M&M’s are colorful chocolate candies that come in a variety of vibrant hues. The signature M&M’s chocolate candies were first produced in 1941 and have become an iconic American candy. But what are the colors of M&M’s chocolate candies and what order are they arranged in the traditional packs? Here’s a look at laying out the colors of M&M’s chocolate candies in order.
Overview of M&M’s Candy Colors
The traditional packs of plain M&M’s chocolate candies contain six colors: blue, brown, green, orange, red, and yellow. This six color combination has been in place since the 1990s. However, over the decades, various specialty and limited edition M&M’s packs have included other colors like pink, purple, teal, white, and more.
The six original colors each have unique associations and meanings behind them. Brown represents rich chocolate. Red symbolizes fun and excitement. Orange is bright, bold, and vibrant. Yellow stands for cheerfulness and sunshine. Green represents nature and refreshment. Blue conveys calmness and serenity.
The proportion of each color in a pack of M&M’s is carefully controlled and contains a set ratio. There are 24% blue M&M’s, 13% brown, 16% green, 20% orange, 13% red, and 14% yellow in a standard bag. This careful color distribution ensures each pack contains a variety of hues that look appetizing and enticing to customers.
Order of M&M’s Colors
The exact order of M&M’s colors has varied over the decades as the brand evolved. However, the current and most common arrangement of M&M’s chocolate candies from left to right in the trademark packaging is:
Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow, Red, Brown
This reflects the descending order of the proportions of each color in the pack, with blue being the highest at 24% and brown being the lowest at 13%. Placing the colors visually in this sequence provides a gradient effect that is aesthetically pleasing and flows well for the consumer.
Interestingly, an earlier order of M&M’s from the 1990s was:
Orange, Green, Yellow, Red, Brown, Blue
While the exact reasoning behind the change in sequence is unclear, it may have been adjusted for better color balance, consumer visual appeal, or manufacturing streamlining. Regardless, the latest definitive order is firmly established as blue, orange, green, yellow, red, brown.
History of M&M’s Color Changes
While the traditional six colors have remained mostly consistent, over the decades there have been some changes to the color lineup of M&M’s chocolates:
- 1941 – M&M’s debut with five colors – brown, red, orange, yellow, green
- 1949 – Violet brown M&M’s introduced
- 1950 – Tan M&M’s replace violet brown
- 1954 – Red M&M’s swapped for orange to standardize color mix
- 1976 – Red returns, replacing tan M&M’s
- 1987 – Peanut M&M’s add blue to the mix
- 1995 – Blue added to traditional M&M’s lineup
Additionally, specialty M&M’s packs have also brought limited-time colors like pink (for breast cancer awareness), white, teal, maroon, silver, gold, and more.
While the core six remain most iconic, the evolution of new colors helped drive interest, awareness, and sales over the decades while allowing M&M’s/Mars to promote important causes through specially colored candies.
Order of Colors in Specialty M&M’s
Beyond the traditional six-color packs, M&M’s are now available in a wide range of specialty and seasonal varieties. Many of these also have a standardized order of colors, though they may differ from the original:
Peanut M&M’s
Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Red, Brown
Peanut Butter M&M’s
Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Yellow
Crispy M&M’s
Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Brown, Red
Pretzel M&M’s
Blue, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green
The colors are strategically sequenced for each M&M’s variety to achieve the right mix, balance, and visual look. While the colors remain consistent, rearranging them differently provides a signature appearance tailored to each type that consumers can easily recognize.
Color Distribution in M&M’s Packs
As mentioned, every standard pack of M&M’s contains a carefully controlled distribution of colors. This varies slightly between regular and specialty varieties. Here are the approximate color breakdowns:
Standard M&M’s
| Color | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Blue | 24% |
| Orange | 20% |
| Green | 16% |
| Yellow | 14% |
| Red | 13% |
| Brown | 13% |
Peanut M&M’s
| Color | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Blue | 20% |
| Orange | 20% |
| Green | 16% |
| Yellow | 15% |
| Red | 13% |
| Brown | 16% |
This intentional color ratio ensures each pack delivers a smart balance of shades and flavors. It also allows quality control to detect if any color is over- or under-represented in a particular batch.
Regional & Seasonal Variations
While the standard color order is followed in most conventional packs, M&M’s does mix it up for regional and seasonal releases. Some examples include:
- Valentine’s Day – Pink, White, Light Brown, Red, Green
- Halloween – Orange, Black, Green, White, Red, Yellow, Brown
- Christmas – Red, Green, White
- Easter – Pastels like Lavender, Teal, Pink, Yellow, Orange
These special editions allow M&M’s to tailor the color ordering and selections to relevant holidays and celebrations. It keeps the brand and product feeling fresh and engaging for customers seeking themed candies.
Ordering M&M’s by Color Popularity
While the official color sequence rotates through the lineup evenly, fans of M&M’s have their own preferences. If arranging M&M’s colors by popularity, the order would likely be:
Blue, Red, Orange, Green, Yellow, Brown
In consumer surveys and polls over the years, blue and red have consistently ranked as the top favorite colors. Grass green and sunny yellow tend to fall in the middle of the preferences, while classic chocolate brown often ranks last.
However, all the signature colors have their loyal fans. Collectively the diverse yet controlled color mix is a key part of M&M’s brand identity and appeal.
Ordering for Manufacturing Efficiency
Behind the scenes, the order of M&M’s colors is also structured to maximize manufacturing efficiency at Mars factories. Arranging shades from light to dark on production lines allows quality control to better detect color variances quickly. Groupings of similar tones helps avoid color cross-contamination as well.
Additionally, arranging colors from most used to least used ensures the fastest production flow. As blue is the most prevalent, starting lines off with this color gets the biggest batch done right off the bat. Ending with rarest shade like brown minimizes changeover time between runs.
So the meticulously planned order serves both aesthetic purposes and pragmatic production needs.
Nutrition Facts by Color
The nutrition facts of M&M’s candies are nearly identical across all colors and varieties. However, there are very minor differences in calories, fat, and carbohydrates between shades:
| Color | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Carbs (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 83 | 3 | 11 |
| Brown | 86 | 4 | 11 |
| Green | 82 | 3 | 11 |
| Orange | 83 | 3 | 11 |
| Red | 83 | 3 | 11 |
| Yellow | 82 | 3 | 11 |
The slight variances are due to minor differences in formulas, coatings, and manufacturing for each color. But no matter what shade you choose, you can count on M&M’s to deliver delicious, joy-filled chocolate fun in every bite!
Conclusion
M&M’s iconic candy-coated chocolates have delighted fans for over 80 years thanks to their memorable branding, appealing colors, and yummy flavors. The standard lineup arranges the core colors strategically as blue, orange, green, yellow, red, brown for the optimal balance, flow, and visibility. While this precise order has evolved over the decades, it remains an integral part of the classic M&M’s experience. So next time you enjoy a pack, take a moment to appreciate how the careful arrangement of colors makes M&M’s a chocolate treat to see as well as taste!