M&Ms

The History of M&Ms

Forrest E. Mars, Sr. introduced the plain chocolate candies in 1941. During the start of the Second World War, sugar was in short supply in the U.S. and was therefore rationed. However, there was one company that got away with endless supplies of sugar: Hershey. Hershey was able to lobby with the government to allow them to have access to sugar for production. In turn, The Hershey Corporation supplied chocolate to the troops and prisoners of war (a delicacy and morale booster). Mars got wind of this and struck an 80-20 deal with the son of Hershey executive William Murrie, allowing Hershey to supply chocolate, capital, and technology to make the new candy that would be called “M&M’s” from both of their last names: Mars and Murrie. That's right! M&M's are made with Hershey's chocolate, a fact that Mars does not like to admit or publicize.

M&M's were eventually supplied to soldiers.  Their patented colored candy coating became a hit for their convenience and mobility and the fact they did not melt. After the war, the candy swept the nation, allowing Mars to buy out Murrie. M&M'S became so popular by 1950 that Mars stamped each candy with an "m" so as not to be confused with imitators who were already popping up. Mars created the slogan "Look for the 'm' on every piece." 
    Peanut M&Ms were introduced in 1954
and the color used to print the "m" on M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies was changed from black to white. Initially, M&Ms were coated in six colors: red, yellow, green, brown, orange and violet. By the 1960s, another slogan appeared: "The candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."

In the 1980s M&M'S were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply.

Today, M&Ms are offered in a kaleidoscope of 21 colors and special holiday selections, including Christmas and Easter. It's estimated that 400 million M&Ms are produced daily in the United States in factories in New Jersey and Tennessee. 

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