M&M’s are among the most recognizable candies in the world, known for their colorful shells and chocolate centers. Whether people enjoy them during a movie or add them to cookies, the small candies have remained popular for generations. But the two letters printed on each piece have a story that goes back to the early 1940s.

The initials M&M stand for Mars and Murrie, the surnames of the two men who helped create the original candy. Forrest Mars Sr., son of the Mars candy company founder, partnered with Bruce Murrie, whose father was a leading executive at Hershey. Their collaboration brought together Mars’s business idea and Hershey’s chocolate resources, helping turn the concept into a successful product.

M&M’s were first introduced in 1941, when portable snacks were especially useful. The idea was inspired partly by chocolate covered in a hard sugar shell, which soldiers reportedly used during the Spanish Civil War. This coating helped protect the chocolate and made it less likely to melt immediately when handled. During World War II, M&M’s were supplied to American military personnel because they were convenient to carry.

The original candies looked different from the colorful varieties available today. Early M&M’s had brown shells, with a small letter printed on each piece. Over time, the brand introduced different colors, peanut versions, and numerous other flavors. Despite these changes, the basic idea remained the same: chocolate protected by a hard candy coating. The printed letter also became one of the brand’s most recognizable features.

Although Bruce Murrie was involved in the candy’s beginnings, the original partnership eventually ended, and Forrest Mars gained control of the business. Today, M&M’s belong to Mars, Incorporated, but their name continues to reflect the collaboration that helped launch them. What looks like a simple candy name is actually a reminder of the two men behind a treat that became famous around the world.