Milliways, a plastic-free chewing gum brand founded in 2021, has raised $3 million to accelerate its U.S. growth by expanding marketing, broadening retail distribution, and increasing inventory to support wider availability.
The investment group includes former chewing-gum industry executives Mehmet Yüksek, former CEO of Perfetti Van Melle North America, and Leon Amram, former owner of Intergum, along with other industry leaders. Milliways said the backers bring decades of experience building global gum brands and that the new capital will support the company’s next phase of U.S. expansion.
Milliways is a clean-label alternative to conventional chewing gum, which the company says is facing increased scrutiny amid consumer concerns about microplastics and shifting health preferences. The brand says it uses seven naturally derived ingredients and is aimed at shoppers seeking “better-for-you” options as natural alternatives in the gum aisle grow faster than the broader category.
The company said it has raised $10 million in total since launch and grown to more than 10,000 stores globally. In the United States, Milliways said it has scaled to more than 2,000 stores nationwide in just over a year, including placements at Sprouts, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Raley’s, and Fred Meyer. The company also cited SPINS data indicating it is the best-selling plastic-free gum brand.
Milliways said its gum is plastic-free, plant-based, biodegradable, sugar-free, aspartame-free, non-GMO, and boosted with xylitol. Flavors include Spearmint, Peppermint, Mighty Mint, Bubblemint, Strawberry, and Watermelon. Suggested retail pricing is $2.49 for a 10-piece pack and $5.99 for a 30-piece pack.
KEY QUOTES
“Consumer demands are changing faster than ever. The power of AI and social media means people are better informed, more curious, and quicker to adopt new habits. Whether it’s GLP-1s, longevity hacks, or plastic-free chewing gum, the desire to live healthier lives is now at the top of everyone’s agenda. And it’s not just the big changes that people care about, but the incremental improvements too. As a lifelong gum chewer who cares deeply about my health, I didn’t want to chew on plastic gum anymore, and I believed millions of people felt the same – that’s why I launched Milliways. Milliways has an exciting year ahead with new retailers getting behind our mission.”
“We’re seeing the embrace of high quality, plastic-free alternatives from retailers and shoppers, and we’re excited to continue growing our presence across the US. This new funding round allows us to make Milliways available to more consumers every day.”
Tom Raviv, Founder, Milliways
