Posted January 2007

Chattanooga, Tennessee --The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (NYSE: WWY) announced recently that it is expanding the Chattanooga facility it acquired in late June.

"It’s a great location, an excellent workforce and, at both the state and local level, we’ve received outstanding cooperation to make this possible," said Don Balster, Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing.

Wrigley plans to add 150 new full-time positions.

"Aside from the enormous economic benefits of this project, Wrigley brings to this community another model of corporate citizenship," said Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey. "Long before Wrigley appeared on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, it enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for employee loyalty and community engagement."

"We are grateful that Wrigley has chosen to bring new jobs to Chattanooga and to make such a significant investment in our community," said Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield. "Our community’s aggressive marketing and economic development efforts continue to pay off as great corporations like Wrigley invest in our city."

It’s not just jobs that Wrigley is adding. The Company is adding more than 60,000 square feet of space to the Chattanooga plant.

"As we move the production of Altoids® mints to Chattanooga, it creates a need for more space," said Ron Pillsbury, Senior Director – Supply Chain. "This decision shows the level of confidence we have in our team here and reflects our intention to make Chattanooga a key part of Wrigley’s confectionery operations."

Between adding space and equipment, the company is investing $23 million. Both the state and federal government have played important roles in the expansion. The state, through existing economic development programs, is supplying training money to help ready the new workers. Local government is granting tax relief to encourage the physical expansion of the plant.

"Tennessee is pleased to welcome another outstanding company to our state," said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber. "We believe Wrigley will find we’re a great place to do business. I’m especially pleased that the state and local government worked so well together to help Wrigley decide to expand here."

The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce played a key role in putting the package together.

"This project pays tribute to the strength of our workforce and manufacturing base," said Trevor Hamilton, the Chamber’s Vice President of Economic Development. "The capabilities, productivity and work ethic of the employees at the former Kraft factory, as well as the quality of the plant operations served as a strong attraction to Wrigley. The Chamber is delighted that Wrigley has chosen to build on the strong manufacturing foundation that exists in Chattanooga."

"Our employees are thrilled to be working for the Wrigley Company," said Merrell Bennett, the Factory Manager. "Wrigley clearly focuses on the growth and development of its associates as a critical part of the Company’s long-term success. I’m confident we can expand our operations and grow our workforce, while maintaining the high level of dedication and professionalism that we have demonstrated for many years."

The Wrigley Company is a recognized leader in the confectionery field and the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum, with global sales of more than $4 billion. The Company markets its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands – Wrigley’s Spearmint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Altoids® – have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other brands include Doublemint®, Life Savers®, Big Red®, Boomer®, Pim Pom®, Winterfresh®, Extra®, Freedent®, Hubba Bubba®, Orbit®, Excel®, Creme Savers®, Eclipse®, Airwaves®, Alpine®, Solano®, Sugus®, Cool Air®, and P.K. ®.