The history of the company goes back to 1913, when Ford Mason leased 102 machines and placed them in stores and shops in New York City.
Leaf's American operations were acquired by Hershey in 1996, and Ford Gum was subject to a management buyout the next year.
Today, Ford Gum and Machine Co. is headquartered in Akron, NY and has a sales office in Buffalo Grove, IL.
Their primary competitors, Tootsie Roll's Dubble Bubble and SweetWorks' Oak Leaf Confections, manufacture gumballs and confectionery products in Canada.
As of 2015, most of their gum products are certified Kosher by the BVK, the Buffalo Vaad HaKashrus under the direction of Rabbi Moshe Taub.