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{{Short description|American candy and gum company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
| logo = The Wrigley Company logo. 2012.svg
| logo_size = 200
| image = Wrigley GIC 20100629.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = Wrigley Global Innovation Center in Chicago
| fate   = Acquired by [[Mars, Inc.]] in 2008 <ref name=foodm/>
| type   = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1891|4|1}}<br>Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| founder = [[William Wrigley Jr.]]
| hq_location_city = Global Innovation Center, [[Goose Island (Chicago)]], [[Illinois]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Andrew Clarke (global president)|[[William Wrigley Jr. II]] (former chairman)}}
| industry = [[food industry|Food]]
| revenue = {{profit}} $5.389 billion
| revenue_year = 2007
| net_income = {{profit}} $961.9&nbsp;million
| net_income_year = 2009
| num_employees = 16,000
| parent = [[Mars Inc.]] (2008–present)
| products = [[Bubble gum|Bubble]] and [[Chewing gum|chewing]] gum<br>[[Confectionery]]
| brands  = [[Wrigley Company#Brands|(see below)]] 
| subsid   = [[A. Korkunov]]<br>(2007–present)<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/business/worldbusiness/24iht-wrigley.4323681.html Wm. Wrigley Jr. acquires chocolate company] on ''The New York Times''. 24 Jan 2007</ref>
| location = 
| website   =  
}}

'''Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company''',<ref>{{Cite web |date=1927-10-18 |title=Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_de/224524 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=[[OpenCorporates]]}}</ref> also known as '''Wrigley Company''' or simply '''Wrigley's''', is an American multinational [[candy]] and [[chewing gum]] company, based in the Global Innovation Center (GIC) in [[Goose Island (Chicago)|Goose Island]], Chicago, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/global-innovation-center.aspx| title= Global Innovation Center| publisher= Wrigley Company| access-date= July 5, 2012}}</ref> Founded in 1891, it is currently the largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum in the world.<ref>{{cite web |year=2006 |title=Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Wm._Wrigley_Jr._Company.aspx |access-date=January 6, 2017 |website=International Directory of Company Histories |publisher=Thomson Gale; republished online at Encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Channick |first=Robert |date=September 8, 2013 |title=With teens chewing less, gum manufacturers change ad strategies |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/09/08/with-teens-chewing-less-gum-manufacturers-change-ad-strategies/ |access-date=January 6, 2017 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jargon |first=Julie |date=February 11, 2013 |title=An Orange Crème Pop Gum? Folks Just Aren't Chewing It |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323511804578298211359184812 |access-date=January 6, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> 

For almost a century, the Wrigley Company continously marketed three brands of gum: [[Wrigley's Spearmint]], [[Doublemint]], and [[Juicy Fruit]]. Since the late 20th century, it has expanded and created multiple more brands.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2004 |title=THE GOODS; Wrigley's Second Chance to Smile |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/business/the-goods-wrigley-s-second-chance-to-smile.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190811214259/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/business/the-goods-wrigley-s-second-chance-to-smile.html |archive-date=2019-08-11 |access-date=2025-10-08 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> Wrigley's became a [[subsidiary]] of [[Mars Inc.]] in 2008,<ref name=foodm>[https://www.foodbev.com/news/mars-wrigley-merger-win-win-for-all-parties Mars-Wrigley merger win-win for all parties] on Food Bev, 28 Apr 2008</ref> and, along with Mars chocolate bars and other candy products, makes up "Mars Wrigley Confectionery".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mars-wrigley-andrew-clarke-20190124-story.html |title=With zany Super Bowl stunts and innovative M&Ms, Mars Wrigley tries to stand out in a crowded candy aisle |last=Elejalde-Ruiz |first=Alexia |date=January 31, 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=February 3, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The company currently sells its products in over 180 countries and districts, operates in over 50 countries, and has 21 production facilities in 14 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/worldwide-locations.aspx|title=Wrigley Worldwide Locations|website=Wrigley.com }}</ref>

== History ==
[[file:William_Wrigley,_Jr.jpg|thumb|left|150px|William Wrigley Jr., the founder of the Wrigley company]]
The company was founded on April 1, 1891, in Chicago, Illinois by [[William Wrigley Jr.]] Wrigley's gum was traditionally made out of [[chicle]], sourced largely from Central America. In 1952, in response to [[Decree 900]], land reforms attempting to end feudal working conditions for peasant farmers in [[Guatemala]], Wrigley's discontinued purchasing chicle from that country.

Wrigley's announced the closure of its [[Santa Cruz, California]] manufacturing plant in April 1996. The plant had been built in 1955. The 385,000-square-foot manufacturing facility was put on the market in October 1996 for US$11.3&nbsp;million, or about $30 a square foot.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Wrigley-s-Move-Hard-to-Swallow-2984211.php|title=Wrigley's Move Hard to Swallow|date=May 1, 1996|work=SFGate|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/1996/10/28/story4.html|title=Wrigley Santa Cruz plant for sale|work=Silicon Valley Business Journal|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref>

[[file:Wrigley Building - Chicago, Illinois.JPG |thumb|left|170px|The [[Wrigley Building]], company's headquarters until 2011]]
In 2005, Wrigley purchased [[Life Savers]] and [[Altoids]] from [[Kraft Foods]] for US$1.5&nbsp;billion.<ref name="heritage">[http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/heritage-timeline.aspx "Heritage Timeline"], Wrigley Company. Retrieved on September 25, 2012.</ref> On January 23, 2007, Wrigley signed a purchase agreement to acquire an 80% initial interest in Russian chocolatier [[A. Korkunov]] for $300&nbsp;million with the remaining 20% to be acquired over time.<ref>{{cite news |title=German chocolatier retreats from Russia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/business/worldbusiness/14iht-ritter.4.10059730.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 4, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref> On April 28, 2008, [[Mars, Incorporated]] announced that it would acquire Wrigley for approximately $23&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120935192240148985?mod=hps_us_whats_news |title=Mars, Buffett Team Up in Wrigley Bid|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal| date=April 27, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008| first1=Matthew| last1=Karnitschnig| first2=Dennis K.| last2=Berman}}</ref> The sale price represented a significant premium to Wm. Wrigley Jr.’s market capitalization, which stood at $17.3 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |title=Mars to Buy Wrigley’s for $23 Billion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/28gum-web.html |work=The New York Times |date=April 28, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref> Financing for the transaction was provided by [[Berkshire Hathaway]], [[Goldman Sachs]], and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan]]; Berkshire Hathaway held a minority equity investment in Wrigley until October 2016, when Mars took full control over the company.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://fortune.com/2016/10/06/mars-buffett-wrigley-deal/ | title= Mars Inks Deal With Warren Buffett For Full Control of Wrigley| first= John |last= Kell| date= October 6, 2016| access-date= January 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1261XK| date= October 6, 2016 |title= Mars Inc buying out Buffett stake in Wrigley| first1= Jonathan| last1= Stempel| first2= Gayathree | last2= Ganesan | website= Reuters.com| access-date= January 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="d676">{{cite web | last=de la Merced | first=Michael J.  | title=Mars Cashes Out Warren Buffett to Take Control of Wrigley | website=The New York Times | date=2016-10-06 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/business/dealbook/mars-wrigley-warren-buffett.html | access-date=2024-10-30}}</ref><ref name="t262">{{cite web | last=Mohamed | first=Theron | title=Warren Buffett shelled out $6.5 billion to help Mars buy Wrigley during the financial crisis. Here's how he made the candy deal happen. | website=Markets Insider | date=2023-01-28 | url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-spent-billions-help-mars-buy-wrigley-2008-crisis-2020-7-1029366581 | access-date=2024-10-30}}</ref>

The [[Wrigley Building]] on [[Michigan Avenue (Chicago)|Michigan Avenue]], a landmark on Chicago's [[Magnificent Mile]], was the company's global headquarters until 2011, when it was sold to an investor group that included Zeller Realty Group as well as [[Groupon]] co-founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/19/wrigley-building-sold-gro_n_970630.html|title=Wrigley Building Sold, Groupon Cofounders Among Buyers|date=September 19, 2011|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref> The company has been headquartered in the GIC since 2012.

In 2016, Mars announced that Wrigley would be merged with its chocolate segment, Mars Chocolate North America, LLC, to form a new subsidiary, Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The new company would maintain global offices in Chicago, while moving its U.S. offices to [[Hackettstown, New Jersey|Hackettstown]] and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], New Jersey.

In May 2021, the company filed a lawsuit against five companies for marketing cannabis-infused edibles that closely resembled its Skittles, Starburst, and Life Savers brands.<ref>{{cite news |last=Safronova |first=Valeriya |title=Big Candy Is Angry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/22/style/edibles-marijuana.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 22, 2021 |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref> On October 16, 2023, Judge John W. Holcomb approved a final judgment by consent in the case between Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and Green Rush Extracts LLC. The defendants agreed to a permanent injunction and significant monetary remedies for willful trademark infringement and counterfeiting.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company v. Roberto Conde et al |vol=5:2021cv00777 |reporter=Document 122 |pinpoint= |court=C.D. Cal. |date=October 16, 2023 |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/5:2021cv00777/819310/122/ |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>

==Corporate leadership==

===1891–1932: William Wrigley Jr.===
[[File:Wrigley’s gum ad spearmint juicy fruit doublemint.jpg|thumb|180px|Advertisement for three flavors of Wrigley's chewing gum (1920)]]
In 1891, 29-year-old William Wrigley Jr. (1861–1932) came to Chicago from [[Philadelphia]] with $32 and the idea to start a business selling Wrigley's Scouring Soap.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pepj7wZs-JEC&q=Wrigley+chewing+gum+in+1891&pg=PA66|title=The 1900s|last=Batchelor|first=Bob|date=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313313349|language=en}}</ref> Wrigley offered premiums as an incentive to buy his soap, such as baking powder. Later in his career, he switched to the baking powder business, in which he began offering two packages of chewing gum for each purchase of a can of baking powder. The popular premium, chewing gum, began to seem more promising, prompting another switch in product focus. Wrigley also became the majority owner of the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 1921.

===1932–1961: Philip K. Wrigley===
After William Wrigley Jr. died, his son Philip K. Wrigley (1894–1977) assumed his father's position as CEO of the Wrigley Company. Wrigley is most well known for his unusual move to support US troops and protect the reputation of the Wrigley brand during World War II, in which he dedicated the entire output of Wrigley's Spearmint, Doublemint, and Juicy Fruit to the US Armed Forces. Wrigley launched the "Remember this Wrapper" ad campaign to keep the Wrigley brands on the minds of the customers during times of wartime rationing.<ref name=heritage /> Wrigley's P.K. brand was named after P.K. Wrigley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrigley.com/aunz/contact-us/product-faq.aspx|work=Wrigley|title=FAQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122191338/http://www.wrigley.com/aunz/contact-us/product-faq.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>

===1961–1999: William Wrigley III===
In 1961, Philip K. Wrigley handed control to his son, William Wrigley III (1933–1999). Wrigley led a strategic global expansion by establishing Wrigley facilities in nine new countries.<ref name=heritage /> On June 26, 1974, a [[Marsh Supermarkets|Marsh Supermarket]] in [[Troy, Ohio|Troy]], [[Ohio]] installed the first [[bar code]] scanning equipment. The first product to be scanned using a [[Universal Product Code]] (UPC) bar code was a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum.<ref>Bellis, Mary. [https://archive.today/20120710080506/http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/Bar-Codes.htm "Bar Codes"], Inventors, About.com Guide, September 26, 2012.</ref> (This pack of gum is now on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Museum of American History]].) In 1984, Wrigley introduced a new gum, Extra, which followed the new trend of sugar-free gums in the US.<ref name=heritage /> Wrigley also assumed control of the Chicago Cubs after his father's death in 1977, and sold the team to the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' in 1981.

===1999–2006: William Wrigley IV===
William "Beau" Wrigley IV (1963–), following the death of Wrigley III (his father), led the sugar-free gum campaign across Europe, Australia, Spain, India, and China.<ref name=heritage /> In 2005, Kraft Foods sold the Life Savers and Altoids businesses to Wrigley in exchange for $1.5&nbsp;billion as part of a reorganization plan.<ref>Warner, Melanie. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/business/16wrigley.html?_r=0 "Kraft Foods Will Sell Altoids and Life Savers to Wrigley"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 16, 2004. accessed September 26, 2012.</ref> Wrigley helped establish the Wrigley Science Institute (WSI) in 2006 to study the oral health benefits of gum chewing. The WSI investigates the effects of gum chewing on weight management, stress relief, concentration, and oral health.<ref name=heritage />

===2006–2008: William Perez===
On October 23, 2006, William D. Perez (1948–) succeeded Bill Wrigley as CEO, becoming the first person outside the Wrigley family to head the company. In 2007, the company debuted 5 Gum in the United States. The 5 Gum brand was marketed using cinematic TV commercials portraying "How it feels to chew 5 Gum." Perez led the efforts of improving slimmer packaging (Slim Pack) with flavor improvements across both Extra and Wrigley brands.<ref name=heritage />

===2008–2011: Dushan "Duke" Petrovich===
Dushan Petrovich (1954–) succeeded Perez almost immediately after Mars, Incorporated's 2008 purchase of Wrigley. In 2009, Wrigley's Global Innovation Center received the [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] Gold Certification through Wrigley's commitment to global sustainability. In the [[2010 Olympic Games]] in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wrigley was the Official Confectionery Supplier of the games, in which the company sported Olympic-themed packs and products.<ref name=heritage />

===2011–2017: Martin Radvan===
Martin Radvan became the president of the Wrigley Company after Petrovich. He is responsible for the company's worldwide strategy, operations, and business performance.<ref>[http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/leadership.aspx "Leadership"], Wrigley Company, September 26, 2012.</ref>

=== 2017 to present: Andrew Clarke ===
{{Empty section|date=January 2024}}

==Subsidiaries==
* The Wrigley Company Limited
* Amurol Confections Company
* Northwestern Flavors, LLC

==Brands==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2019}}

===Gum===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
'''United States'''
* [[Juicy Fruit]] (1893)
* [[Wrigley's Spearmint|Spearmint]] (1893)
* [[Doublemint]] (1914)
* [[Freedent]] (1975)
* [[Big Red (gum)|Big Red]] (1975)
* [[Orbit (gum)|Orbit]] (1976)
* [[Hubba Bubba]] (1979)
* [[Extra (gum)|Extra]] (1984)
* [[Winterfresh]] (1994){{refn|Reintroduced 2001.|group=n|name=orbit}}
* [[Eclipse (breath freshener)|Eclipse]] (2001)
* [[5 (gum)|5]] (2007)
{{Col-3}}
'''Canada'''
* [[5 (gum)|5]]
* [[Doublemint]]
* [[Excel (gum)|Excel]]
* Excel Mist
* Excel White
* [[Extra (gum)|Extra]]
* Extra Professional
* Extra Professional White
* [[Hubba Bubba]]
* [[Juicy Fruit]]
* [[Freedent]]
{{col-3}}
{{multiple image
| total_width       = 220
| perrow            = 1,2
| image1            = Mars Wrigleys deutschePackung 15Stk.jpg
| image2            = Orbit gum exhibited.jpg
| image3            = Doublemint chewing gum.jpg
| footer            = Fltr: Wrigley's Spearmint, Orbit, and Doublemint gums
}}
{{Col-end}}

'''The Wrigley Company Ltd., Estover, Plymouth, UK'''
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
* [[Airwaves (gum)|Airwaves]]
* [[Hubba Bubba]]
* [[Doublemint]]
* [[Extra (gum)|Extra]]
* [[Altoids]]
{{col-3}}
* [[Juicy Fruit]]
* [[Tunes (confectionery)|Tunes]]
* [[rondo (confectionery)|Rondo]] {{refn|A mint flavored candy brand owned by Wrigley Company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/favourite-croatian-candies/|title=Favourite Croatian Candies &#124; Croatia Week|date=March 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Advertising Red Books |publisher=LexisNexis |issue=v. 2 |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gHkrAQAAMAAJ |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref> It was, prior to 2008, a brand of parent company [[Mars Incorporated]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mars-shifts-confectionery-brands-wrigley/851748|title=Mars shifts confectionery brands to Wrigley|website=www.campaignlive.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |year=1999 |title=Manufacturing Confectioner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fMOYubfUU9sC |language=es |issue=v. 79 |page=28 |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>|group=n|name=rond}}
* [[Wrigley's Spearmint]]
* [[Lockets]]
{{col-3}}
{{multiple image
| total_width       = 300
| perrow            = 
| image1            = Wrigley's Extra (North America).jpg
| image2            = Wrigleys Airwaves 2009.JPG
| footer            = Wrigley's Extra (left) and Airwaves gums
}}
{{Col-end}}

'''Additional products and brands'''
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
* [[Altoids]]
* Big Boy
* Big G
* [[Big League Chew]] {{refn|Until November 2010.|group=n|name=bigleag}}
* Boomer
* [[Bubble Tape]]
* Cool Air
* [[Eclipse (breath freshener)|Eclipse]]
* [[Excel (gum)|Excel]]
* [[Hubba Bubba]]
* [[Life Savers]] {{refn|Including the ''Minis'' and ''Fusion'' typs.|group=n|name=variant}}
{{Col-3}}
* Gummi Savers 
* Creme Savers 
* PimPom
* P.K.
* [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]]
* Solano
* [[Starburst (candy)|Starburst]]
* [[Sugus]]
* [[Lockets]]
* TaTa
* [[Tunes (confectionery)|Tunes]]
{{col-3}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 2 
| image1 = Altoids mints.jpg
| image2 = Wrigley's Big League Chew bubble gum.JPG
| image3 = (Skittles) (M&M's).JPG
| image4 = Starburst-Candies.jpg
| footer = Fltr: Wrigley's Altoids, Big League Chew gums, and Skitties and Starbust candies
}}
{{Col-end}}

====Alpine Gum====
Alpine Gum was a gum made by [[Wrigley's]], and was only sold in Canada. It is an alternative to [[cough syrup]]. It cools the throat and relieves sore throat pain. Alpine was discontinued in 2005.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

====Alert Gum====
In 2013, Wrigley temporarily halted production and sales of its new [[Alert (gum)|Alert]] energy gum after the US [[Food and Drug Administration]] said it would investigate the safety of added caffeine in food products.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jalonick |first1=Mary Clare |title=APNewsBreak: Wrigley halts caffeinated gum |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/apnewsbreak-wrigley-halts-caffeinated-gum |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904234655/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/apnewsbreak-wrigley-halts-caffeinated-gum |archive-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=n}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Chicago|Illinois|Companies}}
* [[Wrigley Building]]
* [[Wrigley Field]]&mdash;Chicago
* [[Wrigley Field (Los Angeles)|Wrigley Field]]&mdash;Los Angeles
* [[USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies|Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies]]&mdash;[[Santa Catalina Island, California|Catalina Island]]
* [[Wrigley Rooftops]]
* [[Wrigley Square]]
* [[Lakeview, Chicago#Wrigleyville|Wrigleyville]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://rus.mars.com/en/made-by-mars/mars-wrigley Mars Wrigley] on Mars.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151130082417/http://www.wrigley.com/global/index.aspx Official website] (archived)
* [http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/11/11648.html Company profile] at Yahoo!
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020205043506/http://www.wrigley.com/wrigley/products/products_alpine.asp |date=February 5, 2002 |title=Alpine Throat Relief Gum}}
 
{{Wrigley}}
{{Mars brands}}
{{Illinois Corporations}}
{{Chicago Cubs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wrigley Company| ]]
[[Category:Mars, Incorporated]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1891]]
[[Category:Confectionery companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Chewing gum]]
[[Category:Irish-American history]]
[[Category:2008 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]