The Story Behind M&M's: From Military Rations to Store Shelves
Today, M&M's are one of the world's most recognizable candies, but their story began not in a candy aisle—it began with war.
In the late 1930s, Forrest Mars Sr., the son of the founder of the Mars, Incorporated candy company, was traveling through Europe during the Spanish Civil War. There, he noticed soldiers eating small chocolate pellets coated with a hard sugar shell. The coating kept the chocolate from melting in their hands, making it ideal for soldiers in warm climates.
Inspired by the idea, Mars returned to the United States and partnered with Bruce Murrie, the son of a president at The Hershey Company. Their partnership gave Mars access to Hershey's chocolate, which was difficult to obtain because much of the nation's chocolate supply was being reserved for military needs.
In 1941, the two men introduced M&M's. The name came directly from their last names: Mars & Murrie.
When the United States entered World War II, M&M's quickly became part of military life. The candy was included in soldiers' field rations because it was durable, portable, and, thanks to its candy shell, resisted melting far better than traditional chocolate bars. It provided a quick source of energy and a small morale boost during difficult conditions.
After the war ended in 1945, thousands of returning service members already knew and loved the candy. Demand exploded, and Mars shifted its focus from military contracts to the consumer market. M&M's soon appeared in grocery stores, movie theaters, and vending machines across America.
The company continued to innovate over the decades:
In 1950, the famous black "M" was printed on each candy to distinguish authentic M&M's from competitors.
In 1954, Peanut M&M's were introduced and quickly became a customer favorite.
By the 1980s, M&M's had become a global brand and were even included in the food carried aboard the NASA Space Shuttle missions.
In the 1990s, fans voted to introduce the now-iconic blue M&M, showing how the brand had become part of popular culture.
The slogan, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand," perfectly captured the innovation that made M&M's unique from the beginning. What started as a practical solution for soldiers evolved into one of the best-selling candies in history.
Today, billions of M&M's are produced each year in dozens of colors, flavors, and varieties, but every piece still carries the same simple idea that inspired Forrest Mars over 80 years ago: chocolate that can go anywhere without melting in your hand.
The journey of M&M's is a reminder that some of the world's most beloved products are born from solving real-world problems. In this case, a wartime innovation became a timeless treat enjoyed by generations around the globe.
