The Business Pundit has put together a list of the unique origins of 25 popular products.
In 1928, accountant Walter Diemer worked at Fleer, but experimented with gum recipes on the side. One of his ingredient combinations was less sticky and stretchier than other gums. He discovered that it he could blow bubbles with it.
Excited by the new gum’s potential, Diemer brought two kilograms of it to a grocery store. It sold out in one afternoon. It didn’t take long for bubble gum to catch on with kids.
In 1951, the Topps Company added a stick of it to their baseball card packages, replacing the old gift of a cigarette. It became an instant tradition.
The reason bubblegum is traditionally pink is that it was the original color used by Diemer, as it was the only color he had when he made it.
World-wide bubble gum sales in 2006 is estimated to be around $3 billion.
Photo by ImpactLab.