HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- The M&M’s candy brand, which debuted on March 3, 1941, has turned 75.
In 2016, M&M’s is launching the largest marketing campaign in the brand’s history: “Celebrate with M.” The campaign will feature events, product innovation, collaborations and partnerships that will cement the brand’s place in pop culture history, the company said.
Fans can get in on the action by following the #CelebratewithM hashtag and M&M’s social media pages for birthday surprises, exclusive access to one-of-a-kind experiences, the ability to determine the next M&M’s flavor to hit store shelves and more.
The celebration will kick off with the release of “Candyman,” a modern remake of Sammy Davis Jr.’s “The Candy Man” song (1972) featuring multi-platinum, Grammy award winning artist Zedd and Grammy nominated musician and songwriter Aloe Blacc in partnership with M&M’s.
Released on Feb. 26, “Candyman” is available for download on iTunes and streaming on Spotify. The single is accompanied by a full-length music video featuring Aloe Blacc, Zedd and M&M’s characters Red and Yellow as well as a 30-second advertising spot via the brand’s YouTube channel.
The M&M’s brand also will launch:
- Retro Packaging: Available on store shelves since February, the brand has released 12 retro designs (six designs each for Milk Chocolate and Peanut inspired by the brand’s 75-year heritage and history from the 1940s to 1990s). Available at retailers nationwide, consumers can get their collectible M&M’s in single and box packs starting at $1.49.
- Flavor Vote: March 1 through June 17, fans will have the chance to vote for the next limited-edition M&M’s flavor to hit store shelves. Original Peanut will go head-to-head with three new M&M’s Brand Chocolate Peanut varieties--Chili Nut, Honey Nut and Coffee Nut--in a socialized consumer campaign to determine America’s Favorite Peanut.
- Red Nose Day: For the second year, M&M’s will partner with NBC and Comic Relief as a title sponsor to raise awareness and money for the Red Nose Day Fund, an organization that helps to uplift children out of poverty. In 2015, the M&M’s Brand donated more than 1.3 million dollars to Red Nose Day charities.
- Operation Gratitude: To honor M&M’s origin as a military ration during World War II, Mars will donate $750,000 worth of product to Operation Gratitude for inclusion in military care packages throughout 2016.
Mars Chocolate North America, a unit of Mars Inc., is based in Hackettstown, N.J. Mars Inc., McLean, Va., has net sales of more than $33 billion and six business segments: Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience and Petcare.
Brands include Chocolate (M&M's, Snickers, Dove, Galaxy, Mars, Milky Way and Twix); Wrigley (Doublemint, Extra, Orbit and 5 chewing gums; Skittles and Starburst candies; and Altoids and Lifesavers mints); Food (Uncle Ben's, Dolmio, Ebly, Masterfoods, Seeds of Change and Royco); Drinks (Alterra Coffee Roasters, The Bright Tea Co., Klix and Flavia); and Symbioscience (Cocoavia and Wisdom Panel); and Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Kitekat, Banfield Pet Hospital, Cesar, Sheba, Dreamies and Nutro).
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