HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pickles and ice cream. Ketchup and eggs. Jalapenos and habanero. These are just some of the outrageous flavors fans of the delectable cheese-filled snack COMBOS® have suggested over the years. Beginning today, the brand is putting these wild and wacky taste combinations to the test in "The COMBOS® Files," an interactive Web video series hosted by celebrity chef Graham Elliot and featuring a variety of celebrities taste-testing flavor pairings to determine what flavors are bad combos and which are good COMBOS®.
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The series, which airs weekly on the COMBOS® Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/COMBOS), will follow Elliot as he creates and rates fan-submitted flavor combinations alongside an all-star team of celebrities, including pro football players Devin Hester and Robbie Gould, WWE® Superstar CM PUNK and WWE® Diva Eve Torres, and professional NASCAR® driver Kyle Busch.
"COMBOS® Snack fans are always sending ideas for new flavors, some of which look appetizing and some of which leave us scratching our heads," said Ellen Thompson, Marketing Director, Mars Chocolate North America. "The COMBOS® brand continues to show its expertise in unique flavor combinations, so it was only natural that we finally put our fans' ideas to the test and end these great taste debates, once and for all."
The process poses a special challenge to Elliot, a renowned chef and operator of three celebrated Chicago restaurants. COMBOS® are everyone's favorite cheese-filled pretzels, crackers and tortillas made with real cheese, but "The COMBOS® Files" will force Elliot to recreate the popular snack using a wide range of wacky ingredients.
"Chinese food combinations, dessert combinations, super spicy combinations – you name it, we're going to try it," said Elliot. "I'm really going to need to bring my A game into the COMBOS® Brand Taste Kitchen each and every time."
Throughout the series, Elliot, the celebrities and fans themselves will help determine whether the fantastical flavor combinations are bad or good – a nod to the new "Bad combo, Good COMBOS®" advertising campaign that launched this summer. "The COMBOS® Files" captures the spirit of that campaign, but in an interactive manner that puts fans front and center to help drive original content.
Fans can view episodes and debate the results at www.Facebook.com/COMBOS. And they can also follow the brand on Twitter at @Combos.
About Mars Chocolate North America
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and approximately 70,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.
Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™, WISDOM PANEL™ and SERAMIS®.
For more information, please visit www.mars.com.
SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America