The Shocking History Behind M&M’s

The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time for one candy to shine: M&M’s. Whether we’re pouring the candy into a bucket of popcorn to watch our favorite holiday movie or dotting Christmas cookies with them, our pantries are stocked with the colorful candy-coated chocolates.

These unmistakable pieces of candy-covered chocolate are as American as apple pie. However, if you dive into the history of the candies and how they became one of the most recognizable brands in the world, it’s a more interesting story than you might think.

Who Invented M&M’s?

M&M’s were the brainchild of Forrest E. Mars, Sr, the son of the candy giant, Frank C. Mars, the creator of the Milky Way and 3 Musketeers candy bars. And the candy we know today was all a result of a family feud. After a rift in their father-son relationship, Forrest left his father’s company to start his own.

After traveling to Europe and working under another food giant, Nestlé, Forrest learned more about the candy and food business to aid in his quest to start his own. It’s said that during his travels, which occurred around the time of the Spanish Civil War, he came across soldiers eating small pellets of candy-covered chocolate and that’s what gave him the idea to make his own. 

When Were M&M’s Invented?

During the start of World War II, 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’s. In exchange for providing chocolate to the troops to boost morale, Hershey’s was able to keep its production going.

Mars used this to his advantage to make his new candy creation happen. He struck an 80-20 deal with Bruce Murrie, the son of Hershey’s executive William Murrie, allowing Hershey’s to supply chocolate, capital, and technology to make the new candy that would be named “M&M’s”—a name that derived from both of their last names, Mars and Murrie. Yep! M&M’s were once made with Hershey’s chocolate.

Why Were M&M’s Invented?

But that wasn’t the only way timing was on Mars’ side. Since Hershey’s was supplying chocolate to soldiers, it needed a way to keep it from melting in tropical climates during the war. The solution: M&M’s patented candy coating.

The candy was originally only sold to soldiers and became a hit for its convenience and mobility. After the war, M&M’s were brought to the masses, and the candy swept the nation, allowing Mars to buy out Murrie.

During the ’50s, Mars began printing the signature “m” on the chocolates and released the Peanut Chocolate Candies. The rest, they say, is history.

So it’s not a coincidence that M&M’s are the perfect candy to drop into a hot bucket of freshly popped popcorn or bake into cookies without fear of a melty mess. They were literally made to stay contained inside their candy coating even when melty.