Shoppers are only just figuring out B&M doesn't stand for what they always thought

By Mieka Smiles, News Reporter

People are only now realising what B&M actually stands for (Image: Getty)

Who doesn’t love a B&M bargain? You can get lost in its aisles trying to decide what discounted goods to fill your basket with. So it’s perhaps only natural that customers thought its name stood for something that explains how cheaply you can stock up for in the store.

Bargains & More is what many people thought the letters meant. But in actual fact it stands for something rather different - it’s the founder’s names.

The actual name stands for Billington and Mayman after the founder of the chain Malcolm Billington and Mayman, a partner in the store. The store was initially founded in 1978 - but it never reached the level of success it enjoys today.

Cambridge law graduate Simon Arora, bought them in 2004 and it’s now a huge chain worth billions. And - in a fun bit of trivia - it turns out that even he didn't know what the name stood for.

"Someone once told told me that it was obvious - it stands for 'Bargains and More',” reported McKinsey Alumni Center. He added: “That's good enough for me" 

However, B&M has previously confirmed that the name does indeed stand for Billington and Mayman. It seems that customers are confused too.

Taking to social media platform X one said: “Went to B&M for the first time ever. Such good stuff there. But what does B&M stand for?”

Another asked the store directly “what does B&M stand for” on the social media channel with another one adding “What does 'B&M' stand for anyway?”.

Meanwhile people are also only just realising what M&M stands for. It's a sweet treat that's been around for longer than you might think - and its name actually reflects its history.

M&M's are actually the flagship product of the Mars Wrigley Confectionery division of Mars, Incorporated and originated in America in 1941.

The concept was reportedly inspired by the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) to enable soldiers to carry chocolate in warm climates without it melting - which inspired its famous slogan “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” reports the Daily Star.

M&M's are made by Mars, Inc. - and so it’s perhaps quite obvious at least one of the Ms should stand for Mars.

And the other one? It actually stands for Murrie - meaning that the full name of M&Ms means Mars and Murrie.