Nearly Four Decades in the Making
Some partnerships are measured in contracts. Others are measured in wins.
For nearly 40 years, Mars and Advantage Solutions have been building together, and the momentum keeps growing. What began as a small executional partnership in Southern California has quietly evolved into one of the most deeply integrated enterprise partnerships in CPG.
Today, Advantage doesn’t just support Mars. It plays a central role in Mars’ execution platform, supporting HQ sales, retail operations, data analytics, and category leadership across every channel—from grocery and convenience to military commissaries. At the heart of this work, Advantage teammates focus each day on one goal: driving results at the shelf. That focus has delivered five consecutive years of Mars Snacking North America plan attainment.
One Team, One Stage
In March 2026, the Mars Snacking National Sales Conference in Orlando brought that energy to life. The event brought together the full Mars sales organization to align on strategy, celebrate results, and look ahead. And Advantage wasn’t there as a guest. It was there as a strategic partner with a seat at the table.
An Advantage delegation, led by CEO Dave Peacock and Jeff Harsh, COO of Branded Services, joined key retail and sales leaders from Mars Snacking North America for cross-functional working sessions.
“What we’re doing with Mars is a blueprint for what a true strategic partnership looks like,” said Rich Adams, SVP of Client Services at Advantage. “I couldn’t be more excited about what we’re going to continue to accomplish together.”
On the other side of the partnership, Patrick Geiger, Sales Director for Mars Ice Cream, put it this way: “Advantage is a trusted partner that continues to not only deliver results, but brings credibility, insights and trust on a daily basis.”
“Great partnership with Advantage — 35+ years strong,” added Tim LeBel, Chief Customer Officer for Mars Snacking North America. “They are our feet in the streets and eyes and ears at retail. We trust them to show up, and they always do.”
That trust at retail is the foundation, but the partnership extends well beyond the shelf.
Advantage Teammates Recognized
The conference’s theme, Tomorrow Starts Today, carried a charge that resonated deeply with the Advantage team. But the most electric moments came when two of their own were recognized for outstanding performance.
The conference recognized Tom Crawford, Director of Retail Operations, for transforming the convenience store team’s execution. “This recognition belongs to every single person on our C-Store team who decided that good enough wasn’t good enough,” Crawford said. “The growth has been real, in the numbers and in our people. I’m even more excited about where we’re headed.”
Sallee Taylor, Manager of Sales, also earned the Climber Award for her standout impact across the organization. “The Climber Award is more than a recognition — it’s a reflection of what’s possible when you’re surrounded by a community that challenges you to rise. I’m honored, grateful, and more motivated than ever to keep climbing.”
“This award is a testament to associates who consistently deliver outstanding results despite facing tremendous adversity. These remarkable individuals choose to keep climbing, no matter what challenges they encounter, and they inspire everyone around them with their determination and positive mindset,” said Jim Dodge, Vice President of Convenience, Specialty & Unattended Retail for Mars Snacking North America. “Thank you, Tom and Sallee, for your exceptional leadership and your ability to motivate others to reach new heights.”
A Partnership of Tomorrow, Today
The conference also acknowledged several Advantage teams—including AMP, C‑Store, MW Retail Ops, and Military—for supporting Mars award winners and demonstrating Advantage’s strong integration with Mars and its collective impact on results. “We deeply appreciate the partnership with Advantage that continues to help Mars Snacking achieve its goals in market and in store,” reflected Larry Lupo, Vice President of US Retail Sales for Mars Snacking North America.
This is the kind of partnership we build. Nearly four decades in, and it is only getting stronger. Tomorrow starts today.
