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 and adding products to compete in new market segments.

“Ford Gum will now focus on four market segments,” explains Steve Gold, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing. “The Ford Distributor Network, Private Label Gum, Retail, and the Health Market.”

“The Ford Distributor Network will continue to maintain its exclusive network for servicing vending machines in the charity trade,” says Gold. “Ford Gum is one of the only US-based manufacturers capable of producing a wide variety of ball and tablet gums. That means that in addition to providing gum for the traditional gum and confectionery category, we can also produce gum with a variety of value-added properties. This includes gum with vitamin supplements, oral hygiene ingredients, weight loss products, anti-smoking agents, motion sickness, etc. Ford Gum is licensed by the FDA to administer controlled substances on gum.”

“In the retail market, Ford Gum will continue in the gum novelty category under the Carousel Brand. We will also be expanding into the more traditional gum and confectionery category with several new products that will be launched in 1998.

“Ford Gum has also moved into the health market with our Ford Xtreme branded products,” adds Gold. “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 specifically for the health market.”

Ford Gum debuted its first products for the health market on February 1, 1998. Ford Xtreme Xylitol Gum is available in Peppermint, Spearmint and Cinnamon and is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sweetener endorsed by European Dental Community for its dental benefits. Ford Xtreme Vitamin - C Gum contains 60mg of Vitamin C per ball, which is 100% of the USRDA requirement. Both products are sugarfree and have no artificial colors or flavors. The products are marketed toward active, health-conscious consumers.