When William Wrigley entered the industry in 1891, he first targeted women. Baking soda went into their pockets by gifting them with chewing gum and saying that chewing gum would tighten the face.
World chewing gum giant Wrigley was founded in the 19th century by William Wrigley. Fleeing from Philadelphia to New York, Wrigley had to sleep on the streets for a while. Wrigley then went to Chicago, where he sold soap and baking soda. He started giving two packs of chewing gum as gifts with baking powder. When chewing gum became more popular, it only sold this product. After a short time, he started to produce his own chewing gum. Wrigley, who developed his company between 1893 and 1923, opened the company to the public on this date.
Wrigleys pushes the limits of creativity in advertising, saying that Eskimo women have healthy teeth because they chew on their husbands' shoes, and women who chew gum will also strengthen their teeth. (It is true that Eskimo women chew their husbands' shoes at night to soften them.)
William Mills Wrigley Jr. (September 30, 1861 – January 26, 1932) was an American chewing gum industrialist. He was founder of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1891. His great-grandson, William Wrigley Jr. II, is the executive chairman and former CEO of the Wrigley Company. Wrigley was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2000.
April 2008
Berkshire Hathaway, the company of Warren Buffett, which is ranked second in the list of the world's richest people by the US confectionery giant Mars and Forbes magazine, announced that it has purchased the legendary US chewing gum producer Wrigley for $ 23 billion.
Under the deal, Wrigley's shareholders will receive $80 in cash per share. The transaction will be financed by Berkshire Hathaway, investment banks Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase. Berkshire Hathaway will make a minority equity investment in Wrigley. Based in Virginia, Mars produces Uncle Bens rice as well as Snickers, M&M and Dove branded confectionery. The Chicago-based company Wrigley manufactures gum and candies such as Doublemint and Life Savers.
Wrigley, which makes the majority of its sales outside the USA, has also expanded its offerings outside of the gum in recent years. Mars is the largest chocolate producer in the world in terms of sales. As of 2008, it has a market share of 15%. Wrigley, which produces chewing gums such as Orbit and Airwaves, with sales of $5.4 billion last year, will become a subsidiary of Mars.