By MICHELLE CHAPMAN and ANNE D’INNOCENZIOCandy maker Mars is giving a makeover to its six M&M’s characters as a way to promote inclusivity. The company said that it will provide a modern take on the appearances of the characters — which Mars calls “lentils” — and give them more nuanced personalities. Some of the changes to the M&M characters include making two of them less stereotypically feminine. Mars is aware of this, having had to change the name of its Uncle Ben’s rice brand in 2020 due to criticism. But some marketers believe that Mars may be overthinking the marketing of its M&Ms.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 22, 2022 22:49 UTC