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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

M&M’s: Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your Hands

here are many fun things you can His father, William, was the president of chocolate to go along with Mr. Mars’ idea,
collect, but branded items are often Hershey’s chocolates at the time. Together, and M&M’s were born.
Tamong the most interesting. Some Forrest and Bruce founded a new company.
brands are fun to collect simply because of the It was called Mars and Murrie. That is where An Increase and Decrease in Popularity
influence they have had on popular culture the abbreviation “M&M’s” originated. M&M’s were initially sold only to the mil-
and their longevity. One great example is itary. However, soldiers returning from war
M&M’s candies, which today are produced The Origins of M&M’s Candies were so fond of them that word
by Mars Incorporated. Let’s take a peek at Themselves quickly spread. Eventually, that
the history of M&M’s, both as unusually When Forrest Mars’ father sent him caused a boom in M&M’s sales to
branded candies and as a source of fun and overseas, it was during a wartime the general public.
whimsical collectibles. period. Forrest soon As the candies themselves
noticed that the increased in popularity, Mr.
The Origins of the M&M’s Name soldiers Mars decreased in popularity in
Today, Mars is known for producing the eyes of Mr. Murrie. The
M&M’s. However, the earliest M&M’s two frequently argued and
were produced by two big soon dissolved their partnership
names in candy. The first entirely. Mr. Mars bought out Mr.
was Forrest Mars. He was Murrie and gained full control over the brand.
the son of the founder of were Upon gaining independent control, Mr.
Mars, Frank C. Mars. Frank eating British Mars made some changes. For example, he
sent Forrest overseas to study candies called Smarties. altered the formula, eliminating the use of
business before taking over the The candies were amazingly Hershey’s brand chocolate. However, he kept
company. That momentous resilient. They didn’t melt in the field other things the same. For instance, he con-
decision led Forrest to eventually because they had hard coatings. tinued to provide M&M’s for military and
co-create M&M’s candies with a Forrest resolved to bring that candy- government use, in addition to public con-
man named Bruce Murrie. making technology back to the United States. sumption. Even modern-day military rations
Bruce Murrie already had a family history Soon after returning, he had the good fortune often include M&M’s as snacks. They have
of chocolate production when he joined forces to meet Bruce Murrie. Thankfully, Mr. also gone into orbit, most notably in the
with Forrest Mars to create M&M’s in 1941. Murrie was able to provide the right kind of 1980s on the space shuttle Columbia.

34 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles