World’s Leading Functional Chewing Gum Manufacturers | Market Research Blog (2024)

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World’s Leading Functional Chewing Gum Manufacturers | Market Research Blog? ›

Global Functional Chewing Gum key players include Mars, Mondelez, Lotte, Perfetti Van Melle

Mars Wrigley is the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints and fruity confections.

Wrigley Company

A subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, Wrigley Company is the undisputed leader in the chewing gum market, boasting a global market share of approximately 35%. Founded in 1891, Wrigley has established itself as a household name, synonymous with iconic brands like Extra, Orbit, and 5.

The global functional chewing gum market size is estimated to expand from US$ 15,345.6 million in 2024 to US$ 38,924.5 million by 2034. Over the forecast period, global functional chewing gum demand is set to increase at a healthy CAGR of 9.8%.

Two multi-national companies, Wrigley and Cadbury, together account for some 60% market share of the worldwide chewing gum market.

The chewing gum market in the United States is shaped by a handful of manufacturers including Mars, Mondelez, Hershey, and Perfetti Van Melle. Mars Inc., the American agri-food giant, is responsible for such gum brands as Wrigley's.

It's available in 160+ countries, providing refreshments to millions of consumers every day with a variety of gum, candy, and mint offerings. In the U.S. Mentos Gum is the fastest growing gum brand over the past 52 weeks*, has the highest gum loyalty**and is the *#4 gum brand in the U.S. chewing gum category*.

Kantar's Global TGI research found that 82% of people in Iran and 79% of those in Saudi Arabia chew gum, compared to 59% in the US. “One reason behind this pattern could be because it is common practice to give customers chewing gum in place of small change,”​ said Kantar.

To maintain clean streets and public spaces, Singapore has banned the sale and import of chewing gum since 1992. .

The oldest flavored gum that is still available today is Black Jack, a licorice gum that was created by Thomas Adams (b. 1818). Adams' foray into the chewing gum manufacturing world began when he was looking for a way to make a cheap synthetic rubber for bicycle and carriage tires.

Who is the target audience for gum? ›

Target Audience and Consumer Preferences

The target audience for gum is broad, ranging from children to older adults. However, the preferences of this audience vary greatly, with some seeking sugar-free, natural, or functional gums, while others prefer traditional flavors and packaging styles.

Functional chewing gum is the name given to types of chewing gum which impart some practical function instead of, or in addition to, the usual enjoyment provided by a traditional chewing gum as a confectionery product.

Gum's bubble burst during the COVID-19 pandemic, when masks and social distancing made bad breath less of a worry and fewer people spent on impulse buys. The number of packages of gum sold dropped by nearly a third in the United States in 2020, according to Circana, a market research firm.

The New England settlers picked up this practice, and in 1848, John B. Curtis developed and sold the first commercial chewing gum called The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.

Using data collated by research firms including The NPD Group and Symphony IRI, Wilson said that young adults aged 18-34 were the primary gum consumers and accounted for 30% of all US gum eating occasions.

Orbit is a brand of sugarless chewing gum from the Wrigley Company.

Since 2015, Mars Wrigley held 25 percent of the global brand share for chewing gum and a 40 percent hold in the U.S. Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted gum's most prominent players and could negatively impact Mars Wrigley gum brands' future.

Wrigley, whose net worth is $2.9 billion according to Forbes, also has a mansion in Palm Beach.