Philadelphia Gum
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Chewing Gum Company was an American candy
, chewing gum
, and confectionery
company.
The company was established in 1948 in Havertown, Pennsylvania
, by Edward P. Fenimore (a long time chewing gum expert who was with Bowman Gum
). His son Edward L. Fenimore, served as president of the company and for a period, as the Chairman of the National Association of Chewing Gum Manufacturers. His sons, Edward P. II & Richard L., later joined him on the management team, making the company a third generation family owned and operated business. All products, many of which were sold under the Swell brand name, were manufactured in a 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) factory just west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. In July 2003, Concord Confections acquired the Philadelphia Gum Company and its brand names and shortly after closed the Havertown plant (Concord was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries
in 2004). Recent products include bubble gum cigars aimed at the 2008 presidential election.
On March 31, 2009, the township filed a Declaration of Taking for the condemnation of the property formerly occupied by Swell Bubble Gum, at 891 Eagle Rd. Under letter dated 6/2/09, the owners of the factory tendered possession of the property to the Township and requested payment of the "estimated just compensation." On 6/10/09, the Board of Commissioners directed that the estimated just compensation, 1.26 million dollars, be remitted to the owners.
From 1964–67, Philadelphia Gum had a license from the National Football League
to produce trading cards of leading football players, while Topps
produced cards for the rival American Football League
. The company also produced a set of 55 self-adhesive stickers of Marvel Comics
superheroes, as well as trading cards based upon "World War II
," "Men of the Green Berets
," "The Story of Robert F. Kennedy," and many others. It briefly produced novelty baseball items, including baseball cards.
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
, chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
, and confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
company.
The company was established in 1948 in Havertown, Pennsylvania
Havertown, Pennsylvania
Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. Havertown is notable for being the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum, which closed...
, by Edward P. Fenimore (a long time chewing gum expert who was with Bowman Gum
Bowman Gum
Bowman Gum was a Philadelphia-based manufacturer of bubble gum and trading cards in the period surrounding World War II founded by Jacob Warren Bowman. Originally known as Gum, Inc., the company produced a series of cards known as the "Play Ball" sets each year from 1939 to 1941...
). His son Edward L. Fenimore, served as president of the company and for a period, as the Chairman of the National Association of Chewing Gum Manufacturers. His sons, Edward P. II & Richard L., later joined him on the management team, making the company a third generation family owned and operated business. All products, many of which were sold under the Swell brand name, were manufactured in a 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) factory just west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. In July 2003, Concord Confections acquired the Philadelphia Gum Company and its brand names and shortly after closed the Havertown plant (Concord was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll Industries is a manufacturer of confectionery in the United States. Its best-known products have been Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops....
in 2004). Recent products include bubble gum cigars aimed at the 2008 presidential election.
On March 31, 2009, the township filed a Declaration of Taking for the condemnation of the property formerly occupied by Swell Bubble Gum, at 891 Eagle Rd. Under letter dated 6/2/09, the owners of the factory tendered possession of the property to the Township and requested payment of the "estimated just compensation." On 6/10/09, the Board of Commissioners directed that the estimated just compensation, 1.26 million dollars, be remitted to the owners.
From 1964–67, Philadelphia Gum had a license from the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
to produce trading cards of leading football players, while Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
produced cards for the rival American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. The company also produced a set of 55 self-adhesive stickers of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
superheroes, as well as trading cards based upon "World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
," "Men of the Green Berets
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
," "The Story of Robert F. Kennedy," and many others. It briefly produced novelty baseball items, including baseball cards.