M&M's are a beloved sugar-coated chocolate candy produced by Mars Inc. since 1941, created by Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie (the two "M"s) after Mars was inspired by British Smarties during the Spanish Civil War. The hard candy shell was designed to keep chocolate from melting in warm climates, giving rise to the iconic slogan, "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand." Originally sold exclusively to the U.S. Army during World War II, the candies became widely available afterward and now reach over 100 countries. The original plain chocolate was joined by Peanut M&M's in 1954, followed by many other varieties like peanut butter, almond, and caramel. Production began in Newark, New Jersey, later moving to Hackettstown, New Jersey, and Cleveland, Tennessee, with the signature lowercase "m" printed on each piece since 1950 (switched from black to white in 1954).