The candy-coated chocolate snack created by Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie in 1941 was M&M's.
M&M's were developed during a period when soldiers needed chocolate that would not melt easily in warm conditions. A hard sugar shell protected the chocolate center, making the pieces more practical for transport and storage.
The two founders were Forrest Mars of Mars and Bruce Murrie, whose father William Murrie was president of Hershey. The initials in the name represent the two founders’ surnames. Production began in the United States in 1941.
The original candies were sold in plain chocolate form and later expanded into peanut, peanut butter, crispy, caramel, and other varieties. M&M's are often confused with Smarties, but the brands belong to different companies and have different histories in different countries.