On this episode of Our American Stories, the Mars family makes some of the most recognizable products in the world, from M&M's, Snickers, and Skittles to Pedigree pet food. Yet more than a century after Frank Mars founded the company in 1911, Mars remains privately held and controlled by the family, even as it has grown into one of the world's largest family businesses.

Victoria Mars, the founder's great-granddaughter and former chair of the Mars Board of Directors, explains how her family has managed something few businesses survive: passing a global company from one generation to the next. From the Five Principles that guide Mars to the rules, education, communication, and occasional family disagreements required to make it work, she shares what it takes to keep a business in the family.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)