Wrigley's Mr Kehoe says the next target for gum is gingivitis and gum disease.
Indeed, Wrigley's sales worldwide are up by almost 30% in its latest figures.
But the company developing the non-stick gum, Revolymer, believes the product could hit stores in less than a year--with or without the help of a major backer like Wrigley's or Cadbury.
Wrigley's new antacid gum, Surpass, launched in January, showed that gum coated with calcium carbonate relieves heartburn faster and for longer than tablets (helped by the alkalinity in saliva), but sales are poor.
Weeks ago Japanese electronics giant Sony announced 650 job cuts as it closes its Bridgend plant quickly followed by news that American firm Wrigley's was to shut the Altoids sweet factory in the town, with the loss of a further 173 jobs.
"The FDA applauds Wrigley's decision and its recognition that we need to improve understanding and, as needed, strengthen the regulatory framework governing the appropriate levels and uses of caffeine in foods and beverages, " said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.
Last year, Katie Ott, tired of circling the blocks around Chicago's Wrigley Field in search of parking for Chicago Cubs games, decided to search ParkWhiz.com.
In addition to the dizzying assortment of flavors, Wrigley, the world's largest gum company, found that some customers were deterred by the bulky packets of gum, which are hard to fit into pants pockets and small purses.
NPR's David Greene at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.
The anti-Wrigley mob appealed to the state's attorney general, who intervened by filing a petition in Orphans' Court, a legal relic of an earlier time that rules on whether organizations entrusted with the welfare of children are performing properly.
The world's No. 1 gum maker, Wrigley (nyse: WWY - news - people ), introduced its Extra gum in 1984.
In combination with Cadbury, the world's second-largest sweetmaker, it would challenge Mars-Wrigley for top spot and add strong businesses in rich countries such as Britain and Australia as well as faster-growing developing countries like India, Brazil and Mexico.
The Cubs host the team with baseball's worst record, the Washington Nationals, and it is happy times at Wrigley.
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