Industry | Health Food, Chewing Gum, Confectionery |
---|---|
Founded | 2010 |
Founder | Jay Klein |
Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 30,000 locations in over 25 countries |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | Aspartame-Free Chewing Gum |
Revenue | $10 million - 20 million [1] |
Website | thepurcompany |
PUR Gum is a brand of aspartame-free gum produced by The PUR Company Inc. and founded in 2010 by Jay Klein in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [2] [3] PUR gum and mints are manufactured in Switzerland, [3] distributed in Canada, and sold in over 25 countries worldwide. [4] PUR gum and mints are also sold through online outlets such as Amazon. [3] The PUR Company Inc. uses the slogan "Kick Aspartame" to promote their sugar-free and aspartame-free products. [3]
In 2010, entrepreneur Jay Klein aimed to create a chewing gum that was vegan, gluten-free, nut/soy-free, allergen-free, and aspartame-free. [5] The result was naturally sweetened PUR Gum that contains no additives or chemicals and is non-GMO. [3] [6] Klein decided to sweeten the chewing gum with xylitol so it would be a healthy choice for diabetics, pregnant women, people with dietary sensitivities, and any person seeking to avoid chemicals. [3] [6] [7]
Klein marketed his product first in the Greater Toronto Area by starting small and going door-to door, "running for mayor". [8] Then they expanded to the rest of Canada and major U.S. metropolitan areas, where “health hubs” – areas with significant markets for health food products – could be found. [9] However, PUR's popularity started to take off after a chain of airport duty-free shops started carrying the product, which made the brand gain international popularity that spread virally through airports and other channels. The number of international markets grew from three, to six, to ten, and then over 25. [9]
In 2014, PUR Gum made an appearance on CBC's Dragon's Den, asking for $1 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake, valuing the company at $10 million. Three Dragons made offers, and Jay Klein accepted an on-air deal with Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson. [10]
In 2016, The PUR Company became Canada's 10th Fastest-Growing Company and Toronto's 4th Fastest-Growing Company with 5-year revenue growth of 5,496 percent. [1] On the Profit 500 2016 list, The PUR Company ranked #10 overall and #1 in the Manufacturing and Distributing Category. [11]
Bubblegum and Chocolate Mint were the newest flavors that the company has launched in 2016. [2]
Jolt Cola was a carbonated soft drink produced by The Jolt Company, Inc.. The cola drink was created in 1985 by C. J. Rapp as a highly caffeinated beverage. It was targeted towards students and young professionals, stressing its use as a stimulant in a similar manner as energy drinks. Its slogan reads "All the sugar and twice the caffeine!"
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Tic Tac is a brand of small, hard mint manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero. They were first produced in 1969 and are now available in a variety of flavours in over 100 countries.
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The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, known as the Wrigley Company, is an American multinational candy and chewing gum company, based in the Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Goose Island, Chicago, Illinois.
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C. Howard Company, Inc., based in Bellport, New York, is the maker of Choward's Fine Mints and Gum. The company's flagship product is its unique hard square tablet "mint" (candy) with a distinct violet aroma and taste. Choward's candies are also available in lemon, spearmint, guava, and peppermint flavors.
Eclipse is a brand of chewing gum and breath mint, first introduced in the U.S. by the Wrigley Company in 1999 as its first entrant into the U.S. pellet gum segment. It was modeled after Excel in Canada, which was launched in 1991.
Freedent is a brand of chewing gum manufactured by Wrigley's. Freedent was first introduced in the US and UK in 1975 and is marketed as the gum that "won't stick to most dental work ." Freedent comes in eight flavors: Winterfresh, Peppermint, Spearmint, Bubble Gum, Fruit, Strawberry, Eucalyptus, and Blueberry. It also comes in two package sizes: single packs containing 15 sticks of gum, and multi-packs containing 8 packs of 5 sticks each. Sugar-free versions of Freedent are also available in several countries, including France.
Peppermint extract is a herbal extract of peppermint made from the essential oil of peppermint leaves. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint. The oil has been used for various purposes over centuries.
Certs was a brand of breath mint that was noted for the frequent use of "two mints in one" in its marketing. The original "classic mints" were disc-shaped without a hole and sold in roll packaging similar to Life Savers and Polo. Certs was one of the first mints to be nationally marketed in the United States and has been a fixture at American drug stores and convenience stores since its debut on the market in 1956. It was discontinued in 2018, possibly for having partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, which is not allowed as an ingredient in food sold in the United States since then.
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Stride is a brand of sugar-free chewing gum created by Cadbury, sold in packs of 14 pieces. It was introduced in May 2006.
Ice Breakers is a brand of mints and chewing gum owned by The Hershey Company.