AKRON, NY — Ford Gum & Machine Company, Inc., leading manufacturer and distributor of premium gum/confectionery products including the full line of Carousel brand Gumballs and Machines/Dispensers, has unveiled a new corporate logo and redesigned its Carousel brand packaging for the gumball machine line as well as gumball refill program.

“The dynamic new designs are an extension of the new philosophy of the Ford Gum & Machine Company,” explains Steve Gold, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing. “And we will be taking this ideology directly to the marketplace. Ford Gum will now focus on four market segments. The Ford Distributor Network, Private Label Gum, Retail, and the Health Market. This means an expansion of our core business and adding products to compete in new market segments. Specific plans will be announced very shortly”

Ford Gum & Machine Company, Inc., was acquired in June, 1997 from Hershey Foods Corporation in a management buyout by former members of the Ford Gum and Carousel brand management teams. Ford Gum and Carousel had been divisions of Leaf, Inc., until Hershey Foods purchased Leaf in 1996. Carousel branded products have also been incorporated into the new Ford Gum business. Carousel products include gum/snack machines and gum balls for in-home use which are sold through catalogs and retail chains, including a line of Disney licensed dispensers and gum.

Ford Gum corporate headquarters and manufacturing will continue to be based in Akron, NY., a suburb of Buffalo. The company has opened a sales and marketing office in Vernon Hills, IL.

The new Ford Gum management team consists of: George Stege, President, Steve Gold, Sr. Vice President Sales & Marketing, Steve Greene, Vice President Sales, John Kennelly, Sr. Vice President Finance, Warren Clark, Vice President Research & Development. All five members of the management team have extensive knowledge of the gum, candy and confectioner business having been long time employees of Leaf.

Ford Gum was founded in 1917 as Ford Vending Machine Company. The company began manufacturing gum in 1934 and established an exclusive distributor network of penny gumball machines affiliated with local and national charity organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions Club and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The company has been owned by Ford S. Mason, founder, Automatic Services, Leaf, Inc., and Hershey Foods.

The Carousel brand of gumballs and machines was introduced in 1952 for the home market. Carousel was acquired by Leaf, Inc., in 1990 and became part of Ford Gum in June, 1997, under the management buyout. Disney licensed products will continue to be produced under the Carousel brand.