M&M's Marketing History
Company Overview
Long, Long…but not that Long Ago!
M&M’s started its gigantic universal recognition in a small kitchen by Forrest Mars Sr, all he had were a few utensils and a small oven. It was during the Spanish Civil War, young soldiers were puppets of conflictions between sides, not knowing when they will go back home and if they might make it for that matter of fact. While sustaining their orders, Forrest Mars Sr. noticed that little was there to make their time bearable, as little as a chocolate shaped pebble! Forrest Mars Sr. noticed that these little miracle pebbles were fun and convenient to eat and easy to carry around, he also noticed that its significance was due to its hard sugar coating over the chocolate which kept it from melting. Inspired by this revelation he fought along his curiosity back to his kitchen and there he created what we now know; the “M&M’s” Plain Chocolate Candies.
They soon become effect in production in 1941 and became a favorite for the GI’s serving the WWII. M&M’s were easy to carry and they would sustain in any climate, back then they were packed in cardboard tubes. Consequently, in the late 40’s they were given a broad and memorable acceptance in the US market then they were transformed from the cardboard tube package to the form we now know; the brown pouched bags.
Growing up!
With the growth of TV in the 50’s M&M’s quickly became a popular word and chocolate in almost every house. In 1954 the peanut range joined the family of M&M's and escalated sales everywhere giving a larger selection. M&M's soon became not only a delicious chocolate snack but also an entertaining and loved one when it associated its chocolate brand with its new cool characters plus a slogan that strikes bulls eye; "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth—not in your hand"®. This was broadcasted in its initial TV advertising.
Originally, black and white were the theme colors of the plain chocolates and brown for the peanut range
Long, Long…but not that Long Ago!
M&M’s started its gigantic universal recognition in a small kitchen by Forrest Mars Sr, all he had were a few utensils and a small oven. It was during the Spanish Civil War, young soldiers were puppets of conflictions between sides, not knowing when they will go back home and if they might make it for that matter of fact. While sustaining their orders, Forrest Mars Sr. noticed that little was there to make their time bearable, as little as a chocolate shaped pebble! Forrest Mars Sr. noticed that these little miracle pebbles were fun and convenient to eat and easy to carry around, he also noticed that its significance was due to its hard sugar coating over the chocolate which kept it from melting. Inspired by this revelation he fought along his curiosity back to his kitchen and there he created what we now know; the “M&M’s” Plain Chocolate Candies.
They soon become effect in production in 1941 and became a favorite for the GI’s serving the WWII. M&M’s were easy to carry and they would sustain in any climate, back then they were packed in cardboard tubes. Consequently, in the late 40’s they were given a broad and memorable acceptance in the US market then they were transformed from the cardboard tube package to the form we now know; the brown pouched bags.
Growing up!
With the growth of TV in the 50’s M&M’s quickly became a popular word and chocolate in almost every house. In 1954 the peanut range joined the family of M&M's and escalated sales everywhere giving a larger selection. M&M's soon became not only a delicious chocolate snack but also an entertaining and loved one when it associated its chocolate brand with its new cool characters plus a slogan that strikes bulls eye; "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth—not in your hand"®. This was broadcasted in its initial TV advertising.
Originally, black and white were the theme colors of the plain chocolates and brown for the peanut range