Chew it over: Gum factory visitors in the pink

London – Culinary designers Bompas & Parr opened the Artisanal Chewing Gum Factory at Whiteleys shopping centre this week.

Well known for their spectacular convivial culinary events and bespoke jelly, Bompas & Parr are inviting people to learn the secrets of chewing gum manufacture at the world’s first micro-factory.

In a dark and magical room, more than 150 jars are displayed, each containing familiar and unusual flavours. After sampling concoctions of white truffle and smoke, passion fruit and foie gras, and coffee and cigarettes, visitors are invited to ‘engage with chewing gum in a new way, and really think about what they are putting in their mouths,’ according to the designers.

On the opening night, imaginations ran wild and a combination was selected. Then Sam Bompas, wearing his trademark purple velvet bow tie, ushered visitors into a bubblegum pink room where they mixed, rolled and then packaged it into their own chewing gum.

‘Food is like Rock and Roll,’ Bompas told LS:N Global, as his guests embraced the nostalgic theme. ‘It really makes people interact.’

For more on Bompas & Parr’s vision, read our Innovate article.