Surpass Antacid Gum

by Wrigley

2001 – 2003 GONE FOREVER

Gone. Wrigley announced on February 24, 2003 that it would stop shipping Surpass on March 28, saying the brand had not built the critical business mass to sustain it. It has never returned.

Last verified Nov 4, 2026

Wrigley's antacid chewing gum, sold in the pharmacy aisle as heartburn relief you could chew. The company built a whole healthcare division around it, and shut both down in about two years.

🧾 One more thingBy 2002 Wrigley was blaming slow sales on how hard it was to get people to switch from liquid and tablet antacids to gum. When Surpass went, the Wrigley Healthcare division created to launch it went with it.

Filed under: Candy & Gum · the ’00s & later

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📅 Timeline

2001Wrigley Healthcare began shipping Surpass on February 19, the new division's first product.
2002In March, with sales below expectations, Wrigley shifted Surpass marketing toward getting people to try it.
2003On February 24, Wrigley announced it would discontinue Surpass.
2003Shipments stopped on March 28, with all Surpass business activity to be wound up by the end of May.

❓ People also ask

Why was Surpass gum discontinued?

Weak sales. Senior vice president Darrell Splithoff said the brand had not built the critical business mass required to sustain it.

What happened to Wrigley Healthcare?

It was phased out with Surpass in 2003, and its staff returned to the parent company.

Did Wrigley give up on medicinal gum?

Not entirely. In 2003 it said its research team would keep exploring functional gums for things like throat and cough relief and dental benefits.

🧾 Sources

ConfectioneryNews, Wrigley to discontinue Surpass (2003)
NutraIngredients, End of the road for Wrigley's functional gum (2003)
HBW Insight (The Tan Sheet), Surpass Antacid Gum Marketing Strategy Shift Planned By Wrigley (2002)
Pink Sheet, Surpass discontinued (2003)

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