who invented m&m's

M&M’s were invented by Forrest Mars Sr. in partnership with Bruce Murrie. The name “M&M” comes from their surnames: Mars and Murrie.

Quick Scoop

• Forrest Mars Sr. is generally credited as the main inventor and driving force behind M&M’s.

• Bruce Murrie helped supply Hershey chocolate and was the “second M” in the name.

• The candy was developed in 1941 and first produced in New Jersey.

Why it matters

The idea was to make chocolate candy that could withstand heat better than regular chocolate, which helped make M&M’s popular, especially during wartime. The result became one of the most recognizable candies in the world.