by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: March 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 13, 2011

Mars is a major candy company and it traces its' success back to 1882. Frank C. Mars had a mild case of polio, which left him unable to walk. His mother Alva taught him how to dip chocolates so he would have something to do to pass the time and be productive. This somehow inspired and translated into the Mars Candy Company that we now know. It is a great success story.

Can this candy bar be named? Here are the ingredients: milk chocolate (sugar,cocoa butter,chocolate, lactose, skim milk, milk fat, soy lecithin, artificial flavor) peanuts, corn syrup, sugar, skim milk, butter, milk fat, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, lactose, salt, egg whites, artificial flavor.

(Side bar: Why would you use skim milk, just to add the milk fat? Would it not be easier just to use whole milk and list it that way?)

In 1930 when this candy bar made it's public debut the family chose the name of Snickers. Was it because it was so fun to make, you had to snicker? Was it because they knew they had a hit so they were going to snicker all the way to the bank? Did they believe it would taste so good it would make people snicker? No the story really has nothing to do with snickering.

Frank and Ethel Mars owned a race horse named Snickers. That 5-cent candy bar introduced to the world in 1930 was named after a horse. Apparently they felt if the name was good enough for a horse it was a good name for their candy bar.

Snickers was not the named used every where for this particular candy bar. Father and son has some issues with the Mars Company and the son was given a cash buy out, use of the recipes and sent on his way to Europe. His candy bar, exactly the same ingredients was called the Marathon Bar.

The Snickers bar has had many variety and changes to keep it the number one selling candy bar on the global market. Let's look at some of those bars. If dark chocolate is something you enjoy there is a Snickers Dark Bar.. If almonds sound more appealing that peanuts, try a Snickers Almond Bar. If you are really hungry or want to share a bar try the new Snickers King Size - two piece. If you just can not make up your mind have no fear, there are the Snickers miniatures that come with a variety all in the same glorious bag.

Guess we would have to say that this company did something right back in 1930 when they gave a candy bar with a horses' name and a fair price. Our delight with the sweet treat keeps up grabbing for that Snickers chocolate bar. It is clearly a favorite.

Sources: www.mars.com

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