Places in 1985. Timeline 1912: Crane's Peppermint Life Savers created by Clarence Crane in Garrettsville, Ohio. 1913: Edward Noble bought the Life Saver formula, renamed Pep-O-Mint Life Savers, and started Mint Products Company in New York City. 1921: The first fruit flavors were produced as solid candies. 1925: Technology improved to allow a hole in the center of the fruit candies. 1927: Cherry flavor is invented and added to regular flavors. 1935: The original Five Flavor roll of Life Savers debuted. 1956: Life Savers Limited merged with Beech-Nut. 1968: Beech-Nut Life Savers merged with Squibb. 1981: Nabisco Brands Inc. acquired Life Savers from the E.R. Squibb Corporation. 1987: Canadian Life Savers business acquired by Hershey Canada. 1992: Life Savers Gummies launches in three varieties: Grape, Five Flavor, and Mixed Berry. 1996: Canadian Life Savers business acquired by Beta Brands Limited. 2000: Kraft acquires Nabisco. 2001: Kraft acquires Canadian Life Savers business from Beta Brands. 2004: Life Savers business acquired by Wrigley's. 2008: Mars acquires Wrigley. See also Fruit Tingles Polo mints – A similar European confection by Nestlé, which had a trademark battle with Life Savers over the ring-shaped form. Triboluminescence – An optical phenomenon in which light is generated when material is subject to mechanical breaking, especially noticeable when crushing Wint-O-Green Life Savers in the dark. References External links Official Australian website Brand name confectionery Wrigley Company brands Products introduced in 1912 Breath mints Candy American confectionery Defunct companies based in Cleveland