Who Owns Tic Tac?
Tic Tac is owned by Ferrero, the Italian family-owned confectionery group headquartered in Alba, Italy. Ferrero created the brand in 1969, originally under the name Refreshing Mints before adopting the Tic Tac name in 1970 for the sound the mints make in their dispenser. Tic Tac is one of the world's bestselling breath mint brands, produced in billions of pieces annually.
Tic Tac Timeline
Who Owns Tic Tac?
- Parent Company: Ferrero
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tic Tac | Ferrero | Wholly owned |
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History of Tic Tac
- Founded: 1969
- Founders: Ferrero
Ferrero launched the mints in 1969 under the name Refreshing Mints. The product's hook was its package: a small transparent box with a hinged flap that dispensed a single mint at a time, plus the sound the candies made rattling inside. In 1970 the company renamed the product after that rattle, and Tic Tac was born.
The brand's formula was deliberately light: each mint weighs under half a gram and carries under two calories, which let Ferrero market it as a guilt-free refreshment. Mint was the lead flavor, but orange became equally iconic and for many markets more popular than mint itself.
Tic Tac was Ferrero's beachhead in America, entering the US market at the brand's 1969 launch and building national distribution through the 1970s. US production eventually localized, and the brand has been made domestically for decades at Ferrero facilities, including its plant in Ontario and US sites serving the North American market.
The line has expanded into dozens of flavors and formats: fruit varieties, Coca-Cola licensed editions, sugar-free lines, X-Freeze strong mints, and limited seasonal mixes. Tic Tac also ran one of the stranger brand moments of the 2010s, issuing public statements distancing itself from political associations after the mint appeared in a 2016 US election news story.
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About Ferrero
What does Ferrero own?
Ferrero owns iconic confectionery brands including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac, plus North American confectionery brands (Butterfinger, BabyRuth, 100 Grand), Ferrara candy brands (Brach's, Trolli), Power Crunch protein bars, WK Kellogg Co breakfast cereals (Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Special K), and Purely Elizabeth better-for-you breakfast foods (granola, oatmeal, cereal).
Is Ferrero publicly traded?
No, Ferrero is a privately held company owned by the Ferrero family since its founding in 1946. The company is not publicly traded on any stock exchange.
Who founded Ferrero?
Ferrero was founded in 1946 by Pietro Ferrero in Alba, Italy. Pietro was a pastry maker who created a chocolate hazelnut spread using locally abundant hazelnuts to extend limited cocoa supplies after World War II. After his death in 1949, his son Michele Ferrero expanded the business globally.
Where is Ferrero headquartered?
Ferrero maintains its corporate headquarters in Alba, Italy, where the company was founded. The holding company, Ferrero International S.A., is based in Luxembourg.
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What is Ferrero's revenue?
Ferrero reported annual revenue of approximately EUR 19.3 billion for fiscal year 2025. The company has grown consistently, with the WK Kellogg Co acquisition in July 2025 contributing to portfolio diversification.
Who is the CEO of Ferrero?
Giovanni Ferrero serves as Executive Chairman of Ferrero. He is the grandson of founder Pietro Ferrero and has led the company's strategic direction since the death of his father Michele Ferrero in 2015.
- Founded: 1946
- Headquarters: Alba, Italy
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Revenue: approximately €19.3 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 46,000
Where Is Tic Tac Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Alba, Piedmont, Italy
- Manufacturing / Operations: Italy, United States, Canada
Tic Tac Categories & Tags
Brands Owned by Ferrero
Food BeverageBaby Ruth
Owned by Ferrero
American chocolate candy bar with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate, founded in 1921 by Curtiss Candy Company and owned by Ferrero Group since January 2018.
chocolateconfectionerycandy
Food BeverageButterfinger
Owned by Ferrero
American candy bar brand known for its peanut butter and chocolate flavor, owned by Ferrero Group.
candy-barchocolatepeanut-butter
Food BeverageKellogg's Corn Flakes
Owned by Ferrero
Iconic ready-to-eat breakfast cereal invented in 1894, now owned by Ferrero through WK Kellogg Co.
breakfast-cerealready-to-eat-cerealcorn
Food BeverageCrunch
Owned by Ferrero
Milk chocolate and crisped rice bar introduced by Nestle in 1938, now produced in the United States by Ferrara Candy Company (Ferrero) and globally by Nestle.
chocolateconfectionerycandy
Food BeverageFerrero Rocher
Owned by Ferrero
Premium hazelnut chocolate brand launched in 1982 by Ferrero Group, sold in over 170 countries. Known for gold-foil wrapped praline chocolates and gifting positioning.
chocolatepremium-chocolategifting
Food BeverageFroot Loops
Owned by Ferrero
American colorful ring-shaped corn cereal with fruit-flavored sweetness, introduced in 1963 by Kellogg's. Known for its toucan mascot Toucan Sam and the "Follow your nose" advertising slogan.
breakfast-cerealkids-cerealcolored-cereal
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Tic Tac Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +As an internally created flagship, Tic Tac gets consistent investment and shelf priority across Ferrero's global retail network.
- +The brand needs little reformulation or repositioning, making it a stable margin contributor.
- +Ferrero's checkout-lane distribution power keeps Tic Tac in impulse position globally.
Considerations
- -The mints category is flat in developed markets, capping organic growth.
- -Cheap private-label equivalents undercut on price with near-identical packaging.
- -A single-product brand family has fewer extension paths than Ferrero's Kinder or Nutella lines.
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Tic Tac
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrero | Italy | 1982 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Ferrero | Italy | 1968 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Ferrero | Italy | 1964 | Mass market | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Food BeverageFerrero Rocher
Owned by Ferrero
Premium hazelnut chocolate brand launched in 1982 by Ferrero Group, sold in over 170 countries. Known for gold-foil wrapped praline chocolates and gifting positioning.
chocolatepremium-chocolategifting
Food BeverageKinder
Owned by Ferrero
Ferrero's flagship children's chocolate brand launched in 1968, covering Kinder Chocolate, Bueno, Joy, and Kinder Surprise.
chocolateconfectionerykids-snacks
Food BeverageNutella
Owned by Ferrero
Italian chocolate hazelnut spread brand owned by Ferrero Group, the world's best-selling branded chocolate spread with annual production exceeding 365,000 tonnes and sales in over 160 countries. Ferrero reported 2023/24 revenue of approximately €19.3 billion.
chocolatehazelnut-spreadconfectionery
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Tic Tac competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Tic Tac
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Ferrero, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageAJI-NO-MOTO
Owned by Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
The original umami seasoning brand, a monosodium glutamate product launched in 1909 and owned by Japan's Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
umamimsgseasoning
Publicly Traded
AJI-NO-MOTO operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food BeverageAero
Owned by Nestlé S.A.
British chocolate brand known for its distinctive aerated, bubbly texture, produced and distributed by Nestle and sold primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, and select international markets.
chocolateconfectionerysnacks
Publicly Traded
Aero is owned by Nestlé S.A., a public company, a different structure than Tic Tac's parent.
Food BeverageCadbury
Owned by Mondelez International, Inc.
British confectionery brand known for Dairy Milk chocolate, owned by Mondelez International.
chocolateconfectionerydairy-milk
Publicly Traded
Cadbury is owned by Mondelez International, Inc., a public company, a different structure than Tic Tac's parent.
Food BeverageKitKat
Owned by Nestlé S.A.
Chocolate-covered wafer bar created by Rowntree's in 1935, owned globally by Nestle S.A. and licensed to The Hershey Company in the United States under a perpetual agreement.
chocolateconfectionerywafer-bar
Publicly Traded
KitKat is owned by Nestlé S.A., a public company, a different structure than Tic Tac's parent.
Food BeverageReese's
Owned by The Hershey Company
Hershey's peanut butter cup brand created by former employee H.B. Reese in 1928, now the top-selling candy brand in the United States.
candychocolatepeanut-butter
Publicly Traded
Reese's is owned by The Hershey Company, a public company, a different structure than Tic Tac's parent.
Food BeverageA&W Root Beer
Owned by Keurig Dr Pepper
Classic American root beer brand founded in 1919, owned by Keurig Dr Pepper (NYSE: KDP) and sold across North America in retail and foodservice channels.
root-beersoft-drinksoda
Publicly Traded
A&W Root Beer is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, a public company, a different structure than Tic Tac's parent.
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