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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
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| image_size = 250
| 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 (more than 100 countries)<ref name="usat03">{{Cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2003-12-30-mm-bw_x.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123172456/http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2003-12-30-mm-bw_x.htm|url-status=dead|title=USATODAY.com - M&M's candy fades to black and white|archive-date=November 23, 2009|website=USA Today}}</ref>
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| website = {{url|mms.com}}
}}
[[File:1941mandms.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Chocolate]] confections were introduced in 1941 by M&M Limited in Newark, New Jersey]]
'''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.
The original confection of this brand had a [[semi-sweet chocolate]] filling that upon introduction of other varieties, was branded as the "plain, normal" variety. The first alternate variety to be introduced was the Peanut M&M in 1954. It featured a peanut coated in milk chocolate and finally, coated with a candy shell. It still remains a regular variety. Numerous other varieties have been introduced, some of which are regular widespread varieties ([[peanut butter]], [[almond]], [[pretzel]], crispy, [[dark chocolate]], and [[caramel]]) while other varieties are limited in duration or geographic availability.
In 1941, the confection came into production in the United States.<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> Since 2003, the confections have been sold in more than 100 countries.<ref name="usat03"/> The candy-coated chocolate confection was created by [[Forrest Mars Sr.]], likely inspired from [[Smarties]] confection that 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> A sugar coating made it possible to carry chocolate in warm climates [[Melting point of chocolate|without it melting]] and that characteristic eventually prompted his company's longest-lasting marketing slogan that became, "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand".
A traditional milk chocolate M&M weighs approximately 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?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310225706/http://www.mymms.com/customer_service/faq.aspx#nq10 |date=March 10, 2015 }} mymms.com
{{Cite web |url=http://www.mymms.com/customer_service/faq.aspx |title=Personalized Gifts, Favors and More | M&M'S |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> It has approximately 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 a misconception held by some, each colored M&M does not have a different flavor, 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>
== History ==
=== 1940–70s: Beginnings ===
In the 1930s, [[Forrest Mars Sr.]], son of the Mars Company founder, [[Franklin Clarence Mars]], saw soldiers in the [[Spanish Civil War]] eating [[Smarties]], British-made chocolate pellets with a colored shell of what confectioners call hard panning (essentially hardened sugar syrup) surrounding the outside, preventing the chocolate confection from melting that were produced under the brand name, Rowntree.
On March 3, 1941 in the United States, Mars received a [[patent]] for his own process.<ref name="ForrestMarsSr">{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/mars.html |title=Inventor of the Week: Forrest Mars, Sr. |website=Lemelson-MIT Program |date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310105331/http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/mars.html |archive-date=March 10, 2005 }}</ref> When his confection company was founded it was entitled, M&M Limited.<ref name="virtualnewarknj.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualnewarknj.com/memories/newark/bodianmm.htm |title=Looking Back at Newark Origins of World-Famous M&M Chocolates |website=Old Newark Memories |date=April 12, 1981 |access-date=February 21, 2013 |author1=Bodian, Nat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019111110/http://virtualnewarknj.com/memories/newark/bodianmm.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two Ms represent the last names of Forrest E. Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie, the son of [[The Hershey Company|the Hershey Chocolate Company]] president, William F. R. Murrie, who had a 20 percent share in the product.<ref name="MurrieArchive">{{cite web |title=William F.R. Murrie, 1873-1950 |url=https://hersheyarchives.org/encyclopedia/murrie-william-f-r-1873-1950/ |website=Hershey Community Archives |publisher=The M.S. Hershey Foundation |access-date=January 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420200840/https://hersheyarchives.org/encyclopedia/murrie-william-f-r-1873-1950/ |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The arrangement allowed the candies to be made with Hershey chocolate, as at the time, Hershey had control of the [[ration]]ed chocolate in USA.<ref name="ForrestMarsSr" /> Production of the confection began in 1941 in a factory located at 285 Badger Avenue in [[Clinton Hill, Newark, New Jersey]].
[[Nestlé]] archives note that George Harris of Rowntree did not attempt to sue Mars for stealing the concept for Smarties and that after much negotiation, Harris and Forrest Mars Sr. agreed to share the marketplace rather than to compete,<ref name="mashed/smarties-mms">{{cite web |last1=Crossan |first1=Anna |title=The Unlikely Similarity Between Smarties And M&M's |url=https://www.mashed.com/1281792/unlikely-similarity-between-smarties-m-ms/ |website=Mashed |access-date=1 November 2023 |date=13 May 2023}}</ref> with Rowntree making Mars Bars in Canada, Erie, and South Africa and with Mars making the sugar-coated confection in the United States without competition from Smarties.<ref name="thevintagenews/mm-smarties">{{cite web |last1=Smee |first1=Taryn |title=Candy Wars: Did M&M's Steal their Concept from Smarties? |url=https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/08/08/mm-vs-smarties/ |website=The Vintage News |access-date=1 November 2023 |language=en |date=8 August 2018}}</ref>
[[File:M&M-with-mm-ruler.jpg|thumb|left|Cross-section of an orange M&M confection with [[millimeter]] ruler for scale shows its layers of [[Sugar panning|hard-panned]] coating]]
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 Twelfth Street in [[Newark, New Jersey]]. In 1958, the company moved to a bigger factory at [[Hackettstown, New Jersey|Hackettstown]]. A second factory was opened in [[Cleveland, Tennessee]], in 1978.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mincey|first=Allen|date=March 4, 2016|title=Mars Chocolate North America celebrates 'Big 7-5' of M&M's|url=http://clevelandbanner.com/stories/mars-chocolate-north-americacelebrates-big-7-5-of-mms,29186|work=[[Cleveland Daily Banner]]|___location=Cleveland, Tennessee|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630105317/http://clevelandbanner.com/stories/mars-chocolate-north-americacelebrates-big-7-5-of-mms,29186|archive-date=June 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, about half of the production of the confection occurs at the New Jersey factory, and half at the Tennessee factory.<ref>{{cite news|last=Warnke|first=Kyle|date=August 12, 2016|title=M&M's and Twix are Made in Tennessee|url=http://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/MMs-and-Twix-are-Made-in-Tennessee--389973792.html|publisher=[[WVLT-TV]]|___location=Knoxville, Tennessee|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630105510/http://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/MMs-and-Twix-are-Made-in-Tennessee--389973792.html|archive-date=June 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Mandmpenaut.jpg|thumb|A [[peanut]] variety was introduced in 1954]]
In 1949, the brand introduced the tagline "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand".<ref name="Smith">{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7gxBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA536 |title=Food and Drink in American History: A "Full Course" Encyclopedia: A "Full Course" Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-6106-9233-5 |volume=3 |pages=536}}</ref> In 1950, a black "M" was imprinted on the candies giving them a unique trademark. It was changed to white in 1954.<ref name="virtualnewarknj.com" /> In the early 1950s, the Midwest Research Institute (now [[MRIGlobal]]) in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], worked on behalf of the confection company to perfect a process whereby {{convert|3300|lb}} of chocolate centers could be coated every hour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mriresearch.org/AboutMRI/Breakthroughs.asp |title=MRI Breakthroughs |website=Mriresearch.org |date=September 11, 2001 |access-date=January 15, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080702054645/http://www.mriresearch.org/AboutMRI/Breakthroughs.asp |archive-date = July 2, 2008}}</ref>
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 the 1960s, an almond-centered variety was marketed and then withdrawn until a later reintroduction twenty years later.
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. The red variety was reintroduced in 1987, however.<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>
=== 1980s: Expanding internationally ===
[[File:M&m2.jpg|thumb|Peanut M&Ms have a different shape]]
In the 1980s, the confections 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> M&Ms Royals were marketed in the early 1980s with an advertising campaign that said: "Now chocolate's got a whisper of mint." They were colored pale green or brown and showed a crown rather than an M&Ms logo.
Holidays Chocolate Candies for Easter and Christmas were launched in 1986, with the Easter confection having a bunny, chick, and egg symbols on pastel-colored shells and the Christmas confection having pine tree, bell, and candle symbols on red and green shells; with the latter also having a special mint flavor. By 1993, the holiday symbols would be replaced with the standard trademark "M".
In 1988, the almond-centered variety once offered in the 1960s became available again in limited release, with appearances only during [[Christmas]] and [[Easter]] times. They would become a standard part of the product line in 1992.
=== 1990s: New flavors ring ===
In 1991, the Peanut Butter variety was released. These candies have [[peanut butter]] inside the chocolate shell and the same color scheme as the other varieties of the confection. 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>
During the 1990s, Europe first began to adopt the M&M's brand name, replacing existing products. Two of these products were known as "[[Treets]]" and "Bonitos".{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1996, Mars introduced "M&M's Minis", smaller confections 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&Ms were released. They were slightly larger than the milk chocolate variety and also featured a crispy wafer center. The Crispy variety was 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>
=== 2000s–present: New flavors and re-releases ===
In July 2001, the [[dulce de leche]] variety was 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 product never became popular with the Hispanic community, who preferred existing varieties, and the variety 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>
Several other varieties of M&M debuted throughout the 2010s. These include a Pretzel variety released in 2010,<ref name="PretzelAnnouncement">{{cite news |last1=Olsen |first1=Elizabeth |title=A Campaign for M&Ms With a Salty Center? Sweet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/business/media/22adco.html |access-date=August 15, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=June 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815030848/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/business/media/22adco.html |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> a limited edition Coffee Nut variety released in 2016,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4424241/coffee-nut-mms-flavor/|title=This New M&M's Flavour Will Fuel Your Coffee Addiction|date=July 26, 2016|magazine=Time|author1=McCluskey, Megan|access-date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915051112/http://time.com/4424241/coffee-nut-mms-flavor/|archive-date=September 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> another Caramel variety released in 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mms-launches-new-soft-caramel-filled-chocolate-candies-300455785.html|title=M&M'S Launches New Soft Caramel-Filled Chocolate Candies|agency=PR Newswire|author=Mars Chocolate North America|date=May 11, 2017|access-date=May 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514074444/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mms-launches-new-soft-caramel-filled-chocolate-candies-300455785.html|archive-date=May 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> a limited edition English Toffee variety released in 2019,<ref name="ToffeeNYDailyNews">{{cite news |last1=Cinone |first1=Danielle |title=M&M's is revealing three 'internationally inspired' flavors in 2019 — including Mexican jalapeno peanut |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/ny-news-mm-revealing-three-new-internationally-inspired-flavors-20180913-story.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s7qBRCzARIsAImcAxY2uNXQb0jEDvOUkfbNxTtcYVVV0-lYsLnz8_rWzX8UwldBxkvqZbwaAoddEALw_wcB |access-date=August 15, 2019 |work=Daily News|___location=New York |date=September 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delish.com/food-news/a28638002/english-toffee-mms/|title=English Toffee Peanut Won M&M's 2019 "Flavor Vote" |last=Holender |first=Samantha |website=Delish |date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> and a limited edition Hazelnut Spread variety also released in 2019.<ref name="USATodayHazelnut">{{cite news |last1=Tyko |first1=Kelly |title=New hazelnut spread M&M's are coming in April along with new Reese's cups |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/26/hazelnut-spread-mms-reeses-lovers-cups-mars-incorporated/3274737002/ |access-date=August 15, 2019 |work=USA Today |date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811222706/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/26/hazelnut-spread-mms-reeses-lovers-cups-mars-incorporated/3274737002/ |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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, a Fudge Brownie variety was released in the United States. They were discontinued in April 2024.
On September 28, 2022, the introduction of a purple variety 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>
== Marketing ==
Over the years, marketing has helped build and expand the M&M's brand. Computer-animated graphics, personification of the confections 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.
In 1982, the [[Mars, Incorporated|Mars]] candy bar company rejected the inclusion of the confection 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]] that are similar, but contain 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>
=== Marketing campaigns ===
Between 1982 and 1987, the company [[slogan]] was "All the World Loves M&M's", accompanied by a television [[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>
In 1990 at New York's Erie County Fair, the company exhibited 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]], [[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>
In 1995, the company ran 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 the confection. The announcement of the winning color (blue) was carried on most of the network television 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 effect of the campaign on sales, one marketing book estimated that the company "collected millions" in free publicity and that the campaign "certainly" resulted in an increasing of brand 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 1996, Mars produced Christmas-themed advertisement for the confections 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, becoming their longest-running television commercial.
Since MM is the Roman numeral for 2000, the confections were styled as "The Official Candy of the New Millennium" in 1998. This date was also the release of the rainbow variety that are multi-colored and filled with an assortment of different fillings.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
In 2000, the "Plain" variety (a name created in 1954 when "Peanut" variety was introduced) was renamed "Milk Chocolate" and images of the colorful confections 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 2004, the company adopted the 1967 [[Petula Clark]] song "[[Colour My World (Petula Clark song)|Colour My World]]" for its television 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>
=== Joint marketing campaigns ===
In 1990, Mars Snackfood US signed up to be a sponsor for [[NASCAR]] in the [[NASCAR Cup Series]]. Through the years, drivers for their sponsored car have included: [[Ernie Irvan]] (1999), [[Ken Schrader]] (2000–02), [[Elliott Sadler]] (2003–06), [[Ricky Rudd]] (2007), [[David Gilliland]] (2006–07), [[Michael McDowell (racing driver)|Michael McDowell]], [[Matt Crafton]], [[Erik Jones]], [[David Ragan]], and [[Kyle Busch]] (2008–2022, who won 2015 Sprint Cup Series Championship & 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series Championship). 2022 would be the final year for Mars as Busch’s sponsor. Mars 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, entitled the “M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400”.
The introduction of the blue M&M to Australia was promoted by the [[Australian Football League]]'s [[Carlton Football Club]] that wore sky-blue colored guernseys in one of its matches in [[1997 AFL season|1997]] instead of its traditional navy blue – a color 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 April 2005, the company 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]]'' commercials for the confection.
[[File:M&M's London Soho store.jpg|thumb|[[M&M's World]] London]]
In May 2004, the Mars company ran a ''[[Shrek 2]]'' promotion to tie in the confection with the release of the film. The confections were offered as "ogre-sized" (65% larger) and in swamp-ogre colors. They were sold at many stores displayed in huge cardboard-cutout ogre displays. In the summer of 2005, Mars added "Mega" to the product lineup.<ref>{{cite news|title=M&M's get mega-sized|url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/08/04/news/funny/m_and_ms/|work=[[CNNMoney.com]]|date=August 4, 2005|access-date=June 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908120321/http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/04/news/funny/m_and_ms/|archive-date=September 8, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> These confections, at 55% larger than the traditional size, were a little smaller than the ogre-sized version. They were available in milk chocolate and peanut varieties. The colors of the sugarcoating were changed to less-bright colors, ostensibly to appeal to older consumers: teal (replacing green), beige (replacing orange), maroon (replacing red), gold (replacing yellow), blue-gray (replacing blue), and brown.
[[File:MandM Times Square.JPG|left|thumb|220px|Outside of [[M&M's World]] in [[Times Square]], [[New York City]]]]
In July 2006, a dark chocolate variety reappeared in a purple package, followed in 2007 by a dark chocolate peanut variety. Also in 2006, the company piloted a white chocolate variety as a tie-in with their ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' promotion. The company also offered eight new flavors of the confection via online sales, as well as at [[M&M's World]] locations: "All That Razz"; "Eat, Drink, & Be Cherry"; "A Day at the Peach"; "Orange-U-Glad"; "Mint Condition"; "AlmonDeeLicious"; "Nut What You Think"; and "Cookie Monster". Mars also released a "Crispy Mint" variety in Australia that year.
[[File:Kyle Busch, 2013 STP Gas Booster 500.JPG|thumb|right|The sponsored [[NASCAR]] [[stock car]] driven by [[Kyle Busch]]]]
The M&M confections became the official chocolate of [[NASCAR]] in 2006.
In 2007, the company introduced a limited-edition raspberry flavor called "M&M's Razzberry Chocolate Candies".
Also in 2007, the company produced a 50-feet tall, smiling Lady Liberty M&M statue to kick off a campaign encouraging Americans to create their own M&M characters at mms.com. The website allows for people to log in, in order to create their own character from scratch, choosing features such as the color, shape, hair, and accessories.
In 2008, two limited-edition varieties of the confection were introduced, "Wildly Cherry" and, as a marketing tie-in with the film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'', "Mint Crisp".
They also introduced another new product entitled "M&M's Premiums" in 2008. They were introduced in five flavors: chocolate almond, mint chocolate, mocha, raspberry almond, and triple chocolate (milk, dark, and white chocolate) that are sold in small upright cartons with a plastic bag inside. They do not have a candy shell, but are coated with [[carnauba wax]] and color. Dark chocolate was added in 2009, replacing mocha.
During the summer of 2008, the company launched "Faces", which allows consumers to print the faces of loved ones on chocolate candies via My M&M's at mymms.com.
In February 2009, the company launched the "M&M's Colour Break-Up" promotion in Australia, where the confections were sold in separate packs (one for each color): the packs included a code to win prizes.<ref>{{cite news|title=M&M'S Color Break Up|url=http://www.colourbreakup.com.au/html/default.aspx|publisher=Mars|date=February 18, 2009|access-date=February 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228205617/http://www.colourbreakup.com.au/html/default.aspx|archive-date=February 28, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
In summer 2009, they launched a limited-edition "Strawberried Peanut Butter" variety to tie in with the release of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''. At the same time, they launched another limited-edition "Coconut" variety that became a permanent item in 2010.
[[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> The packages contained ordinary M&Ms, but without colored shells. The Bare All confections won the competition and an official website was launched, along with television advertisements.<ref name="AdeeveeAu">{{cite web| url= http://www.adeevee.com/2010/01/mars-chocolate-australia-mms-bare-all-promo/ | title= Mars Chocolate Australia M&M's: Bare All| website= Adeevee.com |date= January 11, 2010| access-date= September 6, 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160511023112/http://www.adeevee.com/2010/01/mars-chocolate-australia-mms-bare-all-promo/| archive-date= May 11, 2016| url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="BareAllVideo">{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBuawrwDKDQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/tBuawrwDKDQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live| title=M&M's - Bare All web footage (2010, Australia) |date=April 7, 2019 | via = YouTube |format=Video}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In April 2010, M&M's launched a new Pretzel variety.<ref name="PretzelAnnouncement"/> In November 2011, Mars released a limited variety for Christmas, M&M's Cinnamon Milk Chocolate.<ref name="Cinn_Review">{{cite web |title=Review: Cinnamon M&M's |url= https://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2011/11/03/review-cinnamon-mms/ |website=The Implusive Buy |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=November 3, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190326213103/http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2011/11/03/review-cinnamon-mms/ |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
About the time the pretzel variety came out, the wrapper designs in the United States were redone from the design used from 2004 to early 2010.<ref name="PretzelAnnouncement"/>
In 2012, two new dark chocolate flavors were released, Raspberry and Mint. Also that year, a white chocolate flavor was released for the Easter season. Onward from May 30, 2012, launching from [[Macau]] was planned. In 2012, the peanut variety was produced in the UK in a limited-edition "Red, White, and Blues only" package, in connection with the country's Diamond Jubilee and [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. The "M" remains white on the white candies. The commercial advertising for this promotional campaign had Yellow donning various outfits of British stereotypes to try to get into the limited-edition package. Similarly, to promote the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] in the UK, the peanut variety would be produced in a package that contained only green, yellow, and blue confections, to reflect the colors of the flag of Brazil; these were dubbed as limited-edition "Brazilian M&Ms" in the accompanying commercial. "Brazilian M&Ms" were re-released in 2016 to promote the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], but were available in both Chocolate and Peanut.
In 2013, the company launched the "Better with M" campaign that included cause-related marketing. The campaign worked with [[Habitat for Humanity]] and encouraged fans to use a Facebook app to volunteer at the various sites where the homes were being built.<ref name="csn">{{cite web|url=http://www.csnews.com/mm%E2%80%99s-launching-better-m-marketing-campaign?sort_by=search_api_relevance|title=M&M'S Launching 'Better With M' Marketing Campaign| website= csnews.com| access-date=March 22, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214401/http://www.csnews.com/mm%E2%80%99s-launching-better-m-marketing-campaign?sort_by=search_api_relevance|archive-date=May 10, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The advertising campaign was one of the largest that Mars had ever executed.<ref name="csn"/> The 2013 "America Better With M" initiative sought to provide money directly to Habitat for Humanity through offering limited versions of the candy in red, white, and blue.
Since 1988, specially designed packages of red, white, and blue [[Presidential M&M's]] have been given as souvenirs to guests of [[President of the United States|presidents of the United States]]. One side of the box containing the candy features the [[Seal of the President of the United States|presidential seal]] and the signature of the current president; the other side of the box includes an M&M character flying the American flag. A common misconception exists that every candy handed out at the White House is stamped with the presidential seal. However, some U.S. embassies around the world do give out M&Ms stamped individually with the [[Great Seal of the United States|seal of the United States]].
[[M&M's World]] specialty shops have been established in some locations, including Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, London, and Shanghai.
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 confection brands from Mars include [[Galaxy Minstrels|Minstrels]], [[Revels (confectionery)|Revels]], [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]], and [[Treets]].
== M&M characters ==
[[File:M&M spokescandies.jpeg|thumb|500px|The seven [[cartoon]] "[[Spokesperson|spokescandies]]" in marketing since 2022]]
Early black-and-white ads for the confection in 1954 featured two talking, anthropomorphic M&M characters—one plain and one peanut—diving into a swimming pool full of chocolate.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://adage.com/article/rewind/1954-ad-shows-m-ms-characters-a-chocolatey-swim/241375/ | title=Rewind: 1954 Ad Shows M&Ms Characters Go for a Chocolatey Swim | work=Advertising Age | date=May 9, 2013 | access-date=November 18, 2015 | author=Schultz, E J | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119082727/http://adage.com/article/rewind/1954-ad-shows-m-ms-characters-a-chocolatey-swim/241375/ | archive-date=November 19, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>
The first incarnation of the characters in CGI was a 1994 celebrity campaign that had the characters interacting with celebrities on which M&M candy color is their favorite. This campaign was created by [[Blue Sky Studios]]. Concurrent with the 1995 blue M&M campaign, the company introduced a second set of computer-animated [[Mascot|"spokescandies"]] in their [[television commercial]]s. The depiction and campaign of the M&Ms were made by [[Will Vinton]] in 1995. Vinton previously created the [[Clay animation|clay-animated]] [[The California Raisins|California Raisins]] in 1986. Around the time he worked on CGI projects, he made the depiction of the M&M characters as more mature than most food mascots. These include the team of the [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynical]] and [[Sarcasm|sardonic]] Red (originally voiced by [[Jon Lovitz]], thereafter [[Billy West]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/Red/ |title=Behind The Voice Actors M&M's – Voice of Red |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |access-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114062243/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/Red/ |archive-date=November 14, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> who is the voice of the mascots for [[milk chocolate]], [[peanut butter]], and crispy. The happy and [[Gullibility|gullible]] Yellow (originally voiced by [[John Goodman]], thereafter was voiced by [[J. K. Simmons]]), who is the mascot for Peanut and originally was known as "Peanut" when that variety was first introduced. Other mascots include the "cool one", Blue (voiced by Robb Pruitt),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/56353136|title=Behind the Bowl with Robb Pruitt|via=Vimeo|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/|title=M&M's|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=March 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044223/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/MMs/|archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> who is the mascot for [[Almond]] M&M's; the [[Sexual attraction|seductive]] Green (her personality is a reference to the 1970s [[urban legend]] that green M&Ms were aphrodisiacs)<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/green-mms-aphrodisiacs/ Green M&Ms as Aphrodisiacs] in snopes.com</ref> (voiced by [[Cree Summer]]; Larissa Murray),<ref name=":0" /> who is the mascot for both [[Mint chocolate|Dark Chocolate Mint]] and [[Peanut Butter]], and the slightly [[Neurosis|neurotic]] Orange (voiced by Eric Kirchberger), who was introduced when the Crispy variety was first released and is currently the mascot Pretzel that debuted in 2010. As the mascot of Pretzel, Orange was joined by the second non-M&M mascot, Pretzel Guy, who "supports" the character and offers helpful advice who hates the idea of having a pretzel put inside his body.
Other mascots who were introduced, but no longer used, are Almond, the original green guy; Orange, a female peanut character; Chocolate Bar (voiced by [[Phil Hartman]]),<ref name=":0" /> the first non-M&M character that always gets foiled or outdone by Red and Yellow by being melted, as M&Ms do not melt; and the Swarmees for the Minis candies, which are portrayed as destructive yet crafty troublemakers whom Red and Yellow are always trying unsuccessfully to contain after they accidentally released them in the product's initial commercial.
Female M&M mascots were introduced in 1995. Green was the Milk Chocolate mascot and Tan was the Peanut. Marketing discontinued Tan when they introduced the then-new Blue mascot. Green was the only female M&M mascot from her introduction in 1995 until 2012 when the company unveiled a new additional "spokescandy", Ms. Brown (voiced by actress [[Vanessa Williams]]), the "Chief Chocolate Officer".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|title=TV Q&A: 'The Good Wife,' awards shows and 'The Little Couple'|last=Owen|first=Rob|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090309/http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31942-tv-qaa-the-good-wife-awards-shows-and-the-little-couple|archive-date=February 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> During a [[Super Bowl LII]] advertisement, Red was transformed into a human after finding a lucky penny and wishing that he was inedible. As a human, he is portrayed by [[Danny DeVito]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wagstaff|first1=Niala|title=Watch: M&M's Super Bowl LII commercial with Danny DeVito|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-m-ms-super-bowl-lii-commercial-danny-devito/304313002/|publisher=The Enquirer|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205184446/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-m-ms-super-bowl-lii-commercial-danny-devito/304313002/|archive-date=February 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2022, Mars announced plans to alter the design of the M&M characters. The company announced that the aim of this change was to make their characters more representative of a broader array of human personalities and personal backgrounds. Among these changes is the adoption of more casual clothing for the Green and Brown, both of which are generally interpreted to be female characters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hiebert |first1=Paul |title=M&M's Mascots Change to Represent a 'Progressive World' |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/mms-updates-mascots-to-re2022-a-more-dynamic-and-progressive-world/ |access-date=January 28, 2022 |date=January 20, 2022}}</ref> In September 2022, the company introduced a new Purple M&M voiced by [[Amber Ruffin]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/amp/2022/09/30/mms-introduce-purple-a-new-character-designed-to-re2022-inclusivity | title=Is the new M&Ms colour really about "inclusivity" or empty solidarity? | date=September 30, 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> who first appeared in a commercial singing "I'm Just Gonna Be Me".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.today.com/food/news/mms-reveals-new-purple-candy-character-first-decade-rcna49686 | title=M&M's reveals new purple candy character, first in a decade | date=September 28, 2022 }}</ref>
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 company characters were depicted as "exploring their outside passions", collaborating with other brands such as [[Cheddar (TV channel)|Cheddar]], [[eBay]], [[Snickers]], [[Spotify]], and [[Zappos]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=M&M's strange Super Bowl LVII saga continues: Maya Rudolph adds clams to the Ma&Ya's mix |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/02/02/mm-s-strange-super-bowl-lvii-saga-continues-maya-rudolph-adds-clams-the-mayas-mix |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Drum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiner |first=Deb |date=2023-02-02 |title=M&M's characters will return after the Super Bowl and 'exploring their outside passions' |url=https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/02/mms-characters-will-return-after-the-super-bowl-and-exploring-their-outside-passions.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref> During the eventual ad for Ma&Ya's, Red makes a cameo during its final scene alongside Yellow, holding up a sign reading "Help!" Following the game, the confection company then posted a "[[press conference]]" confirming the "spokescandies" had been reinstated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=M&M's spokescandies are 'back for good' after Maya Rudolph's Super Bowl ad debut |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/mm-maya-rudolph-super-bowl-ad-rcna70312 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=NBC News |date=February 13, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; text-align:center; padding:0 9px;"
!scope="col"| Character
!scope="col"| Type
!scope="col"| Voice actor
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #B11224; color: white; text-align:center;" | Red
| Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Crispy
| {{ubl|[[Jon Lovitz]] {{small|(1995–96)}}|[[Billy West]] {{small|(1996–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: #FFF200; text-align:center;" | Yellow
| Peanut and Dark Chocolate Peanut
| {{ubl|[[John Goodman]] {{small|(1995–96)}}|[[J. K. Simmons]] {{small|(1996–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: #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
| Dark Chocolate, Mint, and Peanut Butter
| {{ubl|[[Cree Summer]] {{small|(US)}}|Larissa Murray {{small|(UK)}}}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #F26F22; text-align:center;" | Orange (Crispy)
| Crispy and Pretzel
| {{ubl|Eric Kirchberger|[[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: #603A34; color: white; text-align:center;" | Ms. Brown
| Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, and Fudge Brownie
| {{ubl|[[Vanessa Williams]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #c203fc; color: white; text-align:center;" | Purple
| Peanut, Caramel, Cold Brew, Vegan, and Hazelnut Spread
| {{ubl|[[Amber Ruffin]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #FF8C00; text-align:center;" | Caramel (cube)
| Caramel
| {{ubl|[[David Cross]]}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background: #996600; color: white; text-align:center;" | Pretzel Guy (symmetrical)
| Pretzel
| {{ubl|[[Maurice LaMarche]]}}
|}
== Color changes ==
The original 1941 colors of M&M 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|thumb|300px|Transparent chutes hold M&Ms of various colors]]
In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&Ms<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) that was a suspected [[carcinogen]] and they introduced the orange variety. Despite the fact that M&Ms never had contained the dye, this action was taken by Mars purely to avoid any concerns by worried consumers.<ref name="Smith"/> Ten years later, a student at [[University of Tennessee]], Paul Hethmon, started a joke campaign to reinstate red M&Ms that would eventually become a worldwide phenomenon.<ref>{{cite news
|title=The man who brought red M&M's back to life
|first=Jim
|last=Matheny
|work=USA Today
|url=https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/18037477
|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 college student successfully rallied for their return
|archive-date=December 24, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224190931/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/18037477
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The red M&Ms variety was reintroduced as a result and the orange variety that had replaced them were kept in production.
In Europe, red M&Ms contain the red dye [[carmine]] (E120, cochineal).<ref>M&Ms Peanut Pouch [https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/296058732 Red M&Ms Tesco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030919/https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/296058732 |date=November 7, 2017 }}</ref>
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&Ms. Blue was the winning color 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> 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. Red and Yellow were depicted as 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 using the correct shade of blue proposed. Another version of the commercial featured Red and Yellow holding their breath to resemble the new blue M&Ms where [[Steven Weber (actor)|Steven Weber]] sees the three M&M characters, Red, Yellow, and Blue; and one more version featuring Weber asking the blue M&M whether or not it had dived into the chocolate pool.
Tan was replaced in late 1995.
In 2002, Mars solicited votes in their first ever "M&M's Global Color Vote" to add a new color from three choices: [[Aqua (color)|aqua]] ([[Turquoise (color)|turquoise]]), [[pink]], and purple. To help the colors get votes, [[Ken Schrader]] and his [[MB2 Motorsports]] team, who was sponsored by the company at the time, ran four paint schemes during the [[2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season]] representing the promotion (one for aqua, one for pink, one for purple, and another one with all three colors on the car). Once purple won and was featured for a limited time, specially marked packages of the confection were released. Finding a bag of all purple M&Ms entitled American customers to a prize of 100 million [[Japanese yen]] (equivalent to approximately US$852,000), payable in U.S. dollars. Other cash prizes, numbering more than 50,000, came in [[euro]]s, [[Australian dollar]]s, [[Brazilian real|Brazilian reais]], [[Mexican peso]]s, and U.S. [[Penny (United States coin)|pennies]].
Since 2004, M&Ms have been available online in 17 colors with personalized phrases on each candy on the opposite side from the "m".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mymms.com/|title=Custom Printed MY M&M's|work=mms.com|publisher=[[Mars, Incorporated]]|access-date=February 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211174015/http://www.mymms.com/|archive-date=February 11, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Released around Christmas, these custom-printed M&Ms were originally intended for [[holiday greetings]], but are now available all year round.
For the 2008 [[Valentine's Day]] season, Mars introduced all-green bags of M&Ms. This was due to common [[Urban legend|urban folklore]] that says green ones are an [[aphrodisiac]].<ref>{{cite news|title=M&M's Chocolate Candies go green just in time for Valentine's Day|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mars/31278/|agency=PR Newswire|date=January 16, 2008|access-date=August 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913095216/http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mars/31278/|archive-date=September 13, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The green ones were brought back for the 2009 season alongside the "Ms. Green Heats Up Valentine's Day" contest.
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, the only filling manufactured continuously since the beginning of the production of the confection. From 1941 until 1969, each package contained M&Ms in five different colors; when red M&Ms were reintroduced in 1987, they were added as a sixth color instead of replacing any of the existing colors.
<div class="center">
ImageSize = width:800 height:200
PlotArea = left:50 bottom:
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1940 till:
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors =
id:
id:brown value:rgb(0.32, 0.20, 0.18)
id:tan value:rgb(0.57, 0.44, 0.22)
id:red value:rgb(0.86, 0.08, 0.16)
id:orange value:rgb(0.98, 0.30, 0)
id:yellow value:rgb(0.95, 0.95, 0.05)
id:green value:rgb(0.20, 0.70, 0.34)
id:blue value:rgb(0.05, 0.15, 0.85)
id:violet value:rgb(0.55, 0.27, 0.55)
id:purple value:rgb(0.35, 0.25, 0.35)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:5 start:1940
BarData =
bar:mmbrown text:"Brown"
bar:mmyellow text:"Yellow"
bar:mmgreen text:"Green"
bar:mmred1 text:"Red"
bar:mmorange text:"Orange"
bar:
bar:
bar:mmblue text:"Blue"
Line 132 ⟶ 270:
bar:mmbrown from:1941 till:end color:brown
bar:mmyellow from:1941 till:end color:yellow
bar:mmgreen from:1941 till:end color:green
bar:mmviolet from:1941 till:1949 color:violet
bar:mmviolet from:2002 till:2003 color:violet
bar:mmred1 from:1941 till:1976 color:red
bar:mmred1 from:1987 till:end color:red
bar:mmtan from:1949 till:1995 color:tan
bar:mmorange from:1976 till:end color:orange
bar:mmblue from:1995 till:end color:blue
}}
</div>
== 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]]
==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080910125635/http://us.mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/ The History of M&M's Chocolates] from us.mms.com
{{Mars brands}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:MandM's}}
[[Category:M&M's| ]]
[[Category:Food and drink introduced in 1941]]
[[Category:Mars confectionery brands]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Brand name confectionery]]
[[Category:1941 establishments in the United States]]
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