Have No Fear, M&M’s Are Here!
How often do you think about the brands you consume daily? Do you ever wonder what 0.000000001% of your hard-earned money goes towards the billions of dollars of revenue? Well, we’re happy to share some of that information with you and even give you some fun facts on the side that you can share at your next dinner party.
1. M&M’s
This popular chocolate candy is owned by Mars, Incorporated - one of the largest privately owned companies in the United States. They’re also considered one of the most popular candies in the United States, with an 85% positivity rating on YouGov.
2. Coca-Cola
This popular soft drink mogul is possibly the most recognizable soda all over the world. Coca-Cola is available in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, and was rated the world’s sixth-most valuable brand back in 2023.
3. McDonald’s
Thanks to its affordable and tasty food and well-known golden arches, it’s no surprise that there are over 40,000 McDonald’s locations around the world. Even as recently as May 2025, McDonald’s still has the highest brand value of any restaurant worldwide.
4. Frito-Lay
This twin company is said to hold a dominant share of the chip market in North America, making it the 3rd most popular snack food brand, and 5th most popular brand overall in the United States.
5. Hershey’s
A Statista article stated that Hershey’s was the leading chocolate manufacturer in the United States back in 2022, and is easily recognized by over 90% of Americans. The company has also reached worldwide success, being the fourth-largest confectionery company worldwide.
6. Heinz
This popular condiment company is the most valued ketchup brand in the United States, holding over 50% of the country’s market share. According to YouGov, Heinz is the 23rd most popular food and snack brand, with nearly 100% of pollers being able to recognize the brand.
7. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is a very popular fast-food brand that has been praised for high customer satisfaction for several years in a row. The company has also been praised for high financial performance, with studies stating that it generates the highest average annual sales per store out of any fast-food chain.
8. Ritz
According to YouGov, the Ritz brand is considered the favorite overall snack brand in the United States, with a 97% brand awareness. Ritz is owned by Mondelēz International, which amassed $36.4 billion in revenue in 2024.
9. Kit Kat
This iconic red-packaged chocolate bar is considered the 2nd-most popular food and snack brand, according to YouGov. It’s sold in over 80 countries and has faced constant success worldwide thanks to the parent company, Nestlé, being able to adapt the brand to many different markets.
10. Oreo
Oreo is widely considered to be the world’s best-selling cookie. It’s available in over 100 countries, and estimated annual sales for 2025 will likely hit around 34 billion cookies. As of 2022, Oreo was considered to be one of the most profitable brands for Mondelēz International, and we doubt that will change anytime soon.
1. M&M’s
M&M’s have been around since 1941, created by Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie. The candy was likely inspired by Smarties, which the two men would’ve encountered during the Spanish Civil War. The candy was also popular during World War II, as it was marketed as heat-resistant, making it portable for soldiers on the front lines.
2. Coca-Cola
Originally intended as medicine, Coca-Cola first came onto the scene in 1886. Coke’s recipe has remained a secret for years, and only two employees in the entire company are said to know the complete formula. This secret is taken so seriously that the two employees are not permitted to travel together.
3. McDonald’s
This fast-food chain started as a humble hamburger stand in 1940. It was owned and operated by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald, and was founded in San Bernardino, California. The brothers had a goal of making $1 million before they turned 50, and it's safe to say that they achieved that goal.
4. Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay actually started as two separate companies back in the 1930s, only merging in 1961. This new company merged with Pepsi-Cola in 1960, creating what we know today as PepsiCo. Frito-Lay is said to have had a revenue of nearly $16 billion back in 2017.
5. Hershey’s
The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey back in 1894, originally as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. The company grew so big that its headquarters are situated in Hershey, Pennsylvania — a township that was originally called Derry Church.
6. Heinz
Heinz started in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, back in 1869. It was founded by Henry J. Heinz, who worked as a food packer before making it big. Before Heinz was created, Henry and his friend, Clarence Noble, actually created a horseradish company, which went bankrupt in 1975.
7. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A was founded in 1946 under S Truett Cathy. The chain was originally known as the Dwarf Grill, which was opened by Cathy in Hapeville, Georgia. The company has faced numerous controversies due to Cathy’s opposition to same-sex marriage, but that hasn’t stopped it from being the U.S’s favorite fast food chain for 8 consecutive years.
8. Ritz
These disc-shaped crackers were created by the Jackson Cracker company in the early 1900s, but were bought out and widely produced by Nabisco in 1934. The name “Ritz” was chosen by Sydney Stern as a means to attract individuals struggling through the Great Depression.
9. Kit Kat
Kit Kat was created by the English company Rowntree’s of York, and was brought into the world in 1935. Nestlé acquired Rowntree in 1988 and began producing Kit Kat worldwide, except for the United States. Thanks to an agreement made between Rowntree and the Hershey Company, KitKat has remained a Hershey-made chocolate in the US since 1970.
10. Oreo
Oreo was created by Nabisco back in 1912 in Chelsea, New York. The etymology behind the name Oreo has been widely debated, with many thinking it could be based on the French word or, meaning “gold,” the Greek word oros, meaning “mountain”, or the Greek word oreo, meaning “nice” or “attractive.” Despite all these meanings, it could just be that the word Oreo is simply easy to pronounce.
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