Mars first introduced the Snickers chocolate bar in 1930.
The bar was created by Mars, Incorporated and named after the Mars family’s favorite horse, named Snickers. Its original formulation combined nougat, caramel, and peanuts covered in milk chocolate. That combination gave the bar a chewy texture and a substantial, nutty filling.
Snickers became one of the best-known chocolate bars in the world. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it was briefly sold under the name Marathon from 1930 until 1990, when the global Snickers name was restored. This regional naming history can cause confusion when people compare older advertisements or packaging.
Snickers is a chocolate-covered confection rather than plain solid chocolate. The ingredients and sizes have changed across markets, and Mars has introduced variants such as Snickers Almond and Snickers Peanut Butter. The original launch date, however, is consistently given as 1930.