M&M candy is a beloved staple of sweet treats throughout the world. Few know however, that this little bite-sized treat has a fascinating origin story. It all began in 1941 when the son of an American candy entrepreneur, Forrest Mars Sr., met with the son of Hershey’s President William Murrie to create a novel chocolate and sugar coating aimed at keeping it from melting. Thus, M&Ms were born!

When Were M&M's First Created? When Were M&M's Invented?

M&M's were invented in 1941 by Forrest Mars Sr., M&M's have become a beloved classic treat, but they were actually made with an important purpose: to provide soldiers during World War II with a portable snack that would stay intact and resist melting under tough conditions. Inspired by Spanish Civil War troops carrying pellets of chocolate encased in hard shells, Forrest created his own version specifically for U.S Armed Forces - the now famous chocolatey-candy combo we know as M&M's!

Were M&M's created for the military?

Yes! M&M's were initially created for the military in 1941 as a portable snack that would stay intact and resist melting under tough conditions. Inspired by Spanish Civil War troops carrying pellets of chocolate encased in hard shells, Forrest Mars Sr., son of an American candy entrepreneur, teamed up with the son of Hershey’s President William Murrie to create a novel chocolate and sugar coating. The result of this collaboration was M&M's, the beloved classic treat we know today.

Who invented M&M's?

The original invention of M&M’s was credited to Forrest Mars Sr., an American candy entrepreneur, who partnered with the son of Hershey’s President William Murrie to create a novel chocolate and sugar coating. Together, they developed the little bite-sized treat in 1941 specifically for U.S Armed Forces as a way of providing soldiers during World War II with a portable snack that would stay intact and resist melting under tough conditions.

What Are The 6 Colors Of M&Ms? What Do The M&M colors Mean?

The original six colors – red, yellow, violet, green, orange and brown – were chosen to represent all the nations participating in World War II: America (red), Britain (yellow), France (violet), Germany (green) , Russia (orange) and Japan (brown). Today there are many more shades available and continue to be released occasionally. As for what the colors mean, any interpretation is up to the individual! Some may see them as a reminder of wartime unity, while others simply enjoy all of their colorful combinations. Either way, it’s hard to deny that M&M's are one of the most beloved treats in the world.

It was during World War II when rationing of chocolate occurred that helped propel the popularity of M&Ms worldwide. People could still enjoy their chocolaty fix without having to worry about any rationing laws or policies since M&Ms were gaining more recognition due to its ease and portability. 

What Do M&M's Actually Stand For?

M&M stands for "Mars and Murrie," the surnames of Forrest Mars Sr. and William Murrie, the two men who developed this classic treat in 1941. It’s a nice homage to their collaboration that brought us one of the world’s most beloved chocolate candies! Despite its fame today, it took many years for M&Ms to become a household name. In the 1960s, television commercials featuring the catchphrase “Melt in your mouth, not in your hands” helped catapult this snack food into pop culture fame.

What was the first flavor of M&M?

The first M&M flavor released was Plain Chocolate, introduced in 1941. It was followed shortly by Peanut Butter M&Ms in 1954 and then Almond M&Ms in 1960. Today there are 52 flavors of M&M's available worldwide, so you can find something to satisfy any taste! Whether you like the classic Plain Chocolate or you prefer the more exotic Coconut M&Ms, these fun little treats will always be sure to put a smile on your face. Even after all these years, M&Ms are still as popular as ever among candy lovers of all ages.

How many different Flavors of M&M's are there?

As of January 2023 there are currently 74 different variations and flavors of M&Ms available from across the world.

Here is a complete list of all M&M flavors & variations

• Almond

• Birthday Cake

• Boo-terscotch

• Café Mocha

• Candy Apple

• Candy Corn White Chocolate

• Caramel

• Carrot Cake

• Cheese Cake

• Chili Nut

• Chocolate Popcorn

• Cinnamon

• Classic Mix

• Coconut

• Coconut Eggs

• Coconut Peanut

• Coffee Nut

• Cookies and Screeem

• Creepy Cocoa Crisp

• Crispy

• Crispy S’mores

• Dark Chocolate

• Double Chocolate

• Dulce De Leche

• Easter Sundae

• Eggs

• English Toffee

• Espresso

• Fudge Brownie

• Gingerbread

• Hazelnut Spread

• Holiday Mint

• Honey Nut

• Hot Chocolate

• Hot Cocoa

• Jalapeno

• Key Lime Pie

• Malt Mini Eggs

• Mega

• Milk Chocolate

• Milk Chocolate Cherry

• Mini

• Mint Crisp

• Mint Dark

• Neapolitan

• Orange Chocolate

• Orange Vanilla Cream

• Peanut Brrr-ittle

• Peanut Butter

• Peanut Dark Chocolate

• Peanut Mix

• Pecan Pie

• Pretzel

• Pumpkin Spice Latte

• Raspberry

• Razzberry

• Red Velvet

• Salted Caramel

• Strawberry

• Strawberry Nut

• Sugar Cookie

• Toffee Peanut

• Triple Chocolate

• Triple Chocolate

• Vanilla Cupcake

• White BOO-tterscotch

• White Cheesecake

• White Chocolate

• White Chocolate Candy Corn

• White Chocolate Carrot Cake

• White Chocolate Marshmallow

• White Chocolate Peppermint

• White Strawberry Shortcake

• Wildly Cherry

Today, you can find an array of M&M varieties like peanut butter, almond, dark chocolate and even fruit flavors. After 80 years, M&Ms remain one of the world’s favorite snacks, showing no signs of losing popularity anytime soon! So next time you enjoy some M&Ms, remember to thank Forrest Mars Sr. and William Murrie for bringing us such a timeless classic!

From being just a simple idea between two industrious individuals back in 1941, M&M candy continues to be one of America’s favorite sweets today as there are now much more colors and flavors available for everyone to indulge in!