The name comes from Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie, whose surnames became the brand’s famous initials. Mars reportedly got the idea after seeing soldiers eating sugar-coated chocolates during the Spanish Civil War. Murrie, whose father was a senior executive at Hershey, helped secure the chocolate supplies needed to launch their new product.
During World War II, M&M’s became popular among American soldiers because they were easy to carry and more resistant to heat than ordinary chocolate. After the war, their popularity spread to families across the country. New colors, peanut varieties, and additional flavors helped transform the simple candy into an international favorite.
Although Bruce Murrie eventually left the partnership and Forrest Mars took control of the business, the original name remained unchanged. Today, every package of M&M’s still carries the initials of the two men who helped create the candy, preserving a surprising piece of chocolate history that began more than eight decades ago.
