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, is expanding its core business by launching new products specifically for the health market. The initial products to debut will be Ford Xtreme Xylitol Gum and Ford Xtreme Vitamin - C Gum. Both products will roll-out on February 1, 1998.

Ford Gum is licensed by the FDA to administer controlled substances on gum. This includes gum with vitamin supplements, oral hygiene ingredients, weight loss products, anti-smoking agents, motion sickness, etc.

“Ford Gum is moving into the health market with our Ford Xtreme branded products,” explains Steve Gold, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing. “We’ve been manufacturing products for the health market for years, but we are now launching products directly to the health food industry under the new Ford Xtreme brand. This will include all natural products for oral hygiene and vitamin supplements. A new line of colorful, bold Ford Xtreme blister packs have been developed.”

“Ford Xtreme Xylitol Gum is available in three flavors “Peppermint, Spearmint and Cinnamon,” adds Gold. “All three are sugarfree, have no artificial flavors or colors, and are predominantly sweetened xylitol, a natural sweetener, which has been endorsed by six European Dental Organizations for it’s dental benefits. The gum is marketed toward active, health-conscious consumers. It is packed 12 display boxes of 24 consumer units per master case. Each consumer unit is individually sealed in a blister pack for freshness. The suggested retail price is $0.99.

“Ford Xtreme Vitamin-C Gum is sugarfree, has no artificial colors or flavors and contains 60mg of Vitamin - C per ball, which is 100% of the USRDA requirement. The gum is individually wrapped, and packed six display boxes of 120 pieces per master case. Suggested retail price is $0.25 per ball.”