How Wrigley Makes Gum In making high-quality chewing gum, the Wrigley Company strives for three characteristics: a smooth, even chew, a delicious, long-lasting flavor dependable, uniform quality. STEP ONE: QUALITY ASSURANCE All ingredients and wrapping materials are inspected when they arrive at the factories. Before any shipment is accepted, samples are taken and tested in modern quality assurance laboratories. STEP TWO: GRINDING Manufacturing takes place in spotless air-conditioned rooms and is closely monitored to meet the company's high standards of quality. The process begins with the grinding of base materials. STEP THREE: FILTERING Next, the base is melted and purified through high-speed centrifuges and filter machines. Then, still hot, the base goes to the mixers, each of which can hold up to a ton of ingredients. STEP FOUR: MIXING After the gum base is poured into the mixer, sweeteners and flavors are added at just the right moment and in just the right amounts. These ingredients are then mixed slowly for the exact amount of time required by the formula. At this point, the gum looks like stiff bread dough. STEP FIVE: ROLLING From the mixers, the gum is sent through a series of rollers that form it into a thin, wide ribbon. Each pair of rollers is set closer together than the previous pair, gradually reducing the thickness of the gum. A light coating of finely powdered sugar or sugar substitute is added to keep the gum from sticking and to enhance the flavor. STEP SIX: SCORING The continuous ribbon of gum is then scored in a pattern of single sticks. STEP SEVEN: CONDITIONING The gum is allowed to cool. The temperature and humidity are carefully controlled to make sure the finished gum will stay fresh on store shelves. STEP EIGHT: WRAPPING The packaging materials are vital in protecting the freshness of Wrigley's gum. In one continuous process, the wrapping machine receives and wraps the sticks, applies the outer wrapper, and seals the ends of each package. Most of the wrapping machines were designed and built by Wrigley engineers and machinists, and each is a marvel of precision made up of approximately 6,000 moving parts. STEP NINE: PACKING The packages are automatically packed into boxes or clear plastic bags that move on conveyor belts for final inspection. Boxes are wrapped with a clear covering and both boxes and bags are packed into shipping cases. Wrigley's gum is then shipped to hundreds of thousands of stores and other retail outlets all over the world.

a