Wrigley extends strip line.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)

Kraft will take leading breath mint Altoids into the breath-freshening strip realm when it launches Altoids Strips in late spring or early summer.

It's not surprising that sales for sugar free chewing gum are up this year, considering the influx of new sugar-free gums into the marketplace and an increase of sugar-free products in general. The sugar-free candy category altogether rose 41.7% in sales from last year, according to Information Resources Inc. data ......

A new variety of Colgate toothpaste comes in a package that's designed to show off its primary selling point: It contains chopped-up breath strips. Max Fresh toothpaste is infused with tiny, square breath strips that are visible throughout the gel. The toothpaste is available in a 4.6-ounce plastic bottle that ......

Although statistics show the big growth period for Pfi-zer's Listerine Pocket Packs and other melt-in-your-mouth breath strips might be over, the postage stamp-like form may still have the opportunity to catch on in other product areas.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. will extend halitosis-zapping Eclipse gum into the breath strip category with Eclipse Flash Strips and support it with a $20 million TV, print, radio and sampling campaign that will break in Oct. and run through Sept. 2003.

Despite less than robust economies, despite growing anxieties about a war in Iraq [anxieties that proved true], and despite the absence of several heavyweight confectionery companies, the 33rd International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) held in Cologne Jan. 26-29 again drew strong international participation, from both attendees and exhibitors. Statistics ......