Martians have invaded Topeka, Kansas! These Martians aren’t from outer space, though. Martians is what the workers at the city’s new Mars candy factory call themselves. They’re making M&Ms by the millions. And every one has to be just like the other. It’s a good thing they have a plan and a recipe!

Mars, Inc. has been making candy since 1811. That’s more than a hundred years. You’ve probably eaten some of their chocolate. The new factory pumps out 39 million M&Ms® every day. That will satisfy a lot of sweet tooths. (Or should that be sweet teeth?)

Mars uses a recipe to make their M&M’s®. First, liquid chocolate is poured into tiny molds. Next, the chocolate pieces are put into a machine. The machine shakes them. That makes them smooth and round.

Then the chocolate centers harden. After that, a conveyor belt carries them to be coated. A conveyer belt is a bigger, longer version of the rolling top of the grocery checkout.

At the next station, the candies are spun around in large containers. They are “spray-painted” with a candy coating. They’re coated a few times. Then a final colored coat is added. Finally, the famous lower-case “m” is carefully stamped on each candy.

Not all the M&Ms® leave the factory. Some stay there for the Martians to eat, for free. Being a Martian sounds like a sweet job!