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In the world of sweet treats, M&M's stands out as one of the most beloved chocolate brands. Initially, the name M&M's stood for "Mars & Murrie," a partnership between the Mars and Murrie companies. These two companies joined forces during World War II to create small-sized candies for soldiers in need of a tasty morale boost. Over time, Mars took the reins and turned M&M's into one of its flagship products.
A Statistical Quest for the Rare M&M's Color
Rick Wilkin, a statistician working with the SAS Institute, embarked on a fascinating journey to uncover the secret behind the rarest M&M color. Intrigued by discrepancies in color proportions previously listed on Mars's website, Wilkin decided to conduct his statistical analysis. With access to data from Mars's factories in Cleveland and New Jersey, he set out to compare and contrast their production proportions.
Ultimately, Wilkin's meticulous study revealed surprising findings. Contrary to Mars's website claims, brown emerged as the rarest M&M color, comprising only 13.48% of the total. Yellow followed closely behind at 14.47%, while green surprisingly took the lead as the most common color at 19.52%. Wilkin's investigation also highlighted how color proportions may have evolved over time, emphasizing the fluid nature of M&M's color spectrum.
Evolution of M&M's Color Palette
The history of M&M's colors is a vibrant tapestry of change and adaptation. Back in 1941, the brand introduced red, brown, yellow, green, and purple M&M's. However, the purple hue quickly faded into obscurity, making way for the introduction of tan by the end of the decade. Fast forward to the 1970s, a red dye scare prompted Mars to replace red M&M's with orange, a decision met with mixed reviews from fans.
The outcry from loyal supporters led to the rise of the Society for the Restoration and Preservation of Red M&M's, catalyzing Mars's decision to bring back the iconic red color. Meanwhile, tan M&M's met an ignominious fate, leading to a public vote in 1995 that crowned blue as the new color champion, surpassing purple and pink contenders.
Diverse M&M's Color Variants
Beyond the classic red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and brown hues, M&M's also dabbles in limited-edition colors and promotional variants. Gray M&M's, a rarity from the 1990s contest, have achieved legendary status among enthusiasts. In a 2012 promotion dubbed "You Picked The New Color Mix!", fans had the opportunity to enjoy purple, aqua, and pink M&M's alongside the usual favorites via a Facebook poll.
Specialty stores like M&M's World offer unconventional color options such as black, white, pink, and purple, adding a whimsical touch to the brand's colorful lineup.
In conclusion, the world of M&M's is a kaleidoscope of colors, where each hue tells a story of innovation, nostalgia, and sweet indulgence. As we savor these delightful candies, let's celebrate the joy they bring and revel in the rainbow of possibilities they offer.
