Is Mentos an American company?

No. Mentos originated in the Netherlands, and the brand is ultimately owned by Perfetti Van Melle Group B.V., a family-owned confectionery group headquartered in the Netherlands. Perfetti was originally founded in Italy, while Van Melle was founded in the Netherlands.

Who owns Mentos gum and Mentos candy?

Perfetti Van Melle Group B.V. ultimately owns both Mentos gum and Mentos candy. Perfetti Van Melle acquired Van Melle in 2001, bringing the Mentos brand into the group.

Is Mentos gum sugar free?

Many Mentos gum products are sugar free. A Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical listing gives zero grams of sugar per bottle and identifies the product as sugar free. Mentos candy rolls are different products and commonly contain sugar.

Is Mentos gum gluten free?

The available product information identifies some Mentos candy products as gluten free, but gluten-free status can vary by product and market. Consumers should check the packaging or product page for the specific Mentos gum product before buying.

Is Mentos halal or vegan?

Some Mentos products are listed as suitable for vegans, including a UK Mentos Mint Roll and Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical. The available retail listings state that the products are not halal or kosher certified, so halal status should not be assumed for every Mentos product.

Is Mentos gum bad for you?

Mentos gum is a confectionery product, and sugar-free varieties use sweeteners such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, or maltitol. These products contain no sugar, but consuming large amounts of polyol sweeteners can cause digestive discomfort. The effect depends on the specific product and quantity consumed.

Is Mentos and Coke a chemical reaction?

The well-known Mentos and cola demonstration is primarily a rapid physical release of dissolved carbon dioxide, not a conventional chemical reaction that creates a new substance. The rough Mentos surface provides many sites where carbon dioxide bubbles can form, causing the drink to foam and erupt quickly. Diet cola is commonly used because its lower sugar content produces a less sticky demonstration.

How much is Mentos worth?

A standalone current valuation for the Mentos brand is not established by the ownership and company-history information available here. A company-profile account states that Mentos contributes approximately one-quarter of Perfetti Van Melle’s revenue, but that figure does not provide a separate valuation for Mentos.

Who owns Mentos?

Mentos

Ultimate ownerNetherlandsPerfetti Van Melle Group B.V.

Made O'Meter is free and ad-free, built to keep ownership like this transparent.

Brand origin: Netherlands
Main production: Several countries, incl. Türkiye

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About Mentos

What is Mentos?

Mentos is a confectionery brand that makes chewy mint candies, fruit-flavored candies, and chewing gum. The brand originated in the Netherlands in 1932, and its products are sold internationally. Mentos is known for its cylindrical rolls of chewy mints and for gum products sold under the Mentos name. Perfetti Van Melle lists Mentos among its global confectionery brands, alongside brands such as Chupa Chups and Airheads. Mentos chewing gum is available in products including Pure Fresh Gum, while Mentos candy includes mint, fruit, and other flavored chewy varieties. The official Mentos website is mentos.com.

Who owns Mentos?

Mentos is ultimately owned by Perfetti Van Melle Group B.V., according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Perfetti Van Melle is headquartered in the Netherlands and is family-owned. The current owner was created in March 2001, when Italian confectionery company Perfetti acquired Dutch confectionery company Van Melle. Perfetti had acquired a 37 percent interest in Van Melle in 1991, then acquired Van Melle’s remaining outstanding shares in 2001 for €966 million. The merger made Mentos part of Perfetti Van Melle and expanded the brand’s availability internationally. Perfetti Van Melle also acquired Chupa Chups in 2006. In October 2023, Perfetti Van Melle acquired Mondelēz International’s gum business in the United States, Canada, and Europe, adding further gum brands to its portfolio. Mentos remains a Perfetti Van Melle brand.

Where does Mentos come from?

Mentos originated in the Netherlands in 1932, when brothers Michael and Pierre van Melle conceived a peppermint-flavored caramel candy during a train journey to Poland. The Mentos concept was based on a recipe and production method for soft fruit chews that the brothers encountered during that trip. Van Melle was the company that first developed and produced Mentos. The Van Melle company originated in Breskens, Netherlands, where it grew from a family bakery into a confectionery factory. After World War II, Van Melle moved its factory from Breskens to Rotterdam. Van Melle began expanding internationally in the 1950s, first entering France, Germany, and England. Mentos expanded beyond its original flavor range in the 1970s, and its fruit flavor was introduced in 1974. Mentos first appeared in television advertising in 1976. The merger of Van Melle and Perfetti in 2001 made Mentos part of Perfetti Van Melle.

Who is the founder of Mentos?

Mentos was created by brothers Michael and Pierre van Melle in 1932. The brothers conceived Mentos during a train journey to Poland, where they encountered a recipe and production method for soft fruit chews. Their original concept was a peppermint-flavored caramel candy. Van Melle, the Dutch confectionery company founded as a family business, first developed and produced Mentos. The name Mentos later became associated with the company’s chewy mint products.

What products does Mentos make?

Mentos makes chewy mint candies, fruit-flavored candy rolls, sugar-free candy products, and chewing gum. Traditional Mentos candy includes mint rolls such as Fresh Mint, as well as fruit and rainbow varieties. Mentos chewing gum includes sugar-free products such as Mentos Pure Fresh Gum. Some Mentos gum products are sold in bottles or packs of individual pieces. Product recipes and dietary claims can vary by country and flavor. Retail product information for a UK Mentos Mint Roll lists sugar, glucose syrup, coconut oil, starch, natural mint flavorings, maltodextrin, cocoa butter, thickeners, emulsifiers, and carnauba wax among its ingredients. The same product listing identifies the mint roll as gluten free and suitable for vegans. A UK Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical product is listed as sugar free and vegan, with zero grams of sugar and 201 calories for a 35-piece bottle. Mentos also makes sugar-free chewing gum containing sweeteners such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, and maltitol syrup.

Is Mentos candy or gum?

Mentos is both candy and chewing gum. Mentos candy consists of chewy mints and fruit-flavored pieces that are eaten and swallowed, while Mentos gum is designed to be chewed and discarded. The company introduced Mentos chewing gum in 2005, first launching it in Europe and then expanding it to additional markets. Mentos candy was the original product category, beginning with the peppermint-flavored chewy candy conceived by Michael and Pierre van Melle in 1932.

Is Mentos healthy or unhealthy?

Mentos candy is a confectionery product that commonly contains sugar and should be evaluated as a sweet rather than as a source of essential nutrients. A UK Mentos Mint Roll listing gives 390 calories and 69 grams of sugars per 100 grams. Sugar-free Mentos gum has no sugar, but it still contains sweeteners and calories. A UK Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical listing gives 201 calories for a 35-piece bottle and zero grams of sugar. Sugar-free products can contain polyols such as sorbitol or maltitol, which may cause digestive discomfort when consumed in large amounts. Whether a particular Mentos product fits a person’s diet depends on the product, serving size, ingredients, and individual dietary needs.

Is Mentos gum good for your teeth?

Sugar-free Mentos gum may be less harmful to teeth than sugar-sweetened chewing gum because it contains no sugar. Some Mentos gum products contain xylitol, a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener, and retail product information describes xylitol as potentially helping reduce the risk of tooth decay. Mentos gum is not a substitute for brushing, flossing, or dental care. Product formulas differ, so consumers should check the ingredients and nutrition panel for the specific Mentos gum product.

How did Mentos become a global brand?

Mentos became an international brand through Van Melle’s expansion during the 1950s and its merger with Perfetti in 2001. Van Melle first entered France, Germany, and England during its 1950s international expansion. Mentos was later distributed through Perfetti Van Melle’s international confectionery network. Mentos is sold in more than 130 countries according to the brand’s Spanish history page, while another company-profile account states that Mentos is sold in more than 150 countries. The two published figures differ, so the number varies by source and reporting. Perfetti Van Melle has manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, Italy, Indonesia, Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, and India. A company-profile account states that the Breda, Netherlands, factory makes 50 Mentos flavors and produces approximately 5 million rolls per day.

What is the Mentos advertising history?

Mentos became widely associated with the advertising slogan “The Freshmaker” during the 1980s and 1990s. The slogan was later replaced by “Stay Fresh.” A Mentos television advertising campaign featuring humorous solutions to everyday dilemmas used a jingle that debuted in the United States and Canada in late 1991 and continued until 2001. Mentos first appeared in television advertising in 1976. The brand’s advertising history helped establish Mentos as a recognizable international candy and gum brand.

Frequently asked questions about Mentos

Is Mentos an American company?: No. Mentos originated in the Netherlands, and the brand is ultimately owned by Perfetti Van Melle Group B.V., a family-owned confectionery group headquartered in the Netherlands. Perfetti was originally founded in Italy, while Van Melle was founded in the Netherlands.
Who owns Mentos gum and Mentos candy?: Perfetti Van Melle Group B.V. ultimately owns both Mentos gum and Mentos candy. Perfetti Van Melle acquired Van Melle in 2001, bringing the Mentos brand into the group.
Is Mentos gum sugar free?: Many Mentos gum products are sugar free. A Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical listing gives zero grams of sugar per bottle and identifies the product as sugar free. Mentos candy rolls are different products and commonly contain sugar.
Is Mentos gum gluten free?: The available product information identifies some Mentos candy products as gluten free, but gluten-free status can vary by product and market. Consumers should check the packaging or product page for the specific Mentos gum product before buying.
Is Mentos halal or vegan?: Some Mentos products are listed as suitable for vegans, including a UK Mentos Mint Roll and Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Tropical. The available retail listings state that the products are not halal or kosher certified, so halal status should not be assumed for every Mentos product.
Is Mentos gum bad for you?: Mentos gum is a confectionery product, and sugar-free varieties use sweeteners such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, or maltitol. These products contain no sugar, but consuming large amounts of polyol sweeteners can cause digestive discomfort. The effect depends on the specific product and quantity consumed.
Is Mentos and Coke a chemical reaction?: The well-known Mentos and cola demonstration is primarily a rapid physical release of dissolved carbon dioxide, not a conventional chemical reaction that creates a new substance. The rough Mentos surface provides many sites where carbon dioxide bubbles can form, causing the drink to foam and erupt quickly. Diet cola is commonly used because its lower sugar content produces a less sticky demonstration.
How much is Mentos worth?: A standalone current valuation for the Mentos brand is not established by the ownership and company-history information available here. A company-profile account states that Mentos contributes approximately one-quarter of Perfetti Van Melle’s revenue, but that figure does not provide a separate valuation for Mentos.

Sources: perfettivanmelle.com: our history, perfettivanmelle.nl, us.mentos.com, tesco.com: 271131482, tesco.com: 281069932, pvm-gtr.com, perfettivanmelle.com: gum business, mentos.com.au, mentos.de, mentos.pt, en.wikipedia.org, mentos.se, mtsprout.nl, brandwiki.lazada.com.ph, mentos.com.es, mentos.id, eathealthy365.com, encyclopedia.com, slideshare.net, snackhistory.com

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Sources: perfettivanmelle.com, en.wikipedia.org

Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.

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