PÜR Gum

PUR Gum is a brand of aspartame-free gum produced by The PUR Company Inc. and founded in 2010 by Jay Klein in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[2][3] PUR gum and mints are manufactured in Switzerland,[3] distributed in Canada, and sold in over 25 countries worldwide.[4] PUR gum and mints are also sold through online outlets such as Amazon.[3] The PUR Company Inc. uses the slogan "Kick Aspartame" to promote their sugar-free and aspartame-free products.[3]

PUR Gum
IndustryHealth Food, Chewing Gum, Confectionery
FounderJay Klein
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of locations
30,000 locations in over 25 countries
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAspartame-Free Chewing Gum
Revenue$10 million - 20 million[1]
Websitethepurcompany.com

History

In 2010, entrepreneur Jay Klein aimed to create a chewing gum that was vegan, gluten-free, nut/soy-free, allergen-free, and aspartame-free.[5] The result was naturally sweetened PUR Gum that contains no additives or chemicals and is non-GMO.[3][6] Klein decided to sweeten the chewing gum with xylitol so it would be a healthy choice for diabetics, pregnant women, people with dietary sensitivities, and any person seeking to avoid chemicals.[3][6][7]

Klein marketed his product first in the Greater Toronto Area by starting small and going door-to door, "running for mayor".[8] Then they expanded to the rest of Canada and major U.S. metropolitan areas, where “health hubs” – areas with significant markets for health food products – could be found.[9] However, PUR's popularity started to take off after a chain of airport duty-free shops started carrying the product, which made the brand gain international popularity that spread virally through airports and other channels. The number of international markets grew from three, to six, to ten, and then over 25.[9]

In 2014, PUR Gum made an appearance on CBC's Dragon's Den, asking for $1 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake, valuing the company at $10 million. Three Dragons made offers and Jay Klein accepted an on-air deal with Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson.[10]

In 2016, The PUR Company became Canada's 10th Fastest-Growing Company and Toronto's 4th Fastest-Growing Company with 5-year revenue growth of 5,496 percent.[1] On the Profit 500 2016 list, The PUR Company ranked #10 overall and #1 in the Manufacturing and Distributing Category.[11]

Bubblegum and Chocolate Mint were the newest flavors that the company has launched in 2016.[2]

Products
  • Chewing gum
    • Cinnamon
    • Coolmint
    • Peppermint
    • Spearmint
    • Wintergreen
    • Pomegranate Mint

[12]

  • Mints
    • Mojito Lime Mint
    • Peppermint
    • Polar Mint
    • Spearmint
    • Tangerine Tango

References
  1. "#10 The PUR Company". Profit 500 2016 Rankings. Profit Guide Magazine. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  2. Yu, Douglas. "PUR enters bubblegum to seize on aspartame-free movement". Confectionerynews.com. William Reed. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  3. Watson, Elaine (2013-08-19). "Kicking aspartame? The rise and rise of PÜR Gum". FoodNavigator USA. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  4. Seale, Andrew. "5q: Jay Klein, emerging chewing gum mogul". Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  5. Deveau, Denise. "Marketer turned chewing gum maker PUR Gum shares its bite-sized growth strategy". Financial Post. Financial Post. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  6. "Aspartame-free gum makes inroads in first year". The Canadian Jewish News. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  7. Blackwell, Richard. "Chewing gum losing grip on North American market". The Globe and Mail. Globe and Mail News. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  8. Crawford, Elizabeth. "5 strategies that fueled PUR's more than 5,000% growth in five years". The Food Navigator. William Reed. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  9. Lorinc, John. "How focusing on small orders helped PUR Gum build brand awareness". Canadian Business. Canadian Business. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  10. Bitti, Mary. "Big Dragons' Den pitches, valuations from RosterBot and PUR Gum - but only one lands a clear deal". Entrepreneur. Financial Post. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  11. Watt, Abigail. "The PUR Co CEO Jay Klein on PROFIT 500 rankings, starting small and connecting with customers". Candy Industry. BNP Media. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  12. "Products". PUR Company Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2017.


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