Wrigley Introduces New Products to Delight Consumers' Taste Buds Come July

CHICAGO, April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This summer, the Wrigley Company, a leading player in the confectionery market, is launching new gum and candy products in time for the important summer selling season. These new product and packaging offerings, which hit store shelves in July 2006, include the Eclipse(R) Big-E-Pak(TM), Life Savers(R) Gummies Fruit Splosions(TM) and Winterfresh(R) Winterbursts(TM).

"Wrigley has a long history of innovating to delight our consumers," said Martin Schlatter, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer. "Our new product lineup continues the company's rich tradition of bringing our consumers and customers attractive products and unique packaging that offer a variety of benefits and become part of their everyday lives."

Wrigley's new gum offerings include new flavors and one "large" packaging innovation.

-- Eclipse's new packaging is the biggest thing to happen to gum in 2006. The Big-E-Pak contains 60 pellets of gum (roughly equivalent to five single-serve packages of gum) and is perfect for all gum-lovers. Now consumers can "kill bad breath" at work, at home or in the car with this new durable package that sits perfectly on a desk, counter top or in a car cup-holder. The Eclipse Big-E-Pak comes in Spearmint and Winterfrost flavors. -- Orbit(R), the No. 2 gum franchise, second only to Wrigley's Extra(R) gum, becomes even stronger this July. The two latest flavors from Orbit, "Lemon-Lime" and "Crystal Mint," bring unique fruit and mint flavors to the only gum that offers consumers that "just brushed clean feeling." -- Hubba Bubba(R) Max(TM) gets "outrageously original." People of all ages can now enjoy the outrageously fun new flavor from Hubba Bubba Max - Outrageous Original. -- Altoids(R), the curiously strong gum, now comes in two new curiously strong flavors - Spearmint and Wintergreen.

Wrigley will also introduce several new confectionery items, including Life Savers "Orange Mints" and "Sweet Mint," the first new product innovation from the Life Savers mint brand in over ten years. Additionally, Life Savers Gummies will be offered in new Theater Boxes, making the No. 1 gummy brand available in an even more convenient size.

Other new confections include: -- Life Savers Gummies Fruit Splosions - these innovative liquid-filled gummies combine a burst of real fruit juice in the center with delicious fruit flavored gummies on the outside. Fruit Splosions come in three different varieties: Traditional 5 Flavor, Sour Cherry and a Variety Pack (with Strawberry, Blackberry, Orange and Watermelon flavors). -- Winterfresh Winterbursts - these new liquid filled mints with a crunchy mint shell offer consumers two waves of cool breath freshening - the first is the mint outer shell and the second is the refreshing liquid center. -- Creme Savers(R) Desserts - the new Creme Savers in Cinnamon Bun, Apple Pie A La Mode and Strawberry Cheesecake - offer consumers a way to indulge in their favorite dessert anytime.

"At the heart of every new product launch is the desire of our consumers for new and exciting candies, gums and mints in unique flavors, packages and formats," said Rory Finlay, Vice President & Managing Director, New Confectionery Brands. "The new Creme Savers Desserts, for example, illustrate our commitment to dynamic innovation when it comes to simple pleasures and indulgences."

Wrigley's new mint offerings are: -- Altoids Smalls in "Wintergreen" - the small curiously strong mint is now available in Wintergreen, complimenting the existing peppermint and cinnamon flavors of Altoids Smalls. -- Eclipse mints that deliver intensely powerful fresh breath now come in one of consumers' favorite flavors - Spearmint.

"Ultimately truly innovative products, like Life Savers Gummies Fruit Splosions or the Eclipse Big-E-Pak, answer unmet consumer needs and provide our retail customers unique offerings to grow their business," concluded Schlatter.

About Wrigley

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies and lollipops. The Company has global sales in excess of $4 billion, and its world-famous brands are enjoyed by consumers in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands - Wrigley's Spearmint(R), Juicy Fruit(R), and Altoids(R) - have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint(R), Life Savers(R), Big Red(R), Boomer(R), Pim Pom(R), Winterfresh(R), Extra(R), Freedent(R), Hubba Bubba(R), Orbit(R), Excel(R), Creme Savers(R), Eclipse(R), Airwaves(R), Solano(R), Sugus(R), Cool Air(R), and P.K.(R)