Concord Confections Purchases Wax Candy Division of American Candy Company

World’s leading bubble gum manufacturer
nabs another American icon.

CONCORD, ONTARIO—(October 1, 2002)—Concord Confections, Inc., manufacturers of the world’s first bubble gum brand Dubble Bubble, announce the purchase of the wax candy division of American Candy Company, for an undisclosed sum. An expedited closing is anticipated. American Candy Company is a 103 year old business, headquartered in Selma, Alabama. The wax candy division purchase includes several popular and proprietary items including Fun Gum wax lips, Fun Gum wax fangs, as well as Nik-L-Nip wax bottles and Magic Sticks wax tubes, both filled with flavored drinks. Concord Confections plans to have the current wax production facility producing at full capacity within the next few weeks and will begin shipping product to current customers immediately upon production resuming.

"We are thrilled to add this novelty wax candy division to our core candy and gum business," says Bruce Weiner, Executive Vice President, Concord Confections. "As we have done with Dubble Bubble, we are committed to reinvigorating this sought-after category. We are excited to carry forward with the unique products currently in the American Candy Company’s wax division as well as applying our technical expertise, capital and product and marketing innovation to make an even stronger line of wax products for retailers and consumers."

The American Candy Company’s wax candy division is a national business sold in all classes of trade, including bulk and retail goods. The items, which span candy, novelty and toy categories, are broadly distributed and have a large following, owing to the nostalgic appeal of a category remembered from childhood.

Concord Confections plans to continue operations for the wax candy division at the Selma, Alabama facility. A core management group will continue on to oversee the Selma plant and plans are to bring back a majority of the production workers as well. Product development, sales and marketing will be handled by Concord Confections' head office and through the current Concord broker network.

Concord Confections is one of the largest manufacturers of bubble gum in the world and manufacturer of Dubble Bubble, the world’s first bubble gum. Concord Confections established its leadership position with the introduction of innovative brands in the gum category including Tear Jerkers – "The original extra sour gum ball" – and Tongue Splashers – "The gum ball that paints your mouth with a splash of color." Founded in 1986, Concord Confections' packaged goods, bulk, bulk vending and private label products can be found in mass merchandise, grocery, drug, convenience, toy and wholesale outlets worldwide. For more information on America’s Original Dubble Bubble or any of the other gum and confectionery products available from Concord Confections, please call 800/267-0037.

CONCORD, ONTARIO—(June 27, 2003) — Concord Confections, Inc., manufacturers of the world’s first bubble gum brand Dubble Bubble, announce the purchase of the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation, for an undisclosed sum. The Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation is a 55 year old business, headquartered in Havertown, Pennsylvania.  The purchase includes several popular and proprietary brands including Swell bubble gum, El Bubble gum cigars, Cry Baby extra sour bubble gum, Gold Rocks Nugget Bubble Gum, Joe Blo giant size bubble gum and many more.  Under the new ownership, the existing Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation brands and products will continue to be manufactured and marketed, ensuring a seamless transition for retail customers, with all current product available for standard ordering and shipping.

Key executives, including Edward L. Fenimore, the son of the company’s founder, and grandsons Edward P. Fenimore II and Richard L. Fenimore, will be joining Concord Confections in consultative and executive roles respectively, to carry forward the quality and heritage of the Philadelphia Chewing Gum brands under the new ownership. Concord Confections plans to continue Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation operations at the Havertown, Pennsylvania facility. Product development, sales and marketing will be handled by Concord Confections' head office and through the current Concord broker network.

"The combination of Concord Confections and the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation establishes a powerhouse in the bubble gum and confectionery category, with both companies having strong, established and sought-after brands," states Bruce Weiner, Executive Vice President of Concord Confections.  "Their line-up is 100% compatible and complimentary to our portfolio, and there are many synergies between the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation with its 55 year history and our leading bubble gum brand, Dubble Bubble, which is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year."

"For our retail customers, this means an even wider variety of gum and confectionery products are available through a single source, which significantly helps streamline their operations and drive costs out of the supply chain," adds Weiner. "In addition to the already popular proprietary products in the Philadelphia Chewing Gum line, Concord Confections will leverage the combined strength of the two organizations to infuse research and development resources to drive further innovation moving forward."

Having been founded in 1946, 18 years after Dubble Bubble entered the market as the world’s first bubble gum, The Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation was one of only two new bubble gum companies that survived the bubble gum industry expansion after World War II. Through the years, Philadelphia Chewing Gum has consistently developed new, novel and often exclusive bubble gum, chewing gum and pressed dextrose candy products. The brands and products in the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation line are sold in all classes of trade, including bulk and retail goods, both in the US and abroad.

Concord Confections is one of the largest manufacturers of bubble gum in the world and manufacturer of Dubble Bubble, the world’s first bubble gum. Concord Confections established its leadership position with the introduction of innovative brands in the gum category including Tear Jerkers – "The original extra sour gum ball" – and Tongue Splashers – "The gum ball that paints your mouth with a splash of color."  Founded in 1986, Concord Confections' packaged goods, bulk, bulk vending and private label products can be found in mass merchandise, grocery, drug, convenience, toy and wholesale outlets worldwide.