You’ve probably eaten M&M’s countless times without ever stopping to wonder about the name.
Those two colorful letters are so familiar that “M&M” almost feels like a word of its own. But the initials actually have a very specific origin—and the story goes back to the people behind the candy itself.
So, what does M&M stand for?
The answer is surprisingly simple: Mars and Murrie.
The “M” in M&M Comes From Mars and Murrie
The name M&M’s comes from the
surnames of the two men involved in creating and launching the candy:
Forrest Mars Sr. of the Mars candy company
William F. R. Murrie, whose father, William Murrie, was president of Hershey at the time
The partnership brought together Mars’ business ambitions and Murrie’s connection to the chocolate industry.
That collaboration gave the new candy its famous name: M&M’s, with each “M” representing one of the men.
How Did the Idea for M&M’s Begin?
The story starts in the late 1930s, when Forrest Mars was looking
