“What planet are they from?” cynical rivals will say of Mars, the global candy behemoth. The business, whose brands include M&Ms and Snickers, loftily aims to embody Five Principles. These are quality, responsibility, efficiency, mutuality and freedom. Tellingly, shareholder returns do not make the cut.

Being a private, family-owned business has served Mars well. Today, the company is in its 111th year of business. Other brands include Milky Way, Wrigley’s gum and Pedigree pet food. It also runs a massive veterinary business. Annual sales of nearly $45bn puts Mars ahead of Coca-Cola and makes it one of the biggest privately owned businesses in the world, with more than 140,000 employees in 80 countries.

A sustained stock market sell-off and the growing risk of an economic slowdown is likely to highlight the admirable resilience of many family-controlled companies.