ERLANGER, Ky. — In almost any store that sells candy, customers can find Airheads. The fruity, chewy bars are the favorite treat of many kids and adults around the country, but they may not know the candy is made in northern Kentucky.

What You Need To Know

  • People have been eating Airheads for more than 40 years, and all of those Airheads are made at Perfetti Van Melle’s factory in Erlanger

  • On Monday, factory workers were joined by company leaders and northern Kentucky business leaders to unveil a new sign

  • As the second largest non-chocolate candy manufacturer in the U.S, Perfetti Van Melle produces 6.5 million Airheads bars at the Erlanger factory each day

  • Perfetti Van Melle says its northern Kentucky workforce doubled in the last four years to more than 500 workers

To let the world know, the company that makes Airheads just unveiled what it hopes will be a new landmark for the region.

People have been eating Airheads for more than 40 years. And all of those Airheads are made at Perfetti Van Melle’s factory in Erlanger.

“Even though we’ve been in this community in northern Kentucky and greater Cincinnati for over 40 years, we’re somehow still a best kept secret. And so one of the things we wanted to do is to bring out the best candy side of ourselves with a beautiful new sign,” said Communications Director Holly Ingram.

On Monday, July 1, factory workers were joined by company leaders and northern Kentucky business leaders to unveil a new sign to make sure from now on, everyone who drives by knows, “This is the birthplace of Airheads,” as Ingram put it. “This new sign really brings out what we consider a landmark for the area, for our employees to be really proud to work here, for all the community who knows that we’re here.”

The big red balloon mascot’s name is Oscar, as it turns out.

Even though Ingram has been at Perfetti Van Melle for four and half years, she’s still got a sweet tooth.

“I never get tired of it. I never get tired of tasting the new things and seeing what’s coming next?” she said.

Her favorite flavor?

“I would have to say that it’s the cherry. And I love the Airheads Xtremes Belts,” she said.

As the second largest non-chocolate candy manufacturer in the U.S., Perfetti Van Melle produces 6.5 million Airheads bars at the Erlanger factory each day. Other company products include the aforementioned Xtremes, Mentos gum and mints, Chupa Chups lollipops, Trident, Dentyne and Bubblicious.

Despite the company’s desire to move away from the idea of “best kept secret,” there is one mystery people have been trying to solve for years that will remain a mystery.

“Everybody wants to know the mystery of ‘white mystery.’ And the mystery is the fun, so I cannot reveal the secret,” Ingram said.

Perfetti Van Melle says its northern Kentucky workforce doubled in the last four years to more than 500 workers.

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