If you've ever opened a bag of M&M's and wondered why each candy has a lowercase "m" printed on it, you're not alone. That innocent print isn't just an aesthetic whim—it's the result of historical twists, business diplomacy, and some pretty thoughtful brand protection. And yes, it also has something to do with war. Real war. With trenches, soldiers, and chocolate that had to survive more than just the heat of your palm.
M&M's They are not just a candy. They are a cultural phenomenon that we all know, but few know their true story. How did two visionaries—one from the Mars Dynasty, the other from Hershey's Palace—come together to create a chocolate institution? Why did we have to wait until the 1950s for the famous letter to appear on the candy? And why were M&M's considered the military's secret weapon (a chocolate one, anyway) for many years?
What do the "ms" in M&M's stand for?
Behind every legend there are two names: Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce MurrieForrest, the son of the founder of Mars, fled his father's ego (and probably some corporate drama) to Europe in the 1930s. There, he was inspired to create the hard-shelled chocolate balls while watching British soldiers in the Spanish Civil War.
But to succeed in the US with his new idea, he needed access to chocolate, which was controlled by Hershey. So he invited Bruce Murrie, the son of the president of Hershey, to join the project. And so they were born M(ars) & M(urrie) – a partnership that brought the world candies, which we are literally throwing into our mouths today.
Why does every M&M have its own “m”?
When the years 1941 introduced the first M&M's, they were still without any push. A with success come copies, and within a few years, counterfeits were appearing on the market. Mars and Murrie acted quickly – in the 1950s they began printing lowercase letter “m” on each candy, as a sign authenticity.
And as if that weren't smart enough on its own, this print also became the starting point for candy personalizationThese days, you can print almost anything on M&M's – from names to logos, from wedding dates to sarcastic messages to your ex.
Marketing jackpot.
M&M's and the Army: The True Story of Chocolate Meals
Forrest Mars was inspired by the chocolate bars that soldiers ate in Spain – hard-shell chocolate balls, which did not melt in the heat. This seemed to him brilliant for soldierswho needed energy without chocolate stains on their equipment.
Years 1941 M&M's have become official part of US military rations in World War II. They were sold exclusively for the military, where they became an indispensable part of the armed food kit. And when the war ended? It was time for civilian conquest of the stores. And so began global domination.
The evolution of flavors: from classics to the caramel revolution
It started modestly: just classic chocolate, then the years 1954 added peanut version – and the world was never the same again. Today we can choose between:
- Peanut Butter
- Caramel
- Almond
- Pretzel
- Cookie Crunch
- …and seasonal bombs like Pumpkin Pie and Strawberries & Creme
Every flavor is a little experiment – some successful, others… well, let's just say they're more adventurous.
Colors the world has seen (and a few it hasn't)
The original M&M's color palette included red, yellow, green, brown and purple. A purple was quickly removed from the palette (in a suspiciously quiet departure) only to be years later blue took over the place.
Nowadays, you can order M&M's in almost any color. You can build your own through their website. color palette for a wedding, baby shower or corporate event, which smells like the logo. Basically, M&M's have become a kind of edible form of the Pantone color scheme.
The logo that didn't need Botox
In an era where brands are “refreshed” every five years, M&M's has maintained its recognition without plastic surgeryFrom the very beginning, m on the candy remained the same – with the exception of one change: when peanut M&M's were introduced in 1954, they changed the font color from black to white.
And that's it. Minimalism with longevity.
Finally: m means more than you think
Maybe this little one m just a print on a candy. But at the same time it is a symbol origin stories, business strategies, war innovations and consumer obsessions
The next time you grab a handful of M&M's, remember: you're not just eating candy. You're eating a piece of history. And a very tasty one, by the way.
