Ford Gum, maker of Big League Chew, will feature a female softball player on the Outta Here Original shredded bubble gum pouch beginning Feb. 1, National Bubble Gum Day.

Once complete, the expansion will add nearly 100 local jobs and bring the facility to a total of 67,000 sq. ft. of warehousing and packaging space.

The Deerfield, Ill.-based company will work in partnerships so that packaging can be collected and recycled in markets around the world.

With consumers making decisions in as little as a third of a second, the need to stand out and differentiate on-shelf is crucial. The right packaging features and designs can make an impact on shopping behavior. 

Union Confectionery Machinery has been tapped by a third-party buyer to sell assets from New England Confectionery Co. (NECCO) after the company abruptly closed last week.