Forrest Mars had reportedly noticed soldiers eating chocolate covered in a hard sugar coating during the Spanish Civil War. Unlike ordinary chocolate, these sweets were less likely to melt in warm conditions. He recognized the commercial potential and decided to develop a similar product for American consumers.
Bruce Murrie brought something equally important to the partnership. His father, William Murrie, was a senior executive at Hershey, giving the new venture access to valuable chocolate supplies. Together, the two men launched M&M’s in 1941, with the initials representing Mars and Murrie.
This Post Has One Comment