Mastika, Master Gum and Candies Co. SAL’s award-winning mastic-flavored chewing gum, continues to capture attention in Middle Eastern markets.

Local governments in the United Kingdom are calling on chewing gum manufacturers for more help with a sticky situation they say costs millions of British pounds a year.

Westchester, Ill.-based Ingredion Inc., a leading global supplier of ingredient solutions, signed off on a $400-million stock purchase agreement Tuesday to acquire all of the outstanding shares of TIC Gums Inc., a privately held, U.S. company that provides advanced texture systems to the food and beverage industry.

Mars, Inc., announced Thursday it will combine its chocolate segment and its Wrigley subsidiary to form a new division, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, further cementing Mars’ status as a global confectionery leader.

The gum and mint manufacturer, which sells aspartame-free sweets, made the list with a five-year revenue growth of 5,496 percent. It was also ranked no. 1 in the Manufacturing and Distribution category.

The confectionery ingredients market is expected to reach $76.81 billion by 2021, according to a new report by India-based market research firm Markets and Markets.