Sweet Partnership

Forrest did.

Forrest grew up in Saskatchewan. Early on he rarely saw his father who ran a candy company in the US but after graduating from school he ended up working with him. That is until the disagreement Forrest was eager to expand the business overseas, his dad wasn’t … so Forrest left for England determined to forge his own way. After making and selling various candies across Europe he came across one that soldiers in Spain were eating.

Realizing there was nothing like it in the US … he quickly returned and set about making his own version … but unfortunately it was wartime and there were tight restrictions on all types of materials and Forrest couldn’t get the ingredients including chocolate and sugar that he badly needed.

Now while most would melt at this kind challenge you have to hand it to Forrest … he smartly put success in the bag by partnering with Bruce Murrie the son of the president of Hershey’s chocolates … and gained access to both the chocolate and sugar he needed as well as soldiers ration kits as Hershey’s had the contract to supply the US Army.

The candy, which they named after themselves, was a monster hit … first with the soldiers who liked the snack … and then after the war with everyone at home.

Eventually Forrest bought out Bruce and then merged his company with his Dad’s and became one of Hershey’s biggest competitors

Today, the candy treat Forrest Edward Mars and Bruce Murrie named after themselves are a hit worldwide and a key part of Mars $33 billion in annual sales … M&Ms for Mars and Murrie

M&M are a great idea .. because solving problems can make your life sweet!