Ford Gum facts for kids

Ford Gum is a well-known American brand that makes both bubble gum and chewing gum. You often find their colorful gumballs in gum machines! The company, Ford Gum & Machine Co., has been around for a long time.

It all started in 1913 when a person named Ford Mason rented out 102 gum machines. He placed these machines in different stores and shops across New York City. A fun fact about their gumballs is that even though they have many different flavors on the outside, the flavor inside is always the same! Ford Gum also makes square-shaped gum pieces, often called "chiclets," which come in the same colors and flavors as their gumballs.

A Bit of History

The Ford Gum company has an interesting history with some changes over the years.

Early Days and Growth

The company began with those 102 gum machines in New York City. Over time, it grew to become a major name in the gum industry.

A Famous Connection

In 1962, a manager at Ford Gum named Thomas E. Conner met the family of Nancy Reagan. He asked Ronald Reagan, who later became a US President, to help promote Ford Gum. Reagan kindly agreed to record a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for them. A PSA is a message shared with the public to raise awareness or promote something good, often for free.

Company Changes Over Time

Ford Gum has been part of bigger companies and then became independent again.

• In 1985, a company called Leaf bought Ford Gum.
• Later, in 1996, Hershey bought Leaf's American businesses.
• But just one year after that, in 1997, the managers of Ford Gum bought the company back. This is called a "management buyout," meaning the people running the company bought it from the larger owner.

Ford Gum Today

Today, Ford Gum and Machine Co. has its main office in Akron, New York. They also have a sales office in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Ford Gum is special because it's the only big company that makes gumballs in the United States. Their main competitors, like Tootsie Roll (which makes Dubble Bubble) and SweetWorks, make their gumballs in Canada.

What Ford Gum Makes

Ford Gum makes many different kinds of gum products.

Carousel Gumballs

Ford Gum owns the name "Carousel." They make and sell many types of gumballs and even toy gumball machines under the Carousel brand. They were also the first company to make and sell sugar-free gumballs! Carousel gumballs come in many flavors, sizes, and colors.

Other Products

Besides their own brands, Ford Gum also makes gum and mints for other companies. This is called "private label" manufacturing.

Big League Chew

In 2010, Ford Gum bought the rights to make Big League Chew from Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. They started making this popular shredded bubble gum in November of that year.

Kosher Certification

As of 2015, most of Ford Gum's products are certified Kosher. This means they follow special food rules from Jewish law. The certification is done by the Buffalo Vaad HaKashrus (BVK) under the guidance of Rabbi Moshe Taub.