 |
1891
- 1910 |
|
 |
At 29, the
highly energetic and talented salesman, William Wrigley
Jr. arrives in Chicago with U.S. $32 in his pocket. |
|
Begins selling soap
with free baking powder as an incentive. When the baking
powder proves more popular than soap, he switches to
selling baking powder and offers free chewing gum as
an incentive instead. |
|
The gum proves even
more popular than the baking powder and a new company
is born. |
|
JUICY FRUIT, the first
brand in the Wrigley portfolio, (launched 1893). It
goes onto become the number one fruit gum brand in the
U.S and one of the most popular world wide. |
|
Followed just a few
months later by WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT (1893). |
|
|
1910
- 1920 |
|
|
As the popularity of
Wrigley's gum spreads, the company expands beyond the
domestic U.S. market. |
|
First factory outside the U.S. established
in Canada. |
|
Doublemint twins were 'born' in
the U.S in 1933 and became one of the world's best-selling
chewing gums. |
|
Factory established in Australia
(1915). |
|
|
1920
– 1940 |
|
|
The gleaming white Wrigley Building
constructed on the north bank of the Chicago River on
a site selected personally by William Wrigley Jr. (1920).
It becomes an icon for the city and is featured in countless
articles, books, films and TV programs including Frank
Sinatra's version of "My Kind of Town". |
|
Factory built in Great Britain (1927). |
|
Doublemint twins were 'born' in
the U.S in 1933 and became one of the most successful
and long lasting advertising campaigns ever developed
in America. |
|
Factory built in New Zealand (1939). |
|
|
1940
– 1970 |
|
|
The outbreak of war severely restricts availability
of quality ingredients needed for gum production. Rather
than see quality drop, the company president, Philip
Wrigley, removes WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT, DOUBLEMINT
and JUICY FRUIT gums from the civilian market. |
|
By 1944, the entire output of these brands was directed
to the U.S. Armed Forces overseas. |
|
The end of hostilities allows Wrigley to once again
purchase high-quality ingredients used in its established
brands. |
|
WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT and JUICY FRUIT gums return
to the market in 1946, followed by DOUBLEMINT in 1947.
Pre-war popularity soon recovered and exceeded. |
|
The company begins to focus on global expansion and
opens factories in Manila, Philippines (1965) and Biesheim,
France (1967). |
|
|
1970 - 1980 |
|
|
Factory opened in Nairobi, Kenya (1971). |
|
On June 26, 1974, in a Marsh Supermarket in Troy,
Ohio, a 67 cent, 10-pack of Wrigley's JUICY FRUIT gum
becomes the first ever product sold using barcode scanning.
|
|
Freedent was introduced in 1976 as the first non-stick
alternative in chewing gum. |
|
Factory constructed in Taipei, Taiwan (1978). |
| |
|
1980 - 2000 |
| |
|
|
Wrigley's first sugarfree gum, EXTRA, launched in
the U.S. (1984). Within five years it becomes the #1
sugarfree gum! |
|
Factories opened in Guangzhou, China (1991); Bangalore,
India (1994); Poznan, Poland (1996); St. Petersburg,
Russia (1999). |
|
AIRWAVES Menthol Eucalyptus introduced in Europe (1998) |
|
ECLIPSE gum, Wrigley’s first icy cool, breath
freshening gum with a minty coating is launched (1999). |
|
|
2000 - today |
|
|
AIRWAVES was launched in Australia & New Zealand
in 2000 |
|
EXTRA White was launched in Australia & New Zealand
in 2001 |
|
The gum market was rated as amongst the top 20 fastest
growing packaged goods categories in Australian Supermarkets
in 2000 & 2001 by AC Nielsen |
|
HUBBA BUBBA Bubble Tape was launched in Australia
& New Zealand 2003 |
|
EXTRA Professional gum & EXTRA Drops were launched
in Australia & New Zealand in 2004 |
|
