M and M Candy Characters: The Power of Branding

M and M Candy Personalized

Few people are unfamiliar with the M and M Candy characters. After all, how can you miss those adorable, colorful, rotund, candy-coated characters complete with the lowercase “m” emblazoned on their tummies? Not only are images of these characters prominently featured on the M & M candy labels, M&M website, and advertising campaigns, these cute characters have been widely embraced as pop culture icons.

For example, each year at Halloween, trick-or-treaters head out dressed as ghosts, goblins, and – you guessed it – as M and M Candy characters. These beloved characters have topped wedding cakes and have been permanently tattooed on many adult candy lovers.

The Mars candy company, the maker behind M&M candy (M and M Candy) and its iconic characters which made their television debut in 1954, has taken the brand to the fast lane by sponsoring the Joe Gibbs NASCAR racing team and racecar driver Kyle Busch. The #18 car and the team’s uniforms proudly sport the beloved characters. As the car zips around the track, the power of branding kicks in as race fans everywhere think to themselves, “Yum”.

The branding continues on the official M and M Candy website where candy lovers of all ages delight in interactive games, e-cards, recipes, and other activities featuring the animated M&Ms. In fact, registered users can even create their own, custom M&M candy characters! Article source: MM Candy Characters The Power Of Branding

M and M Candy History

M and M Personalized Candy

M and M Candy history has its roots in the Spanish Civil War when Forrest Mars, Sr., the founder of the Mars Company, observed soldiers nibbling on a delightful chocolate treat encased in a hard shell designed to prevent the chocolate from melting. In 1941, Mars patented his version of that candy and began production.

At that time, World War II had begun, and the candies became a practical treat once again for soldiers. In fact, during the war years, only the military could buy M&M candy. Originally sold in hard cardboard tubes, the history of M&Ms progressed when black cellophane packaging was introduced in 1948 and the “m” imprinted on the candies in the 1950s.

Throughout the long history of M&Ms, candy makers tried to replicate the success of these bite-sized treats with limited success. Competing brands such as Smarties, Pebbles, and Reese’s Pieces were introduced by other candy makers. The movie ET gave Reese’s Pieces a major boost with its prominent product placement and role as ET’s favorite snack. Mars candy executives turned down an offer to feature M and M Candy in the movie based on their unfounded fears that children would find the ET character frightening.

While it’s unclear whether M&M Mars later regretted that decision, the brand continues to break new ground even goings as far as outer space on NASA space shuttle missions. And now, personalized M&Ms and customizable characters are the most recent entries into the sweet story of M and M Candy history. Article source: MM Candy History