PÜR Gum facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Health Food, Chewing Gum, Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Jay Klein |
| Headquarters | , |
|
Number of locations
|
30,000 locations in over 25 countries |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Products | Aspartame-Free Chewing Gum |
| Revenue | $10 million - 20 million |
PUR Gum is a popular brand of chewing gum. It's special because it doesn't have aspartame, a type of sugar substitute. Jay Klein started The PUR Company Inc. in 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Even though it's a Canadian company, PUR gum and mints are made in Switzerland. You can find them in over 25 countries around the world and online stores like Amazon. The company's fun slogan is "Kick Aspartame," showing they offer products without sugar or aspartame.
Contents
How PUR Gum Started
In 2010, a business person named Jay Klein had an idea. He wanted to make a chewing gum that was good for everyone. This meant it had to be vegan, gluten-free, and free from nuts, soy, and other common allergens. Most importantly, it had to be free of aspartame.
The gum he created, PUR Gum, uses natural sweeteners. It doesn't have any extra chemicals or additives. It's also non-GMO, meaning it's made without genetically modified ingredients.
Klein chose to sweeten the gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol. This makes PUR Gum a good choice for people with diabetes. It's also safe for pregnant women and those with food sensitivities. Anyone wanting to avoid chemicals can enjoy it too.
Growing the Business
Jay Klein started selling PUR Gum in the Toronto area first. He went door-to-door, almost like running for mayor! Soon, the company grew. They started selling across Canada and in big cities in the United States. They looked for "health hubs," which are places where many people buy healthy food.
PUR Gum became really popular after airport duty-free shops started selling it. This helped the brand become known all over the world. Its popularity spread quickly through airports and other places. The number of countries where PUR Gum was sold grew from three to more than 25!
Appearing on Dragon's Den
In 2014, PUR Gum was featured on a TV show called Dragon's Den. This show is where entrepreneurs ask investors for money. Jay Klein asked for $1 million for 10% of his company. This meant he valued his company at $10 million.
Three of the "Dragons" (investors) offered deals. Jay Klein accepted an offer from Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson.
Fast Growth and New Flavors
In 2016, The PUR Company became one of Canada's fastest-growing companies. It was the 10th fastest-growing company in Canada. It was also the 4th fastest-growing company in Toronto. The company's income grew by a huge 5,496 percent over five years!
On a list called Profit 500 in 2016, The PUR Company was ranked #10 overall. It was also ranked #1 in the Manufacturing and Distributing category.
In 2016, the company also launched two new flavors. These were Bubblegum and Chocolate Mint.
Products
PUR Gum makes both chewing gum and mints. All their products are free of aspartame.
- Chewing Gum
- Cinnamon
- Coolmint
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Wintergreen
- Pomegranate Mint
- Chocolate Mint
- Bubblegum
- Mints
- Mojito Lime Mint
- Peppermint
- Polar Mint
- Spearmint
- Tangerine Tango
