The specific inventor of Skittles is unknown; the candy originated in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and was later produced and marketed under Mars (now Mars Wrigley) before expanding to the U.S. market in 1979 and U.S. production in 1982.
What is known
- Skittles first appeared in Britain in the early-to-mid 1970s, with U.S. availability by 1979 and U.S. manufacturing starting in 1982.
- The brand has long been associated with Mars and later Mars Wrigley following corporate restructuring, with Wrigley taking over brand stewardship after Mars’ acquisition in 2008.
Myths and speculation
- A popular tale attributes the invention to a “Mr. Skittles,” but there is no evidence for this story, and reputable summaries note the inventor remains unknown.
Corporate ownership context
- Skittles have been under the Mars corporate umbrella for decades, with stewardship moving to Wrigley after Mars acquired Wrigley in 2008 and later consolidated as Mars Wrigley, which is how the brand is listed today.
