what were m&ms originally made for?

M&M’s were originally created to keep chocolate from melting in hot climates, particularly for soldiers during World War II. The candy was coated in a hard sugar shell and sold to the U.S. military starting in 1941, with the slogan “melts in your mouth, not in your hand” helping to promote them. They were patented in 1941 as a solution to transporting chocolate in tropical conditions, and after proving practical for troops, they were later released to the general public.