How did Frank Mars challenge the standard nickel bar dominance, like the Hershey bar, in the mid-1920s?
He manufactured the original Milky Way to weigh over 3 ounces, offering significantly more volume for the same nickel price.
Frank C. Mars employed a direct value proposition to disrupt the established candy market dominated by the standard nickel offerings, such as the Hershey bar, which was described as a 'flat little Hershey bar.' Mars's strategy focused on scale; the original Milky Way was intentionally manufactured to weigh in at over 3 ounces, substantially larger than its competitors. To maintain the nickel price point while achieving this size, the initial recipe leaned heavily on volume-filling ingredients, primarily nougat made from simple components like eggs, sugar, and air, with only a small amount of caramel included. This aggressive sizing strategy made the choice easy for consumers seeking maximum value at the candy counter.
