• May 7, 2009

Mars Snackfood U.S. has launched the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act, offering free, full-sized samples of Mars chocolate, product discounts and coupons around a "Free Chocolate Fridays" theme.

Now through September, Mars will give away up to seven million full-size packages of M&M's, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix Dove and 3 Musketeers bars in the U.S.

As part of the campaign, every week through the end of September, people can get one of 250,000 coupons each Friday at 9 a.m. by visiting RealChocolate.com. Coupons, which will be mailed to consumers, will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and are redeemable for any full-size Mars real chocolate product. The coupons will be limited to one per person, per week.

The company kicked off the event in New York on Thursday with actor Neil Patrick Harris ("Doogie Howser, M.D.") and associates wearing M&M's costumes and handing out 20,000 packages of candy outside of the M&M's World store in midtown Manhattan. Similar events, including distribution of full-sized packages of candy, were also held at the M&M's World stores in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.

A full-page print ad appeared in Thursday's edition of USA Today that featured a full-value coupon for any Mars real chocolate product. --Karl Greenberg