Mars Incorporated has been named as one of Fortune’s 2014 100 Best Companies to Work For list in the U.S. Ranked No. 76 this year, Mars’ position on the list rose by 19 places from 2013. The list, now in its 17th year, recognizes companies that have exceptional workplace cultures.

Mars was selected among hundreds of companies vying for a place on the list this year. Applicant companies opt to participate in the selection process, which includes an employee survey and an in-depth questionnaire about their programs and company practices. Great Place to Work then evaluates each application using its unique methodology based on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.  Creators of the list, Great Place to Work has found that employees believe they work for great organizations when they consistently trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do, and enjoy the people they work with.

“Great people build great businesses. Our Mars associates are behind our winning culture, the success of our iconic brands and our generations of growth as a company,” says Paul S. Michaels, president of Mars Inc. “We want to give associates the opportunity to have a long, rewarding career at Mars, so we invest seriously in growth and development. This pays dividends in the talent and abilities of our team and the retention of the best and the brightest. We are honored to be recognized by Fortune magazine for our associates’ continued dedication in making a Mars a great place to work.”

“It gives us great pride to produce this list of outstanding workplaces who are business leaders in their respective fields,” says China Gorman, CEO of Great Place to Work. “These companies prove the link between how people are treated and how businesses perform and give us hope for a future where all business leaders will understand that overall greatness must start with a people-first strategy.”

In April, Victoria B. Mars, a member of the Mars board of directors, will be a keynote speaker at the 2014 Great Place To Work Conference to in New Orleans. Mars will provide her personal insights into the most critical areas that foster a rewarding workplace and how culture enables business and personal performance.

“I am honored to speak at the 2014 Great Place To Work Conference, and pleased to share my personal learnings as a Mars associate, board member, and Mars family member. I also look forward to learning from others at the conference about what they do to create great work environments,” Mars says. “My family and the management team of Mars strive to create a culture where all associates find meaningful careers and leadership experiences that contribute to personal and professional learning in a team-based work environment.”

Employee Management, News