The gum, mints and breath fresheners market has seen sales increase over 10% since 2007 in the US, despite the recession, according to research from Mintel.

The research firm believes that this market is expected to continue growing through 2014, it said yesterday (15 March).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

“Although this market is not entirely recession proof; gum, mints and breath fresheners are faring well due to their low price points and the feeling that consumers are getting a small treat,” said Bill Patterson, senior analyst at Mintel. “In addition, innovative packaging and unique flavours are aiding in the upward sales momentum.”

And although marketers tend to use packaging to help revamp and develop a brand’s image, the Mintel survey says that functionality is key in the gum category.

Around 50% of people cited packaging that reseals better or is easier to open as being most important, while 19% want gum and mints to have packaging that’s better for the environment.

And despite the emphasis on health, breath freshening remained the most important function of gum and mints in the survey’s respondents. Nearly four times as many respondents cited this compared to a healthy function (43% vs 13%).

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact