M&M’s: The Surprising Story Behind the Famous Name
For years, M&M’s have been a favorite snack for many, known for their delicious taste and colorful appearance. But recently, a lesser-known fact about this beloved candy has taken social media by storm, thanks to a TikToker named Claire Dinhut. An American currently living in London, Claire revealed the family drama that lies behind the name “M&M.” Her video quickly went viral, amassing over 9,000 likes as she delved into the story of how the candy’s name came to be.
Claire explained that M&M stands for Mars and Murrie, named after Forrest Mars Sr., the son of Mars Inc. founder Frank C. Mars, and Bruce Murrie, the son of William Murrie, a top executive at Hershey’s. The collaboration between these two chocolate heirs resulted in the creation of the famous candy that is now enjoyed worldwide. But the backstory of this collaboration is not just about business—it’s also filled with family drama.
In her TikTok video, Claire shared that Forrest Mars had a contentious relationship with his father, Frank Mars, the original founder of the Mars company. According to Claire, Forrest was an innovative thinker, especially when it came to creating new chocolate products. While traveling in Europe, Forrest came across chocolate that was coated with a hard candy shell. Inspired by this idea, he wanted to bring it back to the United States, but his strained relationship with his father meant he wasn’t eager to share the idea with him. Instead, he turned to his father’s business rival: Hershey’s.
The story behind the name M&M is a fascinating glimpse into the competitive chocolate industry of the 1930s. Claire revealed, “Forrest went to Hershey’s and basically said, ‘I don’t want to give this idea to my father, but I want to collaborate with you.’ William Murrie, who was running Hershey’s at the time, agreed to the partnership but insisted that his son, Bruce, be involved in the project.” The two young men worked together to develop the now-iconic candy, and they decided to name it after their last names: Mars and Murrie, giving birth to M&M’s.
What really helped M&M’s rise to fame was their timely introduction during World War II. Claire pointed out that the candies were created just before the war, and the company made a deal with the U.S. government to include M&M’s in soldiers’ rations. Their hard candy coating made them heat-resistant and easy to transport, making them ideal for soldiers to carry with them. By the time the war ended, soldiers had developed a fondness for the candy, helping to cement M&M’s as a staple treat in American households.
According to History TV’s website, “After the U.S. entered the war, the candies were exclusively sold to the military. By the time the war ended and soldiers returned home, they were hooked.”
The Colors and Symbolism of M&M’s
Not only is the origin of the M&M name intriguing, but the candy’s colors also carry meaning. Each color has its own flavor and symbolism. For instance, the Red M&M is associated with intelligence and strength and can be found in varieties like milk chocolate or dark chocolate peanut butter. Yellow M&M’s, one of the original colors, comes in peanut or dark chocolate peanut flavors. Blue M&M’s, which were introduced in 1995 after being selected as a new branding color, often feature raspberry or almond flavors.
Green M&M’s are known for their playful and anthropomorphic character, while Orange M&M’s are represented as anxious and nervous, possibly because they fear they’ll be eaten first. Finally, Brown M&M’s represent the classic milk chocolate flavor, though there are rumors that this color could be linked to fudge brownie.
M&M’s didn’t always feature their iconic “M” stamp. It wasn’t until 1950 that the company began printing the letter on each candy to guarantee authenticity. Today, M&M’s continue to delight chocolate lovers while sparking interest in their unique history and vibrant colors.
