[MONDAY MINUTE] 90s M&M's Color Vote: We Thought It Changed The World...

For those that weren’t lucky enough to experience it firsthand, I’m sorry but you’ll never truly understand what it felt like being a suburban kid growing up in the mid-90s, with this unwavering need to dial 1-800-FUN-COLOR…convinced that your persistence toward a winning vote could change the candy landscape forever. In fact, if you were to ask the 10-year-old version of me about his crowning achievement, I’d proudly answer helping “blue” become the next M&M’s color. And while the MAHA movement will soon throw away that (three decades of dust-collecting) participation trophy, there’s actually a bigger threat to the candy brand. Most CPG companies are largely unready to handle the ingredient shortages, input cost inflation, and supply issues caused by climate change over the next decade. From staples to cash crops, disruption from these factors won’t happen everywhere at once…but the impact severity will only increase over time. So, that’s why Mars Incorporated is seeking supply chain security by working to cultivate drought- and disease-resistant peanut varieties. But here’s a suggestion for the candy giant…maybe everything can be solved with another contest, but this time to find the next George Washington Carver.