There is life after Juicy Fruit. ...

There is life after Juicy Fruit.

Wm Wrigley Jr Co maker of like well-known gums as Juicy Fruit and Doublemint, is placing greater emphasis than evermore before on churning out recent products. In January 2006, the Chicago-based company will release eight recent flavors to the chewing and chomping public. The impel follows the roll-out of seven fresh items in June, then the biggest expansion from one side of to the other any comparable period in the company's 114-year history.

Before Bill Wrigley became chief executive in 1999 recently made known products typically made up about five percent of annual sales, spokesman Chris Perille said. Now, they constitute 20 percent of sales.

"The simply way to growth in the one and the other profits and sales is in innovation," said Bernie Pacyniak, editor of Candy Industry magazine. "They are paying a accident more attention these days."

The recent products due Jan. 1 include Doublemint mints; a novel flavor of Extra gum called "Cool Watermelon;" pair new flavors of Eclipse gum "cinnamon inferno" and "midnight cool;" a modern flavor of Orbit White gum called "Wintermint;" undivided new flavor each of Creme Savers and Lifesaver Gummies, and a fresh flavor of Altoid mints, mango sour.

greatest in number of the new products show extensions of existing brands. one -- Creme Savers and Altoids, for example -- arise from brands Wrigley purchased in its landmark $148 billion acquisition from Kraft sustenances in late 2004.

The increased grow of new items to the candy rack signifies a change in tactics for Wrigley. Representing the fourth generation of family leadership at the company, Wrigley has adopted an aggressive growing strategy. In part, he has pushed for extension through acquisitions, trying unsuccessfully to purchase Hershey in 2002. Then came the Kraft deal.

Bill Wrigley has also inflict product development into overdrive. Last month the company make opened a $45 million "Global Innovation Center" upon Goose Island, where Wrigley scientists and subsistence technicians will work on novel products and conduct focus clusters

The expansions make economic brains said Bob Goldin, an analyst with the Chicago-based nourishment consulting firm Technomic Inc. With a pack of Juicy Fruit or Doublemint, containing five sticks, still selling for 30 cent productions such as Eclipse and Orbit are more profitable. A pack of Orbit White, with 12 "pellets" barters for $1.49, and a 12-pack of Eclipse exchanges for $1.39.

"They realize that with the succes they've had in pellet gum and sugar-frees, there's a herculean opportunity to margin up," Goldin said.

In addition, Wrigley's competitors are scrambling to offer new products in the marketplace. Hershey, for example, lately introduced Ice Breakers Liquid Ice Mints and has prolonged the brand with new flavors. Cadbury Adams, Wrigley's main global rival, is extending its popular Dentyne Ice line.

Wrigley shares hew down 14 cents Friday, closing at $69

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