Each week, find an article selected as “Best of the Best” from thousands written by New Jersey’s fourth grade and Middle School students…

M&M’S  

Name: Ashley Howard

School: Broad Street Elementary School

Do you know what popular candy was created inNewark,New Jersey?  They come in different colors, flavors, and sizes.  If you guessed M&M’s, you’re correct.  Exactly 100 years ago, Frank Mars started a business selling homemade candies.  The business continued to grow, and in 1941, his son made sugar-coated candies that wouldn’t melt in your hand.  A man named Bruce Murrie gave Mars money for the business, so they named this new candy M&M’s.

Over the years the product has changed and grown in many ways.    In 1948, M&M’s packaging changed from a long tube to the brown bag they come in today.  In 1950 the first “M” was imprinted in black on the candy.  One of the biggest years for M&M’s was 1954.  During this year In 1954, Mars came up with the slogan, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”  That same year, the famous M&M’s characters appeared on television commercials.  The final big event that year was the introduction of peanut M&Ms.  By 1980 M&M’s were introduced around the world to 16 different countries.

There have been many other product changes and additions including the most popular one when in 1995 over 10 million people voted to add the color blue.   M&M’s originally came in four colors, now there are 25.  M&M’s originally came in one size, now there are minis.  They used to come in one flavor, now there are 11.  Today fans can get many types of special occasion M&M’s and even have them personalized.  It is no wonder M&M’s have won so many awards and been chosen the number one snack food of different events!

M&M’s are one of my favorite candies. Thanks Mars and Murrie!

Read the 2011 Version of The New Jersey Scoop:  http://www.celebratenj.org/school/new-jersey-scoop/

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