Record Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2004 Financial Results for Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

28/01/05 The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company’s sales in North America were up 9% for the year driven primarily by positive mix and higher volume. U.S. sales of Orbit and Eclipse gum brands and Eclipse mints were significant contributors to sales growth.
European sales rose 23% in Wrigley`s EMEAI region (particularly in Russia, the Ukraine, the U.K. and Spain). Favorable currency translation was a factor in growth both in Europe and Asia, Asian sales were up 25%, primarily due to double-digit volume growth, especially from China, Vietnam and Taiwan. The Joyco acquisition contributed to approximately one-third of regional sales increases.
Wrigley is one of the world`s best-known makers of chewing gums with brands including Juicy Fruit, Spearmint, and Doublemint. The company also produces Winterfresh and Big Red Breath Fresheners, oral care products like Orbit and Freedent, as well as wellness products like Alpine.
Last November (2004), in a $1.48 billion deal that was the biggest in the company’s history, Wm Wrigley Jr. bought the franchises for Life Savers, Creme Savers, and Altoids from Kraft foods.
Earlier in the year (April, 2004), Wrigley acquired the confectionary businesses including, Boomer bubble gum, Pim Pom lollipops, and Solano candy brands of the Joyco Group which was owned by Agrolimen, a privately-held Spanish conglomerate.
Wrigley also acquired major sales and production operations in China, India and Spain, smaller commercial operations in France, Italy and Poland, as well as Cafosa, from the Joyco group`s gum base business. The purchase price for that deal was 215 million euros (approximately $260 million).