M & M's GIVES US THE RASPBERRY

First-Ever Fruit-Flavored M&M’s(R) Razzberry Chocolate Candies and M&M’s(R) Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies Have Arrived!
Two M&M’S(R) Product Innovations Lead to Great-Tasting, Colorful Chocolate Fun

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ — M&M’S® Chocolate Candies is serving up summer fun with two new innovative products now in stores. The iconic, colorful M&M’S® are once again now offered in smooth and delicious M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies. In addition, the brand is introducing for the first time on a national basis and available in stores, a berry limited edition of M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies. Delivered with M&M’S® brand of great-tasting, chocolate fun, these offerings are now available this summer.

M&M’S® first added its signature fun twist to the traditionally serious dark chocolate category with a limited edition of M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Candies and M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies in April 2005. Soon after the special promotion ended, more than 30,000 consumers clamored for more. In response, M&M’S® permanently introduced M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Candies last August and is now bringing back M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies, available nationwide on a permanent basis.

In addition, consumers can now enjoy M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies, which offer the sweet flavor of raspberries as a delightful complement to the classic M&M’S® milk chocolate taste. M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies are “in season” and available in stores for a berry limited time of six weeks. They will reach their peak in September and October.

“At M&M’S®, we are committed to constant innovation to create fun, great-tasting products that deliver unique experiences to our consumers,” said Anibal Martini, global marketing director, M&M’S® Chocolate Candies. “We are delighted to continue to grow the M&M’S® brand by introducing the first fruit-flavored M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies while meeting the popular growing demand of dark chocolate by re-introducing M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies nationwide.”

Dark Chocolate That’s a Little Less Serious and a Lot More Fun

According to recent IRI data, the dark chocolate category has grown by more than 47 percent,(1) although consumer interest in dark chocolate M&M’S® products may also have resulted from the perception that other brands are too “stuffy.” According to a recent omnibus survey of more than 1,500 women, nearly 65 percent said dark chocolate is more “serious” than other chocolates.(2)

In an ongoing effort to add more fun to dark chocolate and to support this new product, M&M’S® Chocolate Candies is reprising the popular “Addams Family” characters and theme last seen in advertisements for M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Candies. The print and television campaign, which recently debuted nationwide, showcase Inner-M’s of the iconic, nutty Addams Family characters to playfully and spookily introduce M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies.

The print advertisements center on a witty and original Addams Family “family portrait,” including popular Addams Family members “Wednesday,” “Gomez,” “Mama,” “Fester,” “Lurch,” “Morticia,” and “Pugsley.” The television campaign brings the “Dark M&M’S®” to life, spotlighting each character in a montage set to the well-known Addams Family theme music. The spot features the introduction of “Cousin Itt’s” Inner M and concludes with “Thing” popping out of his box home, holding a package of M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies.

M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies feature whole peanuts covered with smooth and delicious dark chocolate. Encased in the iconic Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange and Brown color candy shells, these savory sweets can be found in a bright purple package featuring Yellow, holding a peanut shaped sign with the word “Peanut.”

M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies are now available nationwide in food, mass, convenience and drug stores. They are available in 1.50 oz. singles, 2.87 oz. tear n’ share packaging, 12.6 oz. bags and 20.2 oz. bags, and retail for $.55, $.99, $2.96 and $4.39 SRP respectively.

Get Razzed-Right Now

To support this first-ever, national launch of a fruit-flavored M&M’S® candy in stores, M&M’S® conducted research and discovered raspberry is one of the most popular fruit flavors.

Shoppers can grab their bags of special limited edition M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies in prominent, impactful point-of-sale displays nationwide in food, mass, convenience and drug stores. M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies can be found in a bright pink package on which Red announces, “This is Berry Cool.”

Visit www.mms.com to learn more about M&M’S® Dark Chocolate Peanut Candies and M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies. In addition, fans can send a personalized creative “Get Razzed” e-card.

M&M’S® Razzberry Chocolate Candies will be available for only six weeks in food, mass, convenience and drug stores. They are offered in single 1.50 oz., 11.8 oz. and 18.6 oz. packaging for $.55, $2.96 and $4.39 SRP.