Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2025: POUL WEIHRAUCH

Since taking the reins at the candy and pet food giant in September 2022, Weihrauch has been aiming to double its sales by 2033. He joined Mars in 2000.

With approximately $55 billion in 2024 sales, Mars is the largest privately held company in Virginia and the fourth largest in the nation, with approximately 150,000 employees worldwide. Although best known for its candy brands like M&M’s and Snickers, the company’s veterinary care and pet foods branch accounted for about 60% of its 2023 revenue.

In 2024, Mars announced it planned to purchase Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts maker Kellanova in a $35.9 billion deal that was initially expected to close in August, but in June the European Union’s antitrust watchdog agency opened a 90-day investigation into the merger. Although the deal could still go through, it will be delayed at least until the end of October.

In July, Mars announced it will invest $2 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations by 2027. It also launched a $250 million innovation fund focused on sustainability in the food industry.

Weihrauch has degrees from Denmark’s Aalborg University and Scotland’s Strathclyde Business School. He serves on Henkel AG & Co.’s shareholders committee and The Consumer Goods Forum’s board.

Return to the full list of this category’s recipients.