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{{Short description|Brand of chocolate candy
{{About|the candy|other uses|M&M (disambiguation){{!}}M&M}}
{{Distinguish|Eminem}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{infobox brand
| name = M&M
| logo = M&M's 2022.svg
| logo_size = 210
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2022
| image = Plain-M&Ms-Pile.jpg
| image_size
| introduced = {{start date and age|1941|9|10}}
| related = [[Galaxy Minstrels|Minstrels]], [[Revels (confectionery)|Revels]], [[Treets]] <!-- similar products from the same company -->
| origin = [[United States]]
| markets = Worldwide (
| currentowner = [[Mars
| trademarkregistrations =
| website = {{url
}}
[[File:1941mandms.jpeg|thumb|right|[[
[[File:M&m2.jpg|thumb|Peanut M&M's have a different shape.]]▼
'''M&M's''' is the brand name of a color-varied sugar-coated, [[dragée]] [[chocolate]] [[confectionery]] made by the [[Wrigley Company|Mars Wrigley Confectionery]] division of [[Mars Inc.]] that was founded as M&M Limited in 1941. The confection consists of a candy shell surrounding a filling that determines the specific type or variety. Each piece has the letter "m" printed in [[lower case]] in white on one side. They are produced in different colors, some of which have changed over the years.
'''M&M's''' are color-varied sugar-coated [[dragée]] [[chocolate]] [[confectionery]], each of which has the letter "m" printed in [[lower case]] in white on one side, consisting of a candy shell surrounding a filling which varies depending upon the variety of M&M's. The original candy has a [[semi-sweet chocolate]] filling which, upon introduction of other variations, was branded as the "plain, normal" variety. Peanut M&M's, which feature a peanut coated in milk chocolate, and finally a candy shell, were the first variation to be introduced, and they remain a regular variety. Numerous other variations have been introduced, some of which are regular widespread varieties ([[peanut butter]], [[almond]], [[pretzel]], crispy, [[dark chocolate]], and [[caramel]]) while others are limited in duration or geographic availability. M&M's are the flagship product of the Mars Wrigley Confectionery division of [[Mars, Incorporated]].▼
▲
The candy originated in the United States in 1941,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JbOsI9RG8fYC&q=peanut+m&pg=PA84|title=Peanuts: The Illustrious History of the Goober Pea|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|date=2002|publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]]|isbn=9780252025532|language=en}}</ref> and M&M's have been sold in over 100 countries since 2003.<ref name="usat03"/> They are produced in different colors, some of which have changed over the years. The candy-coated chocolate concept was possibly copied by [[Forrest Mars Sr.]] from [[Smarties]], which he may have encountered during the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–1939).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/forrest-mars-mms-late-1930s/|title=Forrest Mars. M&Ms. Late 1930s|website=MoMA.org}}</ref> The sugar coating made it possible to carry chocolate in warm climates [[Melting point of chocolate|without it melting]]. The company's longest-lasting slogan reflects this: "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."▼
▲
A traditional milk chocolate M&M weighs about 0.91 grams / 0.032 ounces<ref>Per M&M/Mars FAQ, [http://www.mymms.com/customer_service/FAQ.aspx#nq10 How many candies are in a bag?] mymms.com ▼
{{Cite web |url=http://www.mymms.com/customer_service/faq.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-date=March 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310225706/http://www.mymms.com/customer_service/faq.aspx |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> and has about 4.7 [[calories]] (kcal) of [[food energy]] (1.7 kcal from fat).<ref>By calculation from [http://www.mms.com/us/nutrition#milk M&M's nutrition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314040531/http://www.mms.com/us/nutrition#milk |date=March 14, 2015 }} info page.</ref> Contrary to common belief, each colored M&M does not have a different flavor and all possess the same chocolate taste.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mashed.com/769584/does-each-mms-color-have-a-different-taste/ | title=Does Each M&M's Color Have a Different Taste? | date=February 15, 2022 }}</ref>▼
▲A traditional milk chocolate M&M weighs
==History==▼
▲
===1940–70s: Beginnings===▼
▲== History ==
▲[[File:1941mandms.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Milk Chocolate]] M&M's were introduced in 1941.]]
▲=== 1940–70s: Beginnings ===
In the 1930s, [[Forrest Mars Sr.]], son of the Mars Company founder,
[[Nestlé]] archives
[[File:M&M-with-mm-ruler.jpg|thumb|left|
The company's first big customer was the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], which saw the invention as a way to allow soldiers to carry chocolate in tropical climates without it melting. During [[World War II]], the candies were exclusively sold to the military.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualnewarknj.com/memories/newark/bodianmm.htm |title=Looking Back at Newark Origins of World-Famous M&M Chocolates – virtualnewarknj.com – Retrieved August 28, 2008 |website=Virtual.com |date=April 12, 1981 |access-date=January 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716153908/http://www.virtualnewarknj.com/memories/newark/bodianmm.htm |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The resulting demand caused an increase in production and the company moved its factory to bigger quarters at 200 North
[[File:Mandmpenaut.jpg|thumb|A [[peanut]] variety was introduced in 1954]]
A peanut variety was introduced in 1954 and appeared only in the color tan.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&q=peanut+m&pg=PR54|title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313393938|language=en}}</ref> In 1960, the company added the yellow, red, and green colors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/MMS-show-their-true-colors/80061079017251/ |title=M&M's show their true colors|date=March 11, 2004 |access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref>
In 1976, the color orange was added to the mix to replace red, which was discontinued in response to the "red dye scare" over [[Amaranth (dye)|Red Dyes #2]] and [[Carmine|#4]] having been evaluated as [[Carcinogen|carcinogenic]]. Although M&M's were made with the less controversial [[Allura Red AC|Red Dye #40]], the public was wary of any food being dyed red. Red M&M's were re-introduced in 1987.<ref name="Smith" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livescience.com/33017-why-were-red-mms-discontinued-for-a-decade.html|title=Why Were Red M&M's Discontinued for a Decade? LiveScience.|first=Remy|last=Melina|website=[[Live Science]] |date=February 10, 2011|access-date=May 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100159/https://www.livescience.com/33017-why-were-red-mms-discontinued-for-a-decade.html|archive-date=May 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
In the 1960s, an almond-centered variety was marketed and then withdrawn until a later reintroduction twenty years later.
===1980s: Expanding internationally===▼
In the 1980s, M&M's were introduced internationally to Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/ |title=M&M'S About M&MS: History |website=Mms.com |date=October 6, 2010 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124062134/http://mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/ |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>▼
▲In 1976, the color orange was added to the mix to replace red, which was discontinued in response to the "red dye scare" over [[Amaranth (dye)|Red Dyes #2]] and [[Carmine|#4]] having been evaluated as [[Carcinogen|carcinogenic]]. Although the M&M's confections were made with the less controversial [[Allura Red AC|Red Dye #40]], the public was wary of any food being dyed red.
▲=== 1980s: Expanding internationally ===
Although they were marketed and then withdrawn in the 1960s, almond-centred M&M's were available again in 1988 in limited release, with appearances only during [[Christmas]] and [[Easter]] times; they became a standard part of the product line in 1992.▼
▲In the 1980s,
▲
===1990s: New flavors ring===▼
In 1991, Peanut Butter M&M's were released. These candies have [[peanut butter]] inside the chocolate shell and the same color scheme as the other varieties. As of at least 2013, the size of the peanut butter M&M has become slightly smaller. In 1995, tan M&Ms were discontinued to be replaced by blue. To introduce the new color, the Home Shopping Network televised a promotional video for the blue M&M. Producer Jon Watson became the first man to wear the famous blue M&M suit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2002/06/20/news/companies/mandms/|title=M&M lovers pick purple – Jun. 20, 2002|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527062928/http://money.cnn.com/2002/06/20/news/companies/mandms/|archive-date=May 27, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲=== 1990s: New flavors ring ===
During the 1990s, Europe first began to adopt the M&M's brand name, replacing existing products. Two of these were known as "Treats" and "Bonitos."{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1996, Mars introduced "M&M's Minis", smaller candies usually sold in plastic tubes instead of bags.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/ |title=M&M Minis |website=Mms.com |access-date=February 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124062134/http://mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/ |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, Crispy M&M's were released. They were slightly larger than the milk chocolate variety and also featured a crispy wafer center. Crispy M&M's were discontinued in the United States in 2005, before being reintroduced in 2015 and re-discontinued in 2022 to make way for the Crunchy Cookie flavor; however, they remained continually available in Europe and Australia.<ref name="CrispyRelease">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Victoria |title=Crispy M&M's returning to shelves in January |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/crispy-m-m-returning-shelves-january-article-1.1961113?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s7qBRCzARIsAImcAxbwy0vHXr0mrrA7pB_yZ3tqxoPy6Ow3c5cBbqQTe0Nm4YOsX7qobNMaAq1fEALw_wcB |access-date=August 15, 2019 |work=Daily News|___location=New York |date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>▼
▲In 1991, the Peanut Butter
▲During the 1990s, Europe first began to adopt the M&M's brand name, replacing existing products. Two of these products were known as "
===2000s–present: New flavors and re-releases===▼
In July 2001, [[dulce de leche]] M&M's were introduced in five markets with large Hispanic populations: [[Los Angeles, California]]; [[San Diego, California]]; [[Miami, Florida]]; [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]]-[[Brownsville, Texas]]; and [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/food-industry-food-mfg-sugar/6097035-1.html |title=M&M/MARS Woos Latinos With New "M&M's" Dulce de Leche-Caramel Chocolate Candies; New Flavor to Premiere in Markets With Highest Concentration of Latinos. | Food & Beverage > Food Industry from |website=AllBusiness.com |access-date=January 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814112614/http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/food-industry-food-mfg-sugar/6097035-1.html |archive-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> The flavor never became popular with the Hispanic community, who preferred existing M&M's flavors, and it was discontinued in most areas by early 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nuintelligence.net/Manager/anmviewer.asp?a=9 |title=Hot Seat ! Dulce de Leche M&M's Fail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041022003258/http://www.nuintelligence.net/Manager/anmviewer.asp?a=9 |archive-date=October 22, 2004}}</ref>▼
▲=== 2000s–present: New flavors and re-releases ===
▲In July 2001, the [[dulce de leche]]
A range of additional products was launched in the 2000s and 2010s to expand beyond the traditional line of candies. A chocolate bar called the [[M-Azing]] was initially released in 2004, and subsequently relaunched in 2013,<ref name="AdAge2006">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Stephanie |title=Mars to Scale Back M-Azing Brand |url=https://adage.com/article/news/mars-scale-back-m-azing-brand/112718 |website=Advertising Age |publisher=Crain Communications |access-date=August 15, 2019 |date=October 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531132123/https://adage.com/article/news/mars-scale-back-m-azing-brand/112718 |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> oversized confections entitled the "Mega" variety were briefly released in 2007 to promote the ''[[Shrek]]'' film series, before being introduced as a standalone product in 2014,<ref name="MegaStart">{{cite web |last1=Pham |first1=Peter |title=M&M's to Launch 'Mega' Version with Triple the Chocolate |url=https://www.foodbeast.com/news/mms-mega-to-launch-next-year/ |website=Food Beast |date=December 10, 2013 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815021701/https://www.foodbeast.com/news/mms-mega-to-launch-next-year/ |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> M&M cookies began to be sold in the United States in 2016,<ref name="logo">{{cite web |last1=Ferria |first1=Kayla |title=The History Of The M&M Logo |url=https://www.hatchwise.com/resources/the-history-of-the-mms-logo |website=Hatchwise |access-date=2 June 2024 |quote=The company released an M&M’s cookie in 2016.}}</ref> and M&M chocolate blocks were released in Australia in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yu |first1=Douglas |title=Mars launches first M&M's chocolate block in Australia |url=https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2017/04/27/Mars-launches-first-M-M-s-chocolate-block-in-Australia |website=Confectionary News |date=April 26, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808225825/https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2017/04/27/Mars-launches-first-M-M-s-chocolate-block-in-Australia |archive-date=August 8, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2020, Fudge Brownie M&M's were released in the United States. They were discontinued in April 2024.▼
▲In 2020, a Fudge Brownie
On September 28, 2022, the introduction of purple M&M's was announced, as well as their newest spokescandy, Purple.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mendoza |first=Jordan |date=October 3, 2022 |title=For the first time in over a decade, a new M&M color: Meet Purple, who represents 'acceptance' |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2022/10/03/purple-m-and-m/8169936001/ |access-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>▼
▲On September 28, 2022, the introduction of a purple
==Marketing==▼
Over the years, marketing has helped build and expand the M&M's brand. Computer-animated graphics, personification of the candies as characters with cartoon-like storytelling, and various merchandising techniques including the introduction of new flavors, colors and customizable merchandise have helped to increase the brand's recognition as a candy icon.▼
▲== Marketing ==
In 1982, the [[Mars, Incorporated|Mars]] candy bar company rejected the inclusion of M&M's in the new [[Steven Spielberg]] film ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''. However, competitor [[The Hershey Company|Hershey]] took a chance with their [[Reese's Pieces]], which is similar to M&M's but contains a peanut butter filling. With the film's [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] success, Reese's Pieces sales dramatically increased, perhaps by as much as 300%.<ref name="Snopes">{{cite web |url= http://www.snopes.com/business/market/mandms.asp| title=M&Ms and E.T.|website= Snopes| author1= Mikkelson, David |date=May 11, 2011 |quote=...when Mars, Inc. passed on the chance for its flagship product, M&Ms, to be the candy used in 1982 film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''. Its turn-down cleared the way for Hershey Foods Corporation to make a remarkable splash for its Reese's Pieces}}</ref><ref name="ETBust">{{cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Graham |title=How M&Ms Passed On The Product Placement Opportunity Of A Lifetime |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mms-product-placement-fails-2014-6 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |work=Business Insider |date=June 17, 2014 |quote=The only reason Reese's Pieces got the lucrative product placement in the first place was because M&Ms had already refused the filmmakers permission to use its product in the film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205034436/https://www.businessinsider.com/mms-product-placement-fails-2014-6 |archive-date=February 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
▲Over the years, marketing has helped build and expand the M&M's brand. Computer-animated graphics, personification of the
▲In 1982, the [[Mars, Incorporated|Mars]] candy bar company rejected the inclusion of
===Marketing campaigns===▼
Between 1982 and 1987, its [[slogan]] was "All the World Loves M&M's", accompanied by a TV [[jingle]] of the same name. Actor [[Joel Higgins]], then co-starring in the NBC-TV sitcom ''[[Silver Spoons]]'', co-wrote the song.<ref>{{cite web|title=BMI Repertoire Search|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/DetailView.aspx?detail=titleid&keyid=3463069&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True|website=BMI.com|access-date=February 21, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>▼
▲=== Marketing campaigns ===
In 1990, M&M's exhibited at New York's Erie County Fair a life-size fiberglass cow covered with 66,000 M&M candies—each adhered by hand with the "m" logo on each candy facing outward. According to a website run by the cow's designer, Michael Adams, the stunt earned M&M Mars $1 million in free publicity because it was reported on by ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine, as well as the ''[[New York Post]]'', [[UPI]] and [[WABC-TV]], and ''[[Live with Regis]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthescenesmarketing.com/events-tshws-props/01_cow.html |title=Events – M&M Candy Cow |website=Behindthescenesmarketing.com |access-date=January 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203033725/http://www.behindthescenesmarketing.com/events-tshws-props/01_cow.html |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>▼
▲Between 1982 and 1987,
▲In 1990
In 1995, the company ran the M&M's Color Campaign, a contest in which participants were given the choice of selecting purple, blue, or pink as the color of a new variety of M&M's. The announcement of the winning color (blue) was carried on most of the television networks' news programs, as well as the talk shows of [[David Letterman]] and [[Jay Leno]].<ref name="Luther2001"/> As part of the contest results, the company had the [[Empire State Building]] lighted in blue.<ref name="Luther2001"/> Although the financial details of these deals were not disclosed and neither was the campaign's effect on sales, one marketing book estimated that the company "collected millions" in free publicity and that the campaign "certainly" resulted in an increasing of the brand's awareness.<ref name="Luther2001">{{cite book| first= William M.| last= Luther| title=The Marketing Plan: How to Prepare and Implement it|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mX9sCsIqMf8C&pg=PA192|year=2001|publisher=[[AMACOM]]|isbn=978-0-8144-2615-9|page=192|edition=3rd|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627135131/http://books.google.com/books?id=mX9sCsIqMf8C&pg=PA192 |archive-date=June 27, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲In 1995, the company ran
In 1996, Mars produced Christmas-themed advertisement for the candies in which the Red and Yellow characters run into [[Santa Claus]] on [[Christmas Eve]]. Similarly to competitor Hershey's [[Christmas Bells (advertisement)|own Christmas-themed commercial]], the commercial proved immensely successful and has re-aired every December since that year, becoming their longest-running television commercial.▼
▲In 1996, Mars produced Christmas-themed advertisement for the
In 1998, M&M's were styled as "The Official Candy of the New Millennium", as MM is the Roman numeral for 2000. This date was also the release of the rainbow M&M's, which are multi-colored and filled with a variety of different fillings.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}▼
▲
In 2000, "Plain" M&M's (a name created in 1954 when "Peanut" M&M's were introduced) were renamed "Milk Chocolate" M&M's, and pictures of the candy pieces were added to the traditional brown and white packaging.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/29/business/media-business-advertising-m-m-mars-concludes-after-46-years-that-plain-does-not.html |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; M&M/Mars concludes, after 46 years, that 'Plain' does not do justice to the original M&M's candy. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 29, 2000 |access-date=July 27, 2016 |first=Courtney |last=Kane |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174015/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/29/business/media-business-advertising-m-m-mars-concludes-after-46-years-that-plain-does-not.html |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
▲In 2000, the "Plain"
In 2004, M&M's adopted the 1967 [[Petula Clark]] song "[[Colour My World (Petula Clark song)|Colour My World]]" for its TV ads, albeit using newly recorded versions with other singers.<ref>{{cite web |title= Renée Cologne: Rock 'n' Roll Housewife |url= http://www.reneecologne.com/| website=reneecologne.com|access-date=February 21, 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170922150057/http://reneecologne.com/| archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲In 2004,
===Joint marketing campaigns===▼
In 1990, Mars Snackfood US signed up to be a sponsor for [[NASCAR]] in the [[NASCAR Cup Series]]. Drivers for the M&M's-sponsored car through the years have included [[Ernie Irvan]] (1999), [[Ken Schrader]] (2000–02), [[Elliott Sadler]] (2003–06), [[Ricky Rudd]] (2007), [[David Gilliland]] (2006–07), [[Kyle Busch]] (2008–current, won 2015 Sprint Cup Series Championship & 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series Championship), [[Michael McDowell (racing driver)|Michael McDowell]], [[Matt Crafton]], [[Erik Jones]] and [[David Ragan]]. 2022 would be Mars final year as Busch’s sponsor. Mars has also sponsored Busch in the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series|Xfinity Series]] and [[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series|Craftsman Truck Series]] along with Busch’s team, [[Kyle Busch Motorsports]]. Mars sponsored the 2022 NASCAR Cup Race at Pocono, titled the “M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400”. ▼
▲=== Joint marketing campaigns ===
The introduction of the blue M&M to Australia was promoted by the [[Australian Football League]]'s [[Carlton Football Club]], which wore sky-blue colored guernseys in one of its matches in [[1997 AFL season|1997]] instead of its traditional navy blue – a color which the successful and fiercely traditional club had worn since the 1870s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2009-08-25/the-candy-man-comes-to-carlton|title=The Candy Man comes to Carlton|date=August 25, 2009|access-date=December 21, 2014| website= carltonfc.com.au| publisher= Carlton Football Club|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141221115616/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2009-08-25/the-candy-man-comes-to-carlton|archive-date=December 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, Mars Snackfood Australia described it as the most successful promotional campaign it had ever engaged in.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mars-backs-carlton-blues/story-e6frf9jf-1225828497647|title=Mars backs Carlton Blues|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=March 10, 2012|first=Jon|last=Anderson|newspaper=Herald Sun|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518061800/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mars-backs-carlton-blues/story-e6frf9jf-1225828497647|archive-date=May 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲In 1990, Mars Snackfood US signed up to be a sponsor for [[NASCAR]] in the [[NASCAR Cup Series]].
▲The introduction of the blue M&M to Australia was promoted by the [[Australian Football League]]'s [[Carlton Football Club]]
In April 2005,
▲In April 2005, M&M's ran the "mPire" promotion to tie in with the ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' film release. M&M's were offered in dark chocolate varieties (regular and Peanut) for the first time after a string of ''[[Addams Family]]'' M&M's commercials.
[[File:M&M's London Soho store.jpg|thumb|[[M&M's World]] London]]
In May 2004,
[[File:MandM Times Square.JPG|left|thumb|220px|Outside of [[M&M's World]] in [[Times Square]], [[New York City]]]]
In July 2006,
[[File:Kyle Busch, 2013 STP Gas Booster 500.JPG|thumb|right|The
In 2007,
Also in 2007,
In 2008, two limited-edition varieties of the
During the summer of 2008,
In February 2009,
In summer 2009,
[[File:M&M's World Las Vegas.jpg|right|thumb|224px|[[M&M's World]] on the [[Las Vegas Strip]]]]
In early 2010, M&M's "Bare All" were released as part of a competition in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="FavoriteNude">{{cite web |last1=Liebig |first1=Jason |title=Nude M&M's?!? – A pair of my favorite Australian candy packages |url=http://www.collectingcandy.com/wordpress/?p=1518I |website=CollectingCandy.com |access-date= September 6, 2019 |date=February 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://m-msbareall.com| title=M&M's Bare All |website= m-msbareall.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100127202211/http://m-msbareall.com/ | date=January 27, 2010| archive-date=January 27, 2010}}</ref>
About the time
In 2012,
In 2013,
Since 1988, specially designed packages of red, white, and blue [[Presidential M&M's]] have been given as souvenirs to guests of
[[M&M's World]] specialty shops have been established in some locations, including Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, London, and Shanghai.
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Several [[List of M&M's video games|M&Ms-themed]] video games have been created. The first was ''M&M's The Lost Formulas'', released on September 28, 2000.
=== Related brands ===
Related
== M&M
[[File:M&M spokescandies.jpeg|thumb|500px|The seven [[cartoon]] "[[Spokesperson|spokescandies]]"
Early black-and-white
The first incarnation of the characters in CGI was a 1994 celebrity campaign
Other mascots
Female M&M
In January 2022, Mars announced plans to alter the design of the M&
Referencing criticism surrounding the changes from [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] media outlets, the company teased a [[Super Bowl LVII]] commercial in January 2023 by making a fictitious announcement that the characters were being temporarily retired and replaced by comedian [[Maya Rudolph]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peyser |first=Eve |date=2023-01-27 |title=The M&M's Aren't Done With Us Yet |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/style/mms-maya-rudolph-super-bowl.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="rudolph">{{cite web |last=Moye |first=David |date=January 23, 2023 |title=M&M's Ditches Spokescandies After 'Woke' Uproar, Introduces Maya Rudolph |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mms-dumps-spokescandies-maya-rudolph_n_63ceb72ee4b04d4d18e0949e |accessdate=January 23, 2023 |work=HuffPost}}</ref> In subsequent teasers leading up to the game, Rudolph was shown hijacking the M&M's brand in her own image, re-launching them as "Ma&Ya's" candy-coated [[Clam|clams]]. Concurrently, the
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; text-align:center; padding:0 9px;"
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!scope="row" style="background: #2F9FD7; text-align:center;" | Blue
| Almond, Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, and Hazelnut Spread
| {{ubl|[[Phil Hartman]] {{small|(1995)}}|Robb Pruitt {{small|(2004-present)}}|[[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]] {{small|(''[[M&M's Kart Racing]]'', ''[[M&M's Adventure]]'', ''[[M&M's Beach Party]]'')}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #31AC55; text-align:center;" | Green
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|-
!scope="row" style="background: #603A34; color: white; text-align:center;" | Ms. Brown
| Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, and Fudge Brownie
| {{ubl|[[Vanessa Williams]]}}
|-
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|}
== Color changes ==
The original 1941 colors of M&M
[[File:M & Ms (3685102458).jpg|left|thumb|240px|Transparent chutes hold M&Ms of various colors.]]▼
▲The original colors of M&M's candies were [[red]], [[yellow]], [[Violet (color)|violet]], [[green]] and [[Brown (color)|brown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nww2m.com/2016/03/scitech-tuesday-wwii-and-the-invention-of-m-ms/|title=SciTech Tuesday: WWII and the Invention of M&Ms. – The National WWII Museum Blog|website=Nww2m.com|access-date=July 19, 2018|date=March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714170303/http://www.nww2m.com/2016/03/scitech-tuesday-wwii-and-the-invention-of-m-ms/|archive-date=July 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Violet was discontinued and replaced with [[tan (color)|tan]] in the late 1940s.
▲[[File:M & Ms (3685102458).jpg
In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&M's<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.mms.com/us/about/history/story/|title=The Story of M&M's Brand|access-date=June 14, 2008|work=mms.com|publisher=[[Mars, Incorporated]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080409043530/http://us.mms.com/us/about/history/story/ |archive-date = April 9, 2008}}</ref> because of health concerns over the dye [[amaranth (dye)|amaranth]] ([[FD&C]] Red #2), which was a suspected [[carcinogen]], and replaced them with orange M&M's. This was done despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye; the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers.<ref name="Smith"/> Ten years later, Paul Hethmon, then a student at [[University of Tennessee]], started a joke campaign to reinstate red M&M's that would eventually become a worldwide phenomenon.<ref>{{cite news▼
|title=The man who brought Red M&M's back to life▼
▲In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&
|first=Jim
|last=Matheny
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|date=October 31, 2014
|access-date=February 12, 2021
|quote=1970s food dye scare eliminated red M&M's for more than a decade until a
|archive-date=December 24, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224190931/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/18037477
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
In Europe, red M& In early 1995, Mars ran a promotion in which consumers were invited to vote on which of blue, pink, or purple would replace the tan M&
Tan was replaced in late 1995.
▲In early 1995, Mars ran a promotion in which consumers were invited to vote on which of blue, pink, or purple would replace the tan M&M's. Blue was the winner with 54% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/candymakingincan0000carr|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/candymakingincan0000carr/page/78 78]|quote=smarties tablet candy history.|title=Candymaking in Canada: The History and Business of Canada's Confectionery Industry|last=Carr|first=David|date=2003|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=9781550023954|language=en}}</ref> It replaced tan in late 1995. Consumers could vote by calling 1-800-FUN-COLOR. Ads for the new blue colors featured a plain and an almond blue M&M character as Red and Yellow take notice of trying to do takes in the commercial by painting themselves blue where they appear on stage with [[B.B. King]] singing the blues, but the filmmakers had to cut the scene as they were not the real blue M&M's; another featured Red and Yellow holding their breath to look like the new blue M&M's, where [[Steven Weber (actor)|Steven Weber]] sees the three M&M's, Red, Yellow, and Blue; and one more featuring Weber talking to the blue M&M if he had dived into the chocolate pool, but did not.
In 2002, Mars solicited votes in their first ever "M&M's Global Color Vote" to add a new color from three choices: [[
Since 2004, M&
For the 2008 [[Valentine's Day]] season, Mars introduced all-green bags of M&
In October 2011, Mars released M&M's [[White Chocolate]] [[Candy Corn]] exclusively in the United States for [[Halloween]]. These candies come in three candy corn inspired colors: white, bright yellow, and bright orange.
The following is a summary of the changes to the colors of the flagship ([[milk chocolate]]) flavor
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== See also ==
{{Portal|United States|Food}}
* [[Cadbury]]
* [[Sixlets]]
* [[Freia (chocolate)|Freia's]]
* [[List of products manufactured by The Hershey Company#Miscellaneous products|Hershey-ets]]
* [[Jelly Belly]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
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