Sometimes brand names and titles are so engrained into our lives that we never actually question what they mean.
Like, why is a Hobnob actually called a Hobnob? What even really is a ‘hobnob’? Or perhaps even the names of bands like the Foo Fighters and AC/DC, how did they come up with those?
And adding to the list, people are only just discovering what the M&M's initials actually stand for. Because when you think about it, it seems a bit random.
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Do two single pieces of the chocolate make an M&M? Or is one an M&M on its own? OK, my brain is hurting.
The bags of colourful candy-coated chocolates are a go-to for many as a decent sharer for a car ride or perhaps a snack at the cinema. But while you’re scranning through the whole bag yourself, have you ever considered how they got their name?
Well, many users on Reddit came to the realisation that they also had never stopped to wonder just that.
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The flagship product of Mars’ confectionery division, the little chocolate treats originated in the US way back in 1941.
It’s argued that Forrest Mars Sr., the son of the Mars Company founder, Frank C. Mars, actually copied the idea from good old British made Smarties during the Spanish Civil War.
But Mars got a patent for his own process to make the chocs in 1941 and production soon began in New Jersey when the company was founded; M&M Limited.
And here’s where the name comes in. The two ‘M’s represent ‘Mars’ and ‘Murrie’.
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Mars of course represents Forrest E. Mars Sr. and then the second ‘M’ is for Bruce Murrie, the son of Hershey Chocolate’s president William F. R. Murrie, who had a 20 percent share in the product.
This was handy because they could make the treats using Hershey chocolate, as the company had control of the rationed chocolate at the time in World War 2.
Once that was all over in 1945 and rationing came to a halt three years later, Mars bought out Murrie’s shares, meaning the company became solely owned by Mars again.
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Fans of the chocolate took to the platform to share their surprise, with one writing: “Knowing that M&M's were created for soldiers in WW2, I assumed M&M stood for Military Munchies. When you assume…”
Another even said: “I always thought it just stood for 'MMMMMM!'”
As one said they ‘felt good learning that’, others brought up a new question: “Yea but how do you know which piece of candy stands for 'Mars' and which one stands for 'Murrie'?"
Well now my head hurts again, better have an M or an M to deal with it.
Topics: History, Food And Drink
Jess Battison