M&M's switch to Ma&Ya's is branding genius (2024)

FAQs

Why is M&M's being renamed? ›

The company recently announced it was dropping its 'spokescandies' because the desexualisation of the green M&M had upset people so much. M&M's told the world it had replaced the candies with comic Maya Rudolph. And now it has gone a step further, by changing its name completely. Goodbye M&M's, hello Ma&Ya's.

In 2022, M&M's made a few, subtle changes to its candy characters to be more inclusive and progressive. This included tweaks like replacing the green M&M's knee-high boots with sneakers, and trading in the brown M&M's stilettos for shorter heels.

Fans will also notice an added emphasis on the ampersand to more prominently demonstrate how the brand aims to bring people together. M&M'S^® branding will also reflect an updated tone of voice that is more inclusive, welcoming, and unifying, while remaining rooted in our signature jester wit and humor.

Packaging waste doesn't align with our vision for a world where the planet is healthy. There is no sustainable product without sustainable packaging which is why Mars Incorporated is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to redesign over 12,000 packaging types across our portfolio.

There Was Conservative Backlash Over Green And Brown M&M's New Footwear. For a time, the Green and Brown M&M's mascots were the only female-presenting characters in the lineup and their initial character designs included knee-high heeled boots for Green and tall high heels for Brown.

The candy brand announced that Maya Rudolph would replace its promotional cartoon characters, which have been the focus of a partisan backlash. A controversy erupted when M&M's made changes to its roster of characters and to the shoes they wear.

The ubiquitous chocolate characters—which have been the face of M&M's for years—didn't say anything controversial. But they became the focus of a partisan backlash after the brand, owned by Mars Inc., made a number of stylistic tweaks to its cast of “spokescandies” last year to be more inclusive.

In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&M's because of health concerns over the dye amaranth (FD&C Red #2), which was a suspected carcinogen, and replaced them with orange M&M's. This was done despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye; the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers.

One of the largest privately owned companies in the country, Mars is responsible for many of the candy, gum, and pet food brands you see at the grocery store, like Wrigley's, M&Ms, Twix, and Pedigree.

M&M's target audience & market includes consumers of all ages, focusing on those who enjoy colorful, fun, and sweet snacks. M&Ms candies are also available in many small stores and supermarkets worldwide, making it a recognizable candy product for consumers.

What is rebranding of any brand? ›

The rebrand carries through from inside the store to the outside world, including a logo redesign, packaging designs, store remodels, and brand messaging on all advertising and marketing channels.

On Jan. 24, Mars, Incorporated — the company that owns the M&M's brand — told the world that their iconic mascots would be replaced by comedian Maya Rudolph. The company said it was due to criticism of the brand getting “too political,” thanks to their controversial makeovers of the mascots last year.

The maker of Snickers bars and M&Ms candies says it is raising prices on various items to offset the higher costs of raw materials, packaging and energy.

Much to the public's dismay, the Mars and Murray Company stopped production of red M&Ms because of a health scare concerning Red Dye Number 2, which at the time was the most common red food dye in use.

As a human, he is portrayed by Danny DeVito. In January 2022, Mars announced plans to alter the design of the M&Ms characters. The company announced that the aim of this change was to make their characters more representative of a broader array of human personalities and personal backgrounds.

About a year ago, Mars Wrigley rebranded some of its M&M characters to be more inclusive, including a redesign of the green M&M that replaced her high-heeled boots with sneakers.

The M&M name actually represents the two people who came up with the idea. M&M stands for Mars and Murrie - named after Forrest E. Mars Sr. – the founder of Mars – and Bruce Murrie, the son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R.

Much to the public's dismay, the Mars and Murray Company stopped production of red M&Ms because of a health scare concerning Red Dye Number 2, which at the time was the most common red food dye in use.