked Snacks Sweet & Salty Chocolate Fudge Pretzel), or a favorite in a new format (M&M'S® Brand To-Go Bottles). 

"Shoppers purchase snacks and confections for a variety of reasons, and we're seeing an increase in requests for lower caloric snack options," says Timothy LeBel, vice president of sales for Mars Chocolate North America. "Our new goodnessknows® Snack Squares will fulfill consumers' appetite for a new snack that tastes indulgent at 150 calories per four-square serving."

New items from Mars Chocolate include:

• COMBOS® Baked Snacks Sweet & Salty Chocolate Fudge Pretzel features creamy fudge filling surrounded by a salty, crunchy pretzel shell. (November 2015, $2.29 for 6.0 oz. medium bags)

• The cranberry and cherry variants of Real Fruit Dipped in DOVE® Dark Chocolate will be available in a new size: convenient, share-able, resealable 17-ounce stand-up pouches. (October 2015, $8.99-$10.99 for 17 oz. large stand-up pouch)

• goodnessknows® Snack Squares -- available in Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate, Apple Almond & Peanut Dark Chocolate, and Peach & Cherry Almond Dark Chocolate -– are made with delicious dark chocolate, slow-roasted whole almonds, toasted oats and real fruit. (July 2015, $1.39-$1.59 for 1.2 oz. singles, $4.99-$6.99 for a five-pack carton) M&M'S® Brand To-Go Bottles are innovative, re-closable and reusable bottles boasting 3.5 ounces of M&M'S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies and M&M'S® Brand Peanut Chocolate Candies. (November 2015, $2.50-$3.50 for 3.5 oz. bottle)

• M&M'S® Brand will re-launch the M&M'S® Brand Box Pack format in March 2016 with major marketing that includes the blockbuster summer promotion "M&M'S® Brand Movie Ticket Mania." (March 2016, $1.00-$1.99 per box pack)

• MILKY WAY® Brand Marshmallow with Caramel Bar delivers a magnificent combination of fluffy marshmallow nougat covered with a layer of smooth caramel, enrobed in creamy milk chocolate. (July 2015, $1.09-$1.39 for 1.72 oz. single)

• MILKY WAY MIDNIGHT® Bar will be available in a 2 To Go size enclosed in a resealable twist-wrap. Every bite offers creamy caramel and vanilla-flavored nougat coated in dark chocolate. (December 2015, $1.69-$1.99 for 2.83 oz. 2 To Go)

• SNICKERS® Brand Mixed Nuts Bar satisfies with a mix of peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts combined with SNICKERS® Brand caramel and nougat, all coated with creamy milk chocolate. (November 2015, $1.09-$1.39 for 1.76 oz. single)

• STARBURST™ Brand Orange Sorbet Bars pack an exhilarating burst of orange flavor in a light and delicious bar that is a fruity and refreshing addition to the Frozen Novelty category. (February 2015, $2.99 for a four-count multipack)

• Several seasonal innovations -- new flavors, packaging and displays -- will offer retailers more ways to continue the double-digit sales growth of seasonally wrapped confections.