Integrated business planning brings sweet success for Mars

The award comes from the business improvement consultancy Oliver Wight which has been working with Mars in eastern and western Europe, and the USA as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States of the Middle East. Building on the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process developed by the Mars Corporation in the late 1990s, the Oliver Wight programme helped Mars GCC on its way to achieving ambitious growth plans despite difficult trading conditions, allowing the company to develop a longer-term strategic view of its business and to implement highly effective gap-closing initiatives. In one part of the business, the implementation of a more effective demand review process increased revenues by more than 3% almost overnight. Mars lean champion Youssef Mouallem said: "We have worked hard throughout last year to meet all the criteria that qualify Mars GCC to be the first global region to receive such an award. We aim to sustain our Class accreditation and will remain dedicated to continuing our efforts to build upon our success." Oliver Wight's Dave Manning said he believed the success at Mars was due to senior management commitment to the process.