Mars, Incorporated was founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars and his wife, Ethel, in their home kitchen in Tacoma, Washington. Initially, they produced and sold buttercream candies. The company grew rapidly and introduced the Milky Way bar in 1923, followed by the iconic M&M's in 1941. Over the decades, Mars expanded its product range and acquired various brands, becoming one of the largest privately-held companies in the United States.