Wrigley To Sell Caffeinated Chewing Gum - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 03-08-2013, 02:25 AM

[url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/money/Wrigley-to-sell-caffeinated-chewing-gum/-/1735962/19240680/-/gpr1bmz/-/index.html

Wrigley To Sell Caffeinated Chewing Gum
Gum will be equivalent of about half a cup of coffee

Author: By Chris Isidore
Posted: Mar 8, 2013 1:39 PM CST Updated: Mar 8, 2013 2:05 PM CST

Wrigley

New York (CNNMoney) - Hey caffeine addicts: Your morning just got a little easier. Next month, Wrigley will start selling a caffeinated gum with the equivalent of about half a cup of coffee. Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, Wrigley's effort to tap into the growing market for energy drinks, will be sold in convenience stores and food and drug retailers. It's not the first caffeinated chewing gum, but it'll be the first with Wrigley's brand and marketing strength behind it. No other caffeine gum has wide distribution.

The gum comes in packs of eight, is sugar free, and will be available in fruit or mint flavors. At $2.99, it's pricier than most gums, but cheaper than an energy drink or Starbucks coffee. Energy drinks have become a much hotter product than chewing gum. According to Euromonitor International, a global market research firm, U.S. gum sales are down 3.8% since 2008, while sales of energy drinks are up 41% during the same period. Wrigley's sales make up more than half the gum market, according to Euromonitor.

"Wrigley is focused on restoring gum category health, and that means creating functional and 'occasion-based' reasons to chew, bringing relevance back to gum," said a statement from the company. Wrigley is a unit of candy company Mars, the nation's third largest privately held company. The company said it intends to market the gum to consumers age 25 and older. A warning label on the back says it's "not recommended for children." Roland Griffins, a professor at Johns Hopkins medical school who has done research on the impact of energy drinks, said there is reason to be concerned about children having easier access to caffeine.

"It doesn't seem like a good idea," he said. "To the extent that this makes caffeine more readily available to children, it's a potential concern." In October, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against energy drink maker Monster Beverage after a 14-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest. The suit charges she had two of the drinks in the 24 hours before her death. The Food and Drug Administration has also started a probe into whether there are deaths tied to another energy drink, Five Hour Energy.

Wrigley spokeswoman Jennifer Luth said everything about the gum, from its price to its more bitter taste, is likely to make it unattractive to children or teen consumers. The company is also urging retailers to display it with energy drinks, not gum. "There's nothing we can do to prevent people from selling it to children," she said. "But we've done everything we can so it's not a product for children or teens. It is absolutely designed for adults who are already using caffeine for energy."

CNN's Amanda Hobor contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved.

Family Ties Forever! · 03-09-2013, 07:32 AM

I wonder what people will think of it. I don't like gum. I can't imagine having a piece of gum and it having the equivalent of half a cup of coffee in it.

MrCleveland · 03-09-2013, 09:39 AM

I may try the gum

You_Rang · 03-09-2013, 09:45 AM

Just the thing for finals.

PZelda · 03-09-2013, 09:48 AM

I'd try it. There are many days when I'm at work where I could use another cup of coffee, but my job position isn't really ideal for it (I work in the backroom). Sometimes I can walk off to the lounge to get some coffee and bring it back with me, but eh. Gum would work best. Plus I wouldn't have to go pee every 30 minutes.

shotzette · 03-09-2013, 11:55 AM

A coffee jolt without coffee breath? This could be a good thing...

Penny Lane · 03-09-2013, 01:53 PM

I'd rather have coffee thank you!

catlover79 · 03-09-2013, 02:51 PM

I think I'll pass!!!

JamesG · 03-09-2013, 03:02 PM

If I come across it I guess I'll try the mint one since I don't care for fruit-flavored gum.

sara · 03-11-2013, 02:27 AM

They are not the first company to have this. I bought some over a year ago, I'm pretty sure it was called Amp energy gum. I had to get used to the taste, but I really did notice being less tired. The Military has had caffinated gum for years.

JamesG · 03-13-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

The Military has had caffinated gum for years.

Yeah, I have them in the MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) that I have stored for emergency. Each pack comes w/ 2 of them.

You ever try military chocolate? It's nasty!

03-08-2013, 02:25 AM	#1
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	Wrigley To Sell Caffeinated Chewing Gum [url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/money/Wrigley-to-sell-caffeinated-chewing-gum/-/1735962/19240680/-/gpr1bmz/-/index.html Wrigley To Sell Caffeinated Chewing Gum Gum will be equivalent of about half a cup of coffee Author: By Chris Isidore Posted: Mar 8, 2013 1:39 PM CST Updated: Mar 8, 2013 2:05 PM CST Wrigley New York (CNNMoney) - Hey caffeine addicts: Your morning just got a little easier. Next month, Wrigley will start selling a caffeinated gum with the equivalent of about half a cup of coffee. Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, Wrigley's effort to tap into the growing market for energy drinks, will be sold in convenience stores and food and drug retailers. It's not the first caffeinated chewing gum, but it'll be the first with Wrigley's brand and marketing strength behind it. No other caffeine gum has wide distribution. The gum comes in packs of eight, is sugar free, and will be available in fruit or mint flavors. At $2.99, it's pricier than most gums, but cheaper than an energy drink or Starbucks coffee. Energy drinks have become a much hotter product than chewing gum. According to Euromonitor International, a global market research firm, U.S. gum sales are down 3.8% since 2008, while sales of energy drinks are up 41% during the same period. Wrigley's sales make up more than half the gum market, according to Euromonitor. "Wrigley is focused on restoring gum category health, and that means creating functional and 'occasion-based' reasons to chew, bringing relevance back to gum," said a statement from the company. Wrigley is a unit of candy company Mars, the nation's third largest privately held company. The company said it intends to market the gum to consumers age 25 and older. A warning label on the back says it's "not recommended for children." Roland Griffins, a professor at Johns Hopkins medical school who has done research on the impact of energy drinks, said there is reason to be concerned about children having easier access to caffeine. "It doesn't seem like a good idea," he said. "To the extent that this makes caffeine more readily available to children, it's a potential concern." In October, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against energy drink maker Monster Beverage after a 14-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest. The suit charges she had two of the drinks in the 24 hours before her death. The Food and Drug Administration has also started a probe into whether there are deaths tied to another energy drink, Five Hour Energy. Wrigley spokeswoman Jennifer Luth said everything about the gum, from its price to its more bitter taste, is likely to make it unattractive to children or teen consumers. The company is also urging retailers to display it with energy drinks, not gum. "There's nothing we can do to prevent people from selling it to children," she said. "But we've done everything we can so it's not a product for children or teens. It is absolutely designed for adults who are already using caffeine for energy." CNN's Amanda Hobor contributed to this report. Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved.
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03-09-2013, 09:39 AM	#3
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I may try the gum
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03-09-2013, 09:48 AM	#5
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I'd try it. There are many days when I'm at work where I could use another cup of coffee, but my job position isn't really ideal for it (I work in the backroom). Sometimes I can walk off to the lounge to get some coffee and bring it back with me, but eh. Gum would work best. Plus I wouldn't have to go pee every 30 minutes.
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

03-09-2013, 01:53 PM	#7
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,078	I'd rather have coffee thank you!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

03-09-2013, 02:51 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I think I'll pass!!!
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03-09-2013, 07:32 AM	#2
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	I wonder what people will think of it. I don't like gum. I can't imagine having a piece of gum and it having the equivalent of half a cup of coffee in it.

03-09-2013, 09:45 AM	#4
You_Rang Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2013 Location: a small town that I love Posts: 46	Just the thing for finals.

03-09-2013, 11:55 AM	#6
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	A coffee jolt without coffee breath? This could be a good thing...

03-09-2013, 03:02 PM	#9
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,058	If I come across it I guess I'll try the mint one since I don't care for fruit-flavored gum.

03-11-2013, 02:27 AM	#10
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	They are not the first company to have this. I bought some over a year ago, I'm pretty sure it was called Amp energy gum. I had to get used to the taste, but I really did notice being less tired. The Military has had caffinated gum for years.
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