GUMTECH INTERNATIONAL INC \UT\
SB-2, 1996-10-23
SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS
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     Filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on October 23,  1996.
                                       Securities Act Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM SB-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
                                   AS AMENDED


                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                      (Exact Name of Small Business Issuer
                          As Specified In Its Charter)

          Utah                       2067                   87-0482806
(State or other jurisdiction    (Primary Standard         (IRS Employer
of incorporation or               Industrial                I.D. Number)  
    organization)            Classification Code No.)       

                              4205 North 7th Avenue
                                Phoenix, AZ 85013
                                 (602) 277-0606
             Address, including zip code, and telephone number, in-
         cluding area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                     Gerald N. Kern, Chief Executive Officer
                          Gum Tech International, Inc.
                              4205 North 7th Avenue
                                Phoenix, AZ 85013
                                 (602) 277-0606
                (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)

                        Copies of all communications to:

                               Gary A. Agron, Esq.
                           5445 DTC Parkway, Suite 520
                               Englewood, CO 80111
                                 (303) 770-7254
                              (303) 770-7257 (Fax)

     Approximate  date of commencement  of the Offering:  As soon as practicable
after the effective date of the Offering.


<PAGE>

     If any of the  securities  registered  on this form are to be  offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933, as amended,  check the following box: X
                                           ---- 

     If delivery of the  Prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box:  [  ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

===============================================================================================================
                                                                              Proposed
                                     Dollar              Proposed              Maximum
     Title of Each Class           Amount To             Maximum              Aggregate        Amount of
        of Securities                  Be             Offering Price          Offering        Registration
       to be Registered            Registered            Per Unit               Price             Fee
===============================================================================================================

<S>                                <C>                     <C>            <C>                     <C>    
Common Stock, no
par value                          2,874,715              $6.00(1)        $17,248,290             $5,227

Total . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              $17,248,290             $5,227

===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Represents the closing price per share of the Registrant's  Common Stock on
     the National Market of NASDAQ on October 21, 1996.

     The  Registrant  hereby amends the  Registration  Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further  amendment  which  specifically  states  that  this  Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities  Act of 1933, or until the  Registration  Statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

                 (EXHIBIT INDEX LOCATED ON PAGE OF THIS FILING)




<PAGE>

                                       GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                           Cross Reference Sheet
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


   Item             Caption                               Location or Caption in Prospectus
   ----             -------                               ---------------------------------

<S>       <C>                                             <C>                                                   
    1.    Forepart of Registration Statement            Outside Front Cover Page
          and Outside Front Cover Page of
          Prospectus

    2.    Inside Front and Outside Back                 Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages
          Cover Page of Prospectus

    3.    Summary Information and Risk                  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors
          Factors

    4.    Use of Proceeds                               Use of Proceeds

    5.    Determination of Offering Price               Cover Page; Risk Factors

    6.    Dilution                                      Not Applicable

    7.    Selling Security Holders                      Selling Stockholders

    8.    Plan of Distribution                          Selling Stockholders

    9.    Legal Proceedings                             Not Applicable

   10.    Directors, Executive Officers,                Management; Principal Stockholders
          Promoters and Control Persons

   11.    Security Ownership of Certain                 Principal Stockholders
          Beneficial Owners and Management

   12.    Description of Securities                     Description of Securities

   13.    Interest of Named Experts and                 Not Applicable
          Counsel

   14.    Disclosure of Commission Position             Item 25 -- Undertakings
          on Indemnification for Securities

   15.    Organization Within Last Five                 Prospectus Summary; Certain Transactions
          Years

   16.    Description of Business                       Risk Factors; Business

   17.    Management's Discussion and                   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
          Analysis or Plan of Operations                Financial Condition and Results of
                                                        Operations



                                              (ii)

<PAGE>

   18.    Description of Property                       Business--Properties

   19.    Certain Relationships and Related             Certain Transactions
          Transactions

   20.    Market for Common Equity and                  Price Range of Common Stock;
          Related Stockholder Matters                   Description of Securities

   21.    Executive Compensation                        Management--Executive Compensation

   22.    Financial Statements                          Financial Statements

   23.    Changes in and Disagreements with             Not Applicable
          Accountants on Accounting and
          Financial Disclosure

</TABLE>





                                                (iii)

<PAGE>


                  Subject to Completion Dated October 23, 1996



                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                        2,874,715 Shares of Common Stock

     Gum Tech  International,  Inc.  (the  "Company") is  registering  hereby an
aggregate of 2,874,715  shares of its no par value Common Stock ("Common Stock")
on behalf of certain  stockholders of the Company (the "Selling  Stockholders").
The Common Stock will be sold (the  "Offering") by the Selling  Stockholders  in
open market  transactions  at prevailing  market prices less  customary  selling
commissions.  The Selling Stockholders may be deemed  "underwriters"  within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). See "Selling
Stockholders."  None of the  proceeds  from the sale of the Common Stock will be
received by the Company.  The Company  will bear the  expenses of the  Offering,
expected not to exceed $50,000.

     The  Company's  Common Stock trades on the National  Market of NASDAQ under
the symbol  "GUMM." On October 21, 1996,  the closing  price of the Common Stock
was $6.00 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock."

             THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
            BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("COMMISSION")
                     NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
                    ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
            ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

           THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK
            AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY BY PERSONS ABLE TO SUSTAIN
              A TOTAL LOSS OF THEIR INVESTMENT. SEE "RISK FACTORS."


                The date of this Prospectus is __________, 1996.



<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company has filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission"),  Washington,  D.C.,  a  Registration  Statement on Form SB-2 (the
"Registration  Statement")  under the 1933 Act with  respect  to the  securities
offered  hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth
in the Registration Statement,  certain items of which are omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Commission.  For further  information with
respect to the Company and the securities offered by this Prospectus,  reference
is made to such  Registration  Statement  and the exhibits  thereto.  Statements
contained  in this  Prospectus  as to the  contents  of any  contract  or  other
documents are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to
the  copy  of such  contract  or  other  document  filed  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement for a full statement of the provisions thereof; each such
statement contained herein is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

     The Company is subject to the informational  requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and, in accordance  therewith,
files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission.  Such
reports,  proxy statements and other  information may be inspected and copied at
public  reference  facilities  of the  Commission  at  450  Fifth  Street  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549; 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,  Illinois
60661;  7 World  Trade  Center,  New York,  New York  10048;  and 5757  Wilshire
Boulevard,  Los  Angeles,  California  90036.  Copies  of such  material  can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.

     The Company  furnishes  annual  reports  which  include  audited  financial
statements to its stockholders. The Company may also furnish quarterly financial
statements  to its  stockholders  and such other reports as may be authorized by
its Board of Directors.





                                        2

<PAGE>

                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The  following  is a  summary  of  certain  information  contained  in this
Prospectus  and is qualified in its  entirety by the  detailed  information  and
financial statements that appear elsewhere herein.

The Company

     The  Company  was  organized  in 1991 to  develop,  market  and  distribute
specialty  chewing gum products under its own brand names and on a private label
basis for other  chewing  gum  marketers.  The  Company's  current  chewing  gum
products contain  ingredients which it claims (i) promote weight loss (under the
"ChromaTrim"  and  "CitrusSlim"  brand  names),  (ii)  contribute  to energy and
endurance (under the "Buzz Gum", "Power Gum" and "Love Gum" brand names),  (iii)
alleviate certain premenstrual symptoms (under the "Repose" brand name) and (iv)
promote oral hygiene and breath freshness (under the "DentaHealth"  brand name).
The  Company  also  markets a chewing  gum product  which  includes  antioxidant
vitamins  (under the "Vita A-C-E"  brand name).  Sales of Power Gum and Love Gum
commenced in 1994 while sales of Buzz Gum,  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim  commenced
in 1991, 1993 and 1995, respectively.  The Company began distribution of Repose,
DentaHealth and Vita A-C-E in April 1996.

     The Company  contracted  with others for the manufacture of all its chewing
gum products until February 1996 when it completed  leasehold  improvements  and
began  initial  manufacture  of chewing gum  products in its 28,000  square foot
facility in Phoenix,  Arizona.  The facility employs 28 workers and produces all
of the  Company's  chewing  gum  products.  See  "Business -  Manufacturing  and
Packaging."

     The Company's  business  strategy is to (i) manufacture its own chewing gum
products  and the  private  label  chewing  gum  products  of other  chewing gum
marketers in greater  quantities and at lower costs,  (ii) increase  revenues by
(a)  expanding  its marketing  efforts for existing  chewing gum  products,  (b)
developing  new chewing gum products  through its own  research and  development
facilities  and (c) further  developing  its private label  business,  and (iii)
expand its  distribution  and customer base by adding  over-the-counter  ("OTC")
non-prescription  medications  (such  as  antacids,  cough  suppressants,   pain
relievers  and the like) to its  chewing gum  products.  The Company has not yet
commenced  the  distribution  or  marketing  of any OTC chewing gum products but
expects (but cannot assure) that it will do so by November,  1996. See "Business
- - Strategy."

     The Company markets its chewing gum products through wholesale distributors
who  distribute  primarily  to natural  food stores and through  other  brokers,
marketers and  distributors to convenience  stores and  independent  grocery and
drug stores. The Company also markets to chain grocery, drug and club stores and
to larger private label customers who market under their own brand names.


                                        3

<PAGE>

     Some of the  Company's  specialty  chewing  gum  products  are  subject  to
regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). If the FDA
concludes  that certain  chewing gum products are "drugs" under  applicable  FDA
regulations or if the Company  commences  marketing of OTC chewing gum products,
the FDA may restrict or remove any or all of the Company's  chewing gum products
from the market if such products  violate FDA rules or regulations.  On April 1,
1994 the  Company  received a Warning  Letter from the FDA  indicating  that the
Company's  Buzz Gum  chewing  gum  products  were  mislabeled.  In June 1994 the
Company  revised its  labeling  and so notified  the FDA. No further  action was
taken by the FDA. See "Risk  Factors - Government  Regulation"  and  "Business -
Government Regulation."

History

     The  Company  was  incorporated  in Utah in  February  1991 as a  specialty
chewing gum products  marketer  under the name Nekros  International  Marketing,
Inc. with office and warehouse  facilities  initially located in Ogden, Utah. In
November 1994,  control of the Company changed and between May 1995 and November
1995,  the Company  raised an  aggregate  of  $1,006,000  of equity  capital and
$2,400,000  of  debt  capital.  (For a  detailed  description  of the  Company's
corporate history  including its change of control,  see "Business - History and
Introduction.") The funds raised in 1995 were used to establish a new management
team, develop  additional  chewing gum products,  build inventories and purchase
chewing  gum   manufacturing   equipment  for  its  28,000  square  foot  leased
manufacturing facility in Phoenix,  Arizona. In January 1996, the Company raised
$3,095,875  through a private equity  placement to repurchase and retire 619,175
shares of the Company's Common Stock held by a former principal stockholder.  In
April 1996,  the Company sold to the public  460,000 Units of its  securities at
$18.00 per Unit,  each Unit  consisting  of three shares of Common Stock and one
Common Stock Purchase  Warrant (the "Public  Warrant") to purchase an additional
share of Common  Stock at any time until  April 24, 2001 at $7.50 per share (the
"Prior Offering"). At the same time, the Company registered 619,175 shares which
were  sold in the  aforementioned  private  placement.  The Prior  Offering  was
underwritten by Kensington Securities,  Inc. (the "Prior  Representative").  See
"Certain Transactions."

     The  Company's  executive  offices  are  located at 4205 North 7th  Avenue,
Phoenix,  Arizona  85013,  telephone  (602)  277-0606,  and  its  warehouse  and
manufacturing facility is located at 246 East Watkins, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

                                  The Offering

Securities offered..............     2,874,715 shares of Common Stock held by
                                     the Selling Stockholders

Offering price..................     Market price of the Common Stock on the
                                     National Market


                                        4

<PAGE>

Securities outstanding(1)........     4,896,740 shares and 460,000 Public
                                      Warrants

Use of Proceeds..................     None of the proceeds will be received by
                                      the Company.  See "Use of Proceeds."

National Market and NASDAQ
SmallCap symbols.................     GUMM - Common Stock (National Market)
                                      GUMMW - Public Warrants (NASDAQ SmallCap)

Transfer Agent...................     Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc.


- ----------
(1)  Excludes   exercise   of  (i)  the   Public   Warrants,   (ii)  the   Prior
     Representative's  Warrants  to  purchase  up to  40,000  Units  (each  Unit
     consisting  of one share of Common Stock and one Public  Warrant) at $24.75
     per Unit at any time from April 24,  1997 until  April 24, 2001 (the "Prior
     Representative's  Unit Warrants") and (iii)  outstanding  stock options and
     common stock purchase warrants to purchase up to 1,585,000 shares of Common
     Stock  including  760,000  shares  issuable  under the Company's 1995 Stock
     Option  Plan  (the  "1995   Plan").   See   "Dilution",   "Capitalization",
     "Management - 1995 Stock Option Plan", "Certain Transactions", "Description
     of Securities" and "Underwriting."



                                        5

<PAGE>

                          Summary Financial Information

     The  following  financial  information  has been derived from the financial
statements of the Company  appearing  elsewhere in this Prospectus and should be
read in conjunction with such financial statements.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                     Six Months Ended June 30,           Year Ended December 31,
                                     -------------------------           -----------------------
                                      1996              1995             1995             1994
                                      ----              ----             ----             ----
<S>                                <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>    
Income Statement Data:
Revenues                         $ 2,044,531         $1,732,825       $4,343,590       $1,941,562
Pretax income (loss)                (792,367)           401,519          768,321          231,589
Net income (loss)                   (579,024)           258,513          497,471          231,589
Pro forma net income
  (loss) per share (1)                  (.15)               .06              .11              .03
Pro forma net income
  (loss)                            (579,024)           258,513          497,471          150,589
Weighted average shares
  outstanding (1)                   3,974,103         4,392,658        4,392,658        4,392,658


                                    June 30,
                                      1996
                                  -----------
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital                   $ 5,600,243
Total assets                       10,329,054
Long-term debt                      1,594,160
Total liabilities                   2,350,945
Stockholders' equity                7,978,109
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)  For a description  of net income per share and the number of shares used in
     computing per share amounts, see Note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements.



                                        6

<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

     In evaluating the Company's business, prospective investors should consider
carefully the following factors in addition to the other  information  presented
in this Prospectus.

     Limited Operating  History;  Recent Losses. The Company began operations in
February  1991,  and  has a  limited  operating  history  upon  which  potential
investors may evaluate its performance. Although the Company reported net income
for the years ended  December 31, 1994 and 1995, it reported  losses for the six
months  ended June 30,  1996 of  $579,024,  expects a loss for the three  months
ended  September 30, 1996 and can give no assurance that future  operations will
be  profitable.  The  likelihood  of the  Company's  success must be  considered
relative to the  problems,  difficulties,  complications  and delays  frequently
encountered in connection  with the  development and operation of a new business
and the  competitive  environment in which the Company  intends to operate.  See
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations," "Business" and "Financial Statements."

     Unproven Markets for Certain of the Company's New Products; No Assurance of
Consumer  Acceptance.  The  Company  recently  introduced  three new chewing gum
products  (Repose,  DentaHealth  and  Vita  A-C-E),  which  the  Company  claims
alleviate  certain  premenstrual  symptoms,  promote  oral  hygiene  and provide
antioxidant  vitamins,  respectively.  There can be no  assurance  that a market
exists for any of these chewing gum products,  or that  consumers  will purchase
these or any other new product offerings of the Company in sufficient amounts to
justify continued production.

         Significant  Fixed  Costs  for and  Underutilization  of  Manufacturing
Facility.  The  Company  estimates  that the  fixed  costs  associated  with its
Phoenix,  Arizona manufacturing facility approximate $160,000 per month and that
only 10% of the facility's  total capacity is currently  being  utilized.  These
fixed costs have  contributed to significant  losses reported by the Company for
the six months ended June 30, 1996 and will continue to significantly contribute
to  losses  until  the  Company  increases  utilization  of  the  facility.  See
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations."

     Competition.  The  distribution and sale of chewing gum products are highly
competitive  and  consists  primarily  of  three  multi-billion   dollar  United
States-based  multinational  companies (Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company,  Warner Lambert
Company and Nabisco Food Group,  Inc.) which own most of the chewing gum brands,
large specialty chewing gum manufacturers,  such as The Topps Company ("Bazooka"
brand  chewing gum) and Marvel  Holdings,  Inc.  ("Double  Bubble" brand chewing
gum),  and small  specialty  chewing gum  marketers,  such as the  Company.  The
Company  does  not  have  the  capital  resources,  marketing  and  distribution
networks,  manufacturing  facilities,  personnel,  product name  recognition  or
advertising  budget to introduce chewing gum brands intended to compete with the
multinational  chewing  gum  manufacturers  or the large  specialty  chewing gum
marketers. See "Business - Competition."


                                        7

<PAGE>

     FDA and Other  Government  Regulation.  The Company's  chewing gum products
manufactured  by it or by others  for it are  subject to  regulation  by the FDA
including  regulations  with  respect  to  labeling  of  products,  approval  of
ingredients  in  products,  claims made  regarding  products and  disclosure  of
product  ingredients.  In addition,  the Federal  Trade  Commission  ("FTC") has
jurisdiction over advertising of the Company's  products.  Moreover,  if the FDA
concludes  that any of the  Company's  chewing gum  products  are "drugs"  under
applicable FDA regulations or otherwise  violate FDA rules or  regulations,  the
FDA may (i) require that  manufacture of such products be in accordance with FDA
"good  manufacturing  practices"  (which  prescribe  specific  requirements  and
procedures for the manufacture of FDA regulated  products),  or (ii) restrict or
remove  such  products  from the market.  Such  action may be taken  against the
Company and any entity which  manufactures  products  for the  Company.  Any OTC
chewing  gum  products  offered by the  Company  will be  subject  to  marketing
permission and ongoing intensive regulation by the FDA.

     On April  1,  1994 the  Company  received  a  Warning  Letter  from the FDA
indicating that the Company's Buzz Gum chewing gum products were mislabeled.  In
June 1994 the Company  revised its  labeling and so notified the FDA. No further
action was taken by the FDA.

     The  Company's  chewing  gum   manufacturing   facilities  are  subject  to
regulation  by  various  governmental   agencies,   including  state  and  local
licensing,  zoning,  land use,  construction and  environmental  regulations and
various health, sanitation,  safety and fire codes and standards.  Suspension of
certain  licenses  or  approvals,  due to  failure  to  comply  with  applicable
regulations   or  otherwise,   could   interrupt  the  Company's   manufacturing
operations.  Should the Company elect to  manufacture  OTC chewing gum products,
its  manufacturing  facilities will also be subject to inspection and regulation
by the FDA. See "Business - FDA and Other Government Regulation."

     Dependence  on  Significant   Distributors.   Two  affiliated  distributors
accounted  for 42.8%  and 26.7% of the  Company's  revenues  for the year  ended
December  31,  1995,  and 18.7% and 5.2% of the  Company's  revenues for the six
months ended June 30, 1996. A loss of either of these  distributors would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operations.  See "Business - Marketing"
and "Certain Transactions."

     No Assurance of Scientific  Proof.  Under FDA and FTC rules, the Company is
required  to  obtain  scientific  data to  support  any  health  claims it makes
concerning  its  products,  although  no  preclearance  or filing is required to
market the products.  The Company has obtained such  scientific data for all its
products and employs two  individuals to gather and organize the scientific data
when  required.  The Company has not provided nor been  requested to provide any
scientific  data to the FDA. The marketing of certain of the  Company's  chewing
gum products involves claims that such products assist in weight loss, alleviate
certain premenstrual symptoms, promote dental hygiene and the like. There can be
no assurance that the scientific data obtained by the Company in support of such
claims will be deemed acceptable by the FDA or FTC, should either agency request
any such data in the future.


                                        8

<PAGE>

     No Assurance of Proprietary  Protection.  The Company considers some of its
chewing gum  formulations  and processes to be  proprietary in nature and relies
upon a combination of non-disclosure agreements,  other contractual restrictions
and trade secrecy laws to protect such proprietary information.  There can be no
assurance that these steps will be adequate to prevent  misappropriation  of the
Company's  proprietary  information or that the Company's  competitors  will not
independently   develop  chewing  gum   formulations   and  processes  that  are
substantially equivalent or superior to the Company's. The Company holds certain
trademark and trade name protection for some of its chewing gum products and has
applied for trademark and trade name protection on other products.  There can be
no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully defend its trademarks
or trade names against claims from or use by competitors or obtain  trademark or
trade name protection for new products. See "Business - Trademarks,  Trade Names
and Proprietary Rights."

     Risks of New Product Development.  The Company may experience  difficulties
that could delay or prevent the  introduction  of new chewing gum products.  The
Company may be dependent  in the near future upon chewing gum products  that are
currently being developed by it. If the Company is unable to develop new chewing
gum products on a timely basis, the Company's  business,  operating  results and
financial  condition  could be materially  adversely  affected.  See "Business -
Strategy."

     Risks Associated with Expansion.  The Company intends to continue to expand
its  manufacturing  and marketing  operations.  Expansion will place substantial
strains  on  the  Company's  newly  retained  management  and  its  operational,
accounting and information systems. Successful management of growth will require
the  Company  to  improve  its  financial  controls,  operating  procedures  and
management information systems, and to train, motivate and manage its employees.
The Company's failure to manage growth effectively would have a material adverse
effect on its results of  operations  and its  ability to execute  its  business
strategy. See "Business - Strategy."

     Dependence Upon  Management  Personnel and Executive  Officers;  Management
Changes.  The Company's  operations  are dependent  upon its ability to hire and
retain  qualified  management  personnel and upon the continued  services of its
executive  officers.  The loss of  services  of any of the  Company's  executive
officers,  whether as a result of death,  disability or otherwise,  would have a
material  adverse  effect  upon the  business  of the  Company.  The Company has
experienced  significant  management  changes  in 1995  and 1996  including  the
appointment of a new Chief  Executive  Officer and President in August 1996. The
Company has  entered  into  employment  agreements  with its  current  executive
officers  but  does  not  have key man life  insurance  upon  their  lives.  See
"Management."

     Possible Fluctuations in Operating Results. The Company's operating results
have  varied and will  continue to vary from period to period as a result of the
amount its  manufacturing  facilities are utilized,  the purchasing  patterns of
consumers,  the  timing of new  product  introductions  by the  Company  and its
competitors  and  variations  in sales and  competitive  pricing.  Unanticipated
events, including delays in developing, manufacturing or marketing new chewing

                                        9

<PAGE>

gum products,  could have an adverse effect on the Company's  operating  results
and could also result in significant fluctuations in operating results in future
periods.

     Possible Need for Additional  Financing.  In the event that the proceeds of
the Prior  Offering or cash flow from  operations  prove to be  insufficient  to
cover  the  Company's  cash   requirements   (due  to  unanticipated   expenses,
difficulties,  problems  or  otherwise),  the  Company  may be  required to seek
additional debt or equity financing or curtail its expansion  activities.  There
can be no assurance that  additional  financing will be available to the Company
on  acceptable  terms,  or at all.  Any  future  equity  financing  may  involve
substantial dilution to the interests of the Company's stockholders.

     Product Liability.  The Company is subject to significant  liability should
use or consumption of its products cause injury,  illness or death. Although the
Company carries product liability insurance,  there can be no assurance that its
insurance  will be adequate to protect the  Company  against  product  liability
claims or that  insurance  coverage will continue to be available to the Company
on reasonable terms.

     No Dividends. In the past, the Company has paid only limited cash dividends
on its Common Stock and does not intend to pay any cash  dividends on its Common
Stock in the  foreseeable  future.  Earnings,  if any,  will be used to  finance
growth.  The Company has no financing or other agreements which prohibit payment
of dividends. See "Description of Securities - Dividends."

     Possible  Volatility of Securities  Prices.  The market price of the Common
Stock may be highly volatile,  as has been the case with the securities of other
recently formed  companies.  Factors such as the Company's  operating results or
public  announcements  by the Company or its  competitors may have a significant
effect on the market price of the  Company's  securities.  In  addition,  market
prices for securities of many small  capitalization  companies have  experienced
wide  fluctuations  in response to  variations in quarterly  operating  results,
general economic indicators and other factors beyond the control of the Company.
The registration of the Common Stock offered hereby coupled with exercise of the
Public  Warrants could increase the volatility of the Common Stock by increasing
the number of shares of publicly traded Common Stock outstanding.

     Shares  Eligible for Future Sale.  Sales of  substantial  amounts of Common
Stock in the open  market or the  availability  of such  shares  for sale  could
adversely  affect the market price for the Common Stock.  As of the date hereof,
all 4,896,740  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock have been  registered  for
public sale and may be immediately sold by the holders, subject only to an April
24, 1996  agreement  between the holders of  2,874,715  shares (all of which are
being registered  hereby) and the Prior  Representative in which they agreed not
to sell or  otherwise  dispose of their  shares of Common  Stock until April 24,
1998  without  the  prior  written  consent  of the  Prior  Representative.  See
"Description  of  Securities  - Common  Stock  Eligible  for  Future  Sale"  and
"Underwriting."


                                       10

<PAGE>

     Control by  Management;  Authorization  and  issuance of  Preferred  Stock;
Prevention  of Changes in Control.  The  Company's  officers and  directors  own
approximately  23.2% of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock
(assuming  exercise  by them of  outstanding  stock  options  and  common  stock
purchase  warrants),  and can as a practical matter continue to elect all of the
Company's  directors  and  control  the affairs of the  Company.  The  Company's
Certificate of  Incorporation  authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares
of Preferred  Stock with such rights and  preferences as may be determined  from
time to time by the Board of Directors.  Accordingly,  under the  Certificate of
Incorporation,  the Board of Directors may, without shareholder approval,  issue
Preferred Stock with dividend,  liquidation,  conversion,  voting, redemption or
other  rights which could  adversely  affect the voting power or other rights of
the holders of the Common Stock.  The issuance of any shares of Preferred  Stock
having rights  superior to those of the Common Stock may result in a decrease in
the value or market  price of the Common Stock and could be used by the Board of
Directors as a device to prevent a change in control of the Company. The Company
has no other  anti-takeover  provisions in its Certificate of  Incorporation  or
Bylaws.  Holders of the Preferred Stock may have the right to receive dividends,
certain  preferences in liquidation,  and conversion rights. See "Description of
Securities  - Use of Preferred  Stock As  Anti-Takeover  Device" and  "Principal
Stockholders."

     Elimination   of  Director   Liability.   The  Company's   Certificate   of
Incorporation  contains a provision  eliminating  a director's  liability to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty,
except in  circumstances  involving  a  financial  benefit  to a  director,  the
intentional  infliction of harm of the Company or certain wrongful acts, such as
the breach of a director's  duty of loyalty or acts or omissions  which  involve
intentional  misconduct  or a knowing  violation of criminal  law. The Company's
Bylaws contain provisions  obligating the Company to indemnify its directors and
officers to the fullest extent  permitted under Utah law. These provisions could
serve to insulate  officers and directors of the Company  against  liability for
actions  which  damage the  Company or its  stockholders.  See  "Description  of
Securities - Limitation on Liability."

     Maintenance  Criteria for NASDAQ  Securities.  The National  Association of
Securities Dealers,  Inc. ("the NASD"), which administers NASDAQ,  recently made
changes in the criteria for continued NASDAQ  eligibility.  In order to continue
to be included in NASDAQ,  a company must maintain $2 million in total assets, a
$200,000  market value of its public  float and $1 million in total  capital and
surplus. In addition,  continued inclusion requires two market-makers,  at least
300  holders  of the  Common  Stock  and a minimum  bid  price of $1 per  share;
provided, however, that if a company falls below such minimum bid price, it will
remain  eligible  for  continued  inclusion in NASDAQ if the market value of the
public  float is at least $1 million  and the  Company has $2 million in capital
and surplus.  The Company's  failure to meet these  maintenance  criteria in the
future may result in the  discontinuance  of the inclusion of its  securities in
NASDAQ. In such event,  trading,  if any, in the securities may then continue to
be  conducted  in the  non-NASDAQ  over-the-counter  market in what are commonly
referred to as the electronic bulletin board and the "pink sheets." As a result,
an  investor  may find it more  difficult  to dispose  of or to obtain  accurate
quotations as to the market value of the  securities.  In addition,  the Company
would be subject to a rule promulgated by the Commission that, if the

                                       11

<PAGE>

Company  fails to meet  criteria set forth in such rule,  imposes  various sales
practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell securities governed by the rule
to persons other than established customers and accredited investors.  For these
types  of  transactions,  the  broker-dealer  must  make a  special  suitability
determination  for the  purchaser  and have  received  the  purchaser's  written
consent to the transactions  prior to sale.  Consequently,  the rule may have an
adverse effect on the ability of  broker-dealers  to sell the securities,  which
may affect the ability of purchasers  in the Offering to sell the  securities in
the secondary market.

     Disclosure  Related to Penny Stocks.  The Commission  has recently  adopted
rules  that  define  "penny  stock."  In the  event  that  any of the  Company's
securities  are  characterized  in the  future  as penny  stock,  broker-dealers
dealing  in  the  securities  will  be  subject  to  the  disclosure  rules  for
transactions  involving penny stocks which require the broker-dealer among other
things to (i) determine the  suitability  of  purchasers of the  securities  and
obtain the written  consent of purchasers to purchase such  securities  and (ii)
disclose  the best  (inside) bid and offer  prices for such  securities  and the
price at which the  broker-dealer  last  purchased or sold the  securities.  The
additional  burdens  imposed  upon   broker-dealers  may  discourage  them  from
effecting  transactions in penny stocks, which could reduce the liquidity of the
securities offered hereby.



                                       12

<PAGE>

                                 CAPITALIZATION

     The following  table sets forth the  capitalization  of the Company at June
30, 1996, without giving effect to the exercise of (i) the Public Warrants, (ii)
the Prior  Representative's  Unit Warrants or (iii) outstanding stock options or
common  stock  purchase  warrants to purchase up to  1,585,000  shares of Common
Stock including 760,000 shares issuable under the Company's 1995 Plan.

                                                           June 30, 1996
                                                           -------------
Long-term debt:                       
     Notes payable                                           $1,815,909
                                                             ----------
Stockholders' equity:
     Preferred Stock, 1,000,000 no par value
         shares authorized, none issued                          --
     Common Stock, 10,000,000 no par value
         shares authorized, 4,876,740 shares
         issued and outstanding                               7,851,060
     Retained earnings                                          127,049
                                                             ----------
         Total stockholders' equity                           7,978,109
                                                             ----------
              Total capitalization                           $9,794,018
                                                             ==========

                           PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

     The  Company's  Common  Stock has traded on the  National  Market under the
symbol "GUMM" since April 24, 1996.

     The following table sets forth for the quarters indicated the range of high
and low closing prices of the Company's Common Stock as reported by the National
Market but does not include retail markup, markdown or commissions.

                                                               Price
                                                           -------------
By Quarter Ended:                                          High      Low
- -----------------                                          ----      ---

December 31, 1996 (through October 21, 1996)............  $7.75      $5.75
September 30, 1996......................................   6.125      6.00
June 30, 1996...........................................   6.875     6.375

     As of October  21,  1996,  the  Company  had  approximately  350 record and
beneficial stockholders.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     None of the proceeds of the Offering  will be received by the Company.  See
"Selling Stockholders."

                                       13

<PAGE>

                             SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The selected  financial  data set forth below for the years ended  December
31, 1995 and 1994 has been derived from the Company's financial statements which
have been audited by Angell & Deering.  The selected financial data is qualified
by, and should be read in  conjunction  with,  the financial  statements and the
notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Six Months Ended June 30,             Year Ended December 31,
                                     -------------------------             -----------------------
                                      1996              1995               1995             1994
                                      ----              ----               ----             ----
<S>                               <C>                 <C>                <C>              <C>   
Income Statement Data:
Revenues                         $ 2,044,531         $1,732,825         $4,343,590       $1,941,562
Pretax income (loss)                (792,367)           401,519            768,321          231,589
Net income (loss)                   (579,024)           258,513            497,471          231,589
Pro forma net income
  (loss) per share (1)                  (.15)               .06                .11              .03
Pro forma net income
  (loss)                            (579,024)           258,513            497,471          150,589
Weighted average shares
  outstanding (1)                   3,974,103         4,392,658          4,392,658        4,392,658


                                    June 30,
                                      1996
                                  -----------
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital                   $ 5,600,243
Total assets                       10,329,054
Long-term debt                      1,594,160
Total liabilities                   2,350,945
Stockholders' equity                7,978,109
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)  For a description  of net income per share and the number of shares used in
     computing per share amounts, see Note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements.



                                       14

<PAGE>

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

     The  Company  was  organized  in 1991 to  develop,  market  and  distribute
specialty chewing gum products. The Company's first chewing gum product included
a natural caffeine substance marketed to runners and other exercise  enthusiasts
as a source of energy and  carbohydrates.  In 1994 and 1995,  the Company raised
funds  through  debt and equity  financings  which were used to  establish a new
management team, develop additional chewing gum products,  build inventories and
purchase  chewing gum  manufacturing  equipment for the Company's  28,000 square
foot  manufacturing  facility which  commenced  operations in February 1996. The
facility  employs 28 workers  and  produces  all of the  Company's  chewing  gum
products.

Results of Operations

     The following table sets forth certain statement of operations  information
expressed  both in  dollars  and as a  percentage  of net sales for the  periods
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                   ------------------------
                                              1995                              1994
                                              ----                              ----
<S>                                 <C>            <C>                <C>             <C>   
Net sales                           $4,343,590     100.0%             $1,941,562      100.0%
Cost of sales                        2,310,643      53.2               1,011,956       52.1
Gross profit                         2,032,947      46.8                 929,606       47.9
Operating expenses                   1,118,510      25.7                 694,555       35.8
Research and development                90,348       2.1                    -           -
Income from operations                 824,089      19.0                 235,051       12.1
Interest and other income               53,212       1.2                     940         .1
Interest expense                       108,980       2.5                   4,402         .2
Pro forma provision
     for income taxes                  270,850       6.2                  81,000        4.2
Pro forma net income                   497,471      11.5                 150,589        7.8
</TABLE>

Year Ended December 31, 1995 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1994

     Net Sales.  Net sales  increased by $2.4 million,  or 124%, to $4.3 million
for the year ended  December 31, 1995 ("1995")  compared to $1.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 1994 ("1994"). This increase was primarily the result of
the  introduction  of  "CitrusSlim"  which  accounted for $340,000 of such sales
increase and the  expansion of the  Company's  distribution  channels to include
infomercial   television   broadcasts  which  the  Company  believes  were  also
responsible  for a large part of the additional  sales.  Product pricing was not
changed in 1995.

     Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased 1% to 53% in 1995 compared to 52% in
1994 primarily as a result of new package  designs,  increased  production costs
and the purchase of higher priced gum from a foreign supplier to be used in a

                                       15

<PAGE>

chewing gum product sold internationally. The majority of the Company's costs of
sales  resulted from  purchases of gum products from third party  manufacturers.
Costs of sales are  expected  to be  reduced  when the  Company's  manufacturing
facility is completed.

     Gross Profit.  Gross profit  decreased 1% to 47% in 1995 compared to 48% in
1994 as a result  of the  increased  costs  discussed  above and  certain  price
discounts given by the Company to volume distributors.  During 1995, the Company
pursued  relationships  with  distributors  that  specialized in selling to mass
merchandisers,   drug  and  convenience  stores  and  national  broadcasters  of
infomercials.  While these distributors were offered volume price discounts, the
arrangement  increased sales revenue,  decreased monthly sales  fluctuations and
allowed for more orderly production planning

     Operating Expenses.  Operating expenses increased $423,955 in 1995 compared
to 1994 but  decreased as a  percentage  of net sales from 36% in 1994 to 26% in
1995.  The  increase  in  expenditures  was  primarily  due to the hiring of new
management  personnel  ($152,508) together with increases in trade show expenses
($48,939),  legal fees ($80,317) and travel expenses ($60,634). The reduction of
operating  expenses  as a  percentage  of net sales was the result of  increased
sales. Operating expenses will increase as the Company expands its manufacturing
operations.

     Research  and  Development.  Research  and  development  expenditures  were
$90,348 in 1995  compared to $0 in 1994 and resulted  from  expenses  associated
with  development of new products.  Prior to June 1995,  development  activities
were conducted by outside  consultants.  The Company  developed three additional
products which it intended to introduce in 1995. However, the Company was unable
to obtain  assurances  that its  existing  manufacturer  would be able to supply
adequate  quantities of the product.  Consequently,  management decided that the
new  products  will be  introduced  in 1996  when  the  Company's  manufacturing
facility is completed.

     Interest and Other Income and Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased
$108,980 in 1995 (from  $4,402 in 1994) as a result of the Company  issuing $2.4
million  of  debt  securities,  which  will be  retired  using  proceeds  of the
Offering.  Proceeds  from the loans were used to pay  deposits  on  chewing  gum
manufacturing  equipment,  to build  inventories of new products,  for marketing
expenses  and working  capital.  Interest  and other  income  increased  $52,272
primarily as a result of an increase in working  capital from equity  financings
that was invested in short-term investments.

     Pro Forma  Provisions  for Income  Taxes.  Beginning  January 1, 1993,  the
Company was an S Corporation  under the provisions of the Internal  Revenue Code
through  November 18, 1994. As such,  the Company was not subject to federal and
state income taxes and, accordingly,  no provision was made for income taxes for
1993 and 1994,  and the  Company's  stockholders  were  required  to report  the
Company's  taxable  income on their tax returns.  The  statements  of operations
include a pro forma income tax adjustment that represent the federal and state

                                       16

<PAGE>

provision  for income taxes as if the Company had been a taxable  entity  paying
federal and state income taxes for all periods presented at the rates applicable
in  each  period.  Effective  November  18,  1994,  the  Company  revoked  its S
Corporation  election and all income  subsequent to that date will be subject to
federal and state income taxes.

     Pro forma Net Income.  Net income after pro forma  income  taxes  increased
from $150,589 in 1994 to $497,471 in 1995 primarily as a result of increased net
sales and the resulting economies of scale applicable to the Company's fixed and
variable expenses.

     The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  expressed  both in
dollars and as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                  -------------------------
                                             1996                           1995
                                             ----                           ----

<S>                                 <C>              <C>          <C>              <C>   
Net sales                           $2,044,531       100.0%       $1,732,825       100.0%
Cost of sales                        1,069,832        52.3           967,760        55.8
Gross profit                           974,699        47.7           765,065        44.2
Operating expenses                   1,624,415        79.5           352,198        20.4
Research and development                50,773         2.5            12,392         0.7
Income (loss) from operations         (700,489)    (34.3)            400,475        23.1
Interest and other income               45,733         2.2            26,460         1.5
Interest expense                       137,611         6.7            25,416         1.5
Pro forma provision (benefit)
  for income taxes                    (213,343)    (10.5)            143,006         8.2
Pro forma net income (loss)           (579,024)    (28.3)            258,513        14.9
</TABLE>

Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 1995

     Net Sales.  Net sales increased by $311,706,  or 18%, to $2,044,531 for the
six months ended June 30, 1996 compared to  $1,732,825  for the six months ended
June 30, 1996.  The  increase in sales was a result of an expanded  distribution
network,  the  introduction  of several new products and increased  shipments of
existing products to the Company's primary distributor.

     Cost of Sales. Cost of sales decreased 4% to $1,069,832 or 52% of net sales
for the six months ended June 30, 1996, compared to $967,760 or 56% of net sales
for the same period in 1995.  This  decrease  was  primarily  due to the Company
selling directly to mass market, drug, food and export customers at higher gross
margins.  Cost of sales are expected to continue to decline as the manufacturing
facility becomes more efficient.

     Gross Profit.  Gross profit increased by 4% to $974,699 or 48% of net sales
for the six months ended June 30, 1996, compared to $765,065 or 44% of net sales
for the same period in 1995.


                                       17

<PAGE>

     Operating  Expenses.  Operating  expenses were  $1,624,415,  an increase of
$1,272,217  for the six months ended June 30, 1996,  compared to the same period
in 1995.  Approximately  $721,000  of these  operating  expenses  were  directly
attributable to the operations of the manufacturing  facility.  No manufacturing
expenses were incurred for the six months ended June 30, 1995 as the Company had
not yet commenced manufacturing operations.  Moreover, because the manufacturing
facility  continues  to  operate  at only a small  percentage  of its  capacity,
revenues were not  sufficient to offset the  manufacturing  operating  expenses.
Factors contributing to an increase in non-manufacturing operating expenses were
related to  advertising  ($319,925),  labor  ($300,866),  professional  fees for
legal, accounting,  art/production, and general consulting ($167,724), insurance
($86,488), and trade shows ($51,766).

     Research  and  Development.  Research  and  development  expenditures  were
$50,773 for the six months ended June 30, 1996, compared to $12,392 for the same
period in 1995. The majority of these costs were related to the  development and
production  scale-up of the Jack Lalanne product line,  DentaHealth,  Vita A-C-E
and Repose and the  research  and  development  of OTC gum  products and private
label products.

     Interest and Other Income and Interest  Expense.  Interest and other income
was $45,733,  an increase of $19,273 and was primarily the result of an increase
in working  capital  from equity  financings  that were  invested in  short-term
investments.  Interest expense was $137,611, an increase of $112,195 for the six
months ended June 30, 1996  compared to the same period in 1995.  This  increase
was a  result  of the  Company  issuing  $2.4  million  of debt  securities  and
equipment financing for the manufacturing facility. Proceeds from the loans were
used  to  pay  deposits  on  chewing  gum  manufacturing   equipment,  to  build
inventories  of new  products,  for  marketing  expenses  and  working  capital.
Proceeds from the Prior Offering were used to retire the debt in early May 1996.
In  addition,  the Company  entered  into a $1.85  million  equipment  financing
agreement with Textron Financial Corporation for the Company's gum manufacturing
equipment.

     Net  Income.  The Company  incurred a loss of  $579,024  for the six months
ended June 30,  1996  compared  to a profit of  $258,513  for the same period in
1995.  The loss  incurred  in this  period was  primarily  due to an increase in
operating expenses as described above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     As of June 30,  1996,  the  Company's  working  capital  was  $5.6  million
compared to $1.74  million at June 30,  1995.  For the six months ended June 30,
1996,  the  Company  experienced  a  decrease  in  cash  provided  by  operating
activities  of  $1,765,090  primarily  as a result of an  increase  in  accounts
receivable and  inventories.  The increase in inventory was directly  related to
the  build-up  of  new  product   finished  goods  and  raw  materials  for  the
manufacturing facility.


                                       18

<PAGE>

     Investing  activities  consumed  $764,056 in cash for the six months  ended
June 30, 1996  compared to $808,637 of cash for the same period of 1995.  Use of
cash primarily  resulted from equipment  purchased to start up the manufacturing
facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

     Financing  activities  provided $5,343,548 in cash for the six months ended
June 30, 1996 compared to  $1,892,498 in cash for the same period in 1995.  This
increase in cash was  primarily a result of the Prior  Offering of 400,000 units
(each  unit  consisted  of three  shares  of no par value  common  stock and one
redeemable  common stock purchase warrant) for gross proceeds of $7.2 million on
April 24, 1996. In addition,  the Prior Underwriter  exercised its Overallotment
Option of 60,000 units and the Company  received gross proceeds of $1.08 million
on May 24, 1996.  The Company paid $1.45 million in  commissions,  underwriter's
expenses and other costs related to the Prior  Offering.  The Company used $2.57
million  from the  Prior  Offering  to repay  its debt  securities  provided  by
stockholders in 1995.

     Textron  Financial  Corporation  ("Textron")  provided  financing  for  the
Company's  gum  manufacturing  equipment.  The Company  entered  into a six-year
equipment  lease  agreement  with  Textron in  December  1995  pursuant to which
Textron  funded  approximately  $1.85  million of gum  manufacturing  equipment.
Monthly lease payments commenced in January 1996.

     Management  believes  that  the  proceeds  of the  Prior  Offering  will be
sufficient to meet the Company's working capital requirements during 1996.

     The  Company's  future  results  of  operations  and  any  forward  looking
statements  contained  in  this  Prospectus,   in  particular  the  statement(s)
concerning  manufacturing   facility's  efficiencies  and  capacities,   capital
spending,  research and development and other expenses involve a number of risks
and  uncertainties.  In addition to the factors discussed above, among the other
factors that could cause actual results to differ  materially are the following:
business conditions and the general economy;  competitive factors, such as rival
gum manufacturers'  pricing and marketing  efforts;  availability of third-party
material  products  at  reasonable  prices;   risk  of  nonpayment  of  accounts
receivable;  risks of  inventory  obsolescence  due to shifts in market  demand;
timing of product  introductions;  and litigation  involving product liabilities
and consumer issues.


                                       19

<PAGE>

                                    BUSINESS

History and Introduction

     The Company was organized as a Utah  corporation in February 1991 under the
name Nekros  International  Marketing,  Inc. to develop,  market and  distribute
specialty  chewing gum products under its own brand names and on a private label
basis for other chewing gum marketers.  In January 1993 the Company  changed its
name to Gum Tech  International,  Inc. Between May 1, 1994 and November 15, 1994
the Company was  involuntarily  dissolved (and then  reinstated)  for failure to
timely file its  corporate  annual  report in Utah.  Between  February  1991 and
November 1994, the Company  developed and marketed a number of specialty chewing
gum products under its own brand names and on a private label basis. During that
time,  Richard  Bernstein,  who is now an officer and  director of the  Company,
acted as an independent  marketer of certain of the Company's brand name chewing
gum  products  through  Bernstein  Bros.  Marketing  Corporation  and  Universal
Merchants,  Inc. In November 1994, Gregory Gossett, then the Company's President
and majority  stockholder,  sold a  controlling  interest in the Company to Dale
Holdings, LDC ("Dale"). See "Certain  Transactions." In April 1995, Dale changed
the Company's  management by requesting the  resignation of two of the Company's
directors  (Jonathan  Harrison and Kirk  Gossett) and by adding  Messrs.  Epert,
Ratcliff,  Kehoe,  Bernstein,  Bouchy,  Manhold,  Monte and Wood as officers and
directors. In August 1996 and May 1996,  respectively,  Messrs. Manhold and Wood
resigned as directors  and in June 1996 William G. Meris was elected a director.
In August 1996,  (i) Mr.  Ratcliff  resigned as Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company and was appointed its Chairman and Senior Vice President, (ii) Mr. Epert
resigned as President  of the Company and was  appointed  its Vice  Chairman and
Executive Vice President, and (iii) Gerald N. Kern was appointed Chief Executive
Officer and President. See "Management."

     In October  1995,  the  Company  borrowed  $1,550,000  from a group of four
lenders (the "1995 Bridge Loan"). As additional compensation for the 1995 Bridge
Loan, the Company issued an aggregate of 465,000 common stock purchase  warrants
to the  lenders,  each such  warrant  exercisable  to purchase  one share of the
Company's Common Stock at $2.00 per share exercisable in perpetuity.  The Bridge
Loan bore  interest at 8% per annum and was repaid in April 1996 using  proceeds
from the Prior Offering. The Bridge Loan lenders included Brett Bouchy, a former
principal stockholder of the Company (who received 165,000 warrants), and Robert
H. Wood, a former  director of the Company (who received  75,000  warrants).  In
March  1996,  Brett  Bouchy  sold  100,000  warrants to Gary S. Kehoe and 65,000
warrants to Robert H. Wood,  both  officers and  directors  of the Company,  for
$5.00 per  warrant.  The purchase  price was paid by the issuance of  promissory
notes by Messrs.  Kehoe and Wood to Mr. Bouchy bearing interest at 9% per annum.
The warrants are not collateral for the promissory  notes.  The promissory notes
are due the earlier of (i) six months after the  warrants are  exercised or (ii)
if during the period from April 24, 1997 until April 24, 2000 the closing  price
of the  Company's  Common  Stock on  NASDAQ is $10.00 or more per share for five
consecutive  trading days then the promissory  notes are due six months from the
last such trading day. If neither event occurs, the promissory notes become void
and of no value on April 24, 1999 and the warrants remain the property of

                                       20

<PAGE>

Messrs.  Kehoe  and  Wood.  Under  no  circumstances  will the  warrants  become
returnable  to Mr.  Bouchy.  Mr.  Bouchy sold the warrants at the request of the
National Market who had advised the Company that neither NASDAQ nor the National
Market would list the  Company's  securities so long as Mr. Bouchy was an equity
holder in the Company. The National Market's objection to allowing Mr. Bouchy to
remain an equity holder in the Company  resulted from fines and censures imposed
upon Mr.  Bouchy  by the  NASD and the  Securities  Commission  of the  State of
Arizona. See "Certain Transactions."

     In December 1995, Dale dissolved and issued 51% and 49% respectively of its
Common  Stock in the  Company and its loans  receivable  due from the Company to
Riverlux  Trust  REG and Brett  Bouchy.  Riverlux  Trust  REG and  Brett  Bouchy
received   665,265   shares  and  639,175   shares,   respectively,   of  Dale's
stockholdings in the Company and $433,500 and $416,500,  respectively, of Dale's
loans receivable from the Company.  The loans were repaid out of proceeds of the
Prior Offering. Subsequently, Riverlux Trust REG and Mr. Bouchy each sold 20,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock to Mr. Kehoe for $2.00 per share.

     The Company's  current chewing gum products  contain  ingredients  which it
claims (i) promote weight loss (under the "ChromaTrim"  and  "CitrusSlim"  brand
names),  (ii) contribute to energy and endurance  (under the "Buzz Gum",  "Power
Gum" and "Love Gum" brand names), (iii) alleviate certain premenstrual  symptoms
(under  the  "Repose"  brand  name) and (iv)  promote  oral  hygiene  and breath
freshness  (under the  "DentaHealth"  brand  name).  The Company  also markets a
chewing gum product which includes  antioxidant vitamins (under the "Vita A-C-E"
brand  name).  Sales of Power Gum and Love Gum  commenced in 1994 while sales of
Buzz  Gum,  ChromaTrim  and  CitrusSlim   commenced  in  1991,  1993  and  1995,
respectively.  The Company began  distribution  of Repose,  DentaHealth and Vita
A-C-E in April 1996.

     The Company  contracted  with others for the manufacture of all its chewing
gum products until February 1996 when it completed  leasehold  improvements  and
began  initial  manufacture  of chewing gum  products in its 28,000  square foot
manufacturing facility in Phoenix,  Arizona. The facility employs 28 workers and
produces all of the Company's  chewing gum products.  See "-  Manufacturing  and
Packaging."

Strategy

     The Company  intends to apply  proceeds of the Prior  Offering and revenues
generated  from the sale of its  chewing gum  products  to pursue the  following
business strategy:

     (i) Manufacture its own chewing gum products.  The Company will continue to
manufacture its chewing gum products under its own labels and on a private label
basis for other chewing gum marketers.  The Company  believes that operating its
own manufacturing  facility  significantly reduces its dependence on third party
manufacturers,  assists it in maintaining the secrecy of its proprietary chewing
gum  formulas,  reduces its product  costs and  increases  product  capacity for
itself and its large volume customers.


                                       21

<PAGE>

     (ii)  Increase  revenues by expanding  its  marketing  efforts for existing
chewing gum products, developing new chewing gum products and further developing
its private  label  business.  The  Company  will  continue to expand  marketing
efforts for existing  products  (both in the United States and  internationally)
and to further  develop its private label business in order to manufacture  more
chewing gum products for other chewing gum marketers.  The Company will continue
to develop new specialty  chewing gum products,  such as the three new specialty
products it recently introduced (Vita A-C-E, Repose and DentaHealth), for itself
and its private label customers.  Because the Company is  significantly  smaller
than most of its  competitors,  it intends to  develop,  manufacture  and market
specialty  chewing gum products in niche markets that are  considered  too small
for  exploitation  by many of these  competitors.  Development of these products
will be undertaken at the Company's research and development laboratory facility
located within the Company's  manufacturing  facility in Phoenix,  Arizona.  The
research  and  development  facility  consists of 900 square feet of  laboratory
space staffed by two employees.

     (iii) Expand its  distribution  and customer base by adding OTC medications
(such as  antacids,  cough  suppressants,  pain  relievers  and the like) to its
chewing gum  products.  The  Company  has  certain  OTC chewing gum  products in
development  and  expects  to  explore  market  potential  for a number  of such
products in the near future.  The Company believes that OTC chewing gum products
may appeal to certain retailers (such as drug stores and health food stores) and
offer the Company the potential to develop new consumer niche markets.  Any such
OTC chewing gum  products  will  require  FDA  permission  to market and will be
subject to ongoing FDA marketing and manufacturing  regulations.  See "- FDA and
Other Government Regulation."

Marketing

     The  Company  markets  its  products  through  wholesale  distributors  who
distribute primarily to natural food stores and through other brokers, marketers
and distributors to convenience stores and independent  grocery and drug stores.
The Company also markets to chain grocery,  drug and club stores through brokers
and  distributors  or  directly  in the case of club  stores.  The  Company  has
non-binding  distribution  agreements with distributors in North America,  South
America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

     The Company also  manufactures and private labels certain specialty chewing
gum products to retail  health food  chains,  wholesalers  and other  marketers,
including  Schiff/Weider  Nutrition,  General  Nutrition  Centers (GNC),  Hammer
Corp., Jack LaLanne and Body Ammo. Under private label arrangements, the Company
supplies  chewing gum products  (including  formulas used by the Company and its
customers)  labeled with brand names selected by its private label  customers or
otherwise  includes  the  private  label  customer's  name  on the  gum  product
packaging.  For  instance,  the  Company's  Jack LaLanne  line of private  label
chewing  gum  includes  the  Company's  Power  Gum,  DentaHealth,  Love  Gum and
ChromaTrim products marketed under the Jack LaLanne label.


                                       22

<PAGE>

     In January  1996,  the  Company  entered  into a five-year  agreement  (the
"Mayday  Agreement") with Mayday,  Inc. ("Mayday") pursuant to which it retained
Mayday to oversee  and  administer  the  Company's  sales  agents,  brokers  and
distributors in certain defined "Target Markets."  Mayday's services include (i)
assisting the Company in selection of sales agents and brokers,  (ii)  reviewing
and submitting purchase orders to the Company,  (iii) collecting receivables due
from sales agents and brokers,  (iv)  submitting  monthly  sales  reports to the
Company  covering the  activities of the Company's  sales agents and brokers and
(v) administering sales and marketing activities in the Target Markets including
selection of new sales  agents and brokers and  enforcement  of Company  selling
policies and procedures.

     "Target  Markets"  are  defined in the Mayday  Agreement  as all markets in
which the Company  operates  except (i) the natural food  markets,  (ii) private
label  markets,   (iii)  markets  developed  from  direct  response   television
infomercial advertising, (iv) international markets and (v) markets addressed by
Bernstein Bros. Marketing  Corporation,  doing business as National Distributing
("National  Distributing"),  which  generally  involve sales of  ChromaTrim  and
CitrusSlim to non-chain convenience stores, grocery stores, drugstores and other
similar retail food stores.

     Under the Mayday  Agreement,  Mayday is  entitled  to  receive  commissions
during the first year  (ending  December 31, 1996) equal to (i) 10% of Net Sales
(defined  as gross  sales in the Target  Markets) up to $2 million of Net Sales,
(ii) 7% of Net Sales  between $2 million and $3  million,  (iii) 5% of Net Sales
between  $3  million  and $4  million  and (iv) 3% of Net  Sales in excess of $4
million. In subsequent years, Mayday is entitled to receive commissions equal to
3% of Net Sales up to the prior  year's  Net Sales and 5% of Net Sales in excess
of the prior year's Net Sales.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into a two-year distribution agreement
with  Bernstein  Bros.   Marketing   Corporation  (doing  business  as  National
Distributing) (a company in which Richard Bernstein,  an officer and director of
the Company, is President,  a director and a principal  stockholder) pursuant to
which the Company agreed to sell to National  Distributing  at fixed prices on a
non-exclusive  basis  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim  chewing gum for distribution by
National  Distributing solely to non-chain  convenience stores,  grocery stores,
drugstores  and other  similar  retail food stores.  There are no minimum  sales
requirements  imposed  under the  agreement.  The Company  considers the product
prices  offered  to  National  Distributing  under  the  agreement  to be  fair,
reasonable  and  consistent  with  product  prices  which  would be  offered  to
unaffiliated distributors.  Sales by National Distributing of ChromaTrim chewing
gum under a prior  distribution  agreement with the Company  accounted for 42.8%
and 62.4% of the Company's total sales for the years ended December 31, 1995 and
1994,  respectively,  and 18.7% of total sales for the six months ended June 30,
1996. A loss of National  Distributing  as a  distributor  could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's operations.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into a two-year distribution agreement
with Universal Merchants, Inc. ("UMI") (a company in which Richard Bernstein, an
officer and director of the Company was formerly a principal stockholder)

                                       23

<PAGE>

pursuant  to  which  the  Company  agreed  to sell to UMI at fixed  prices  on a
non-exclusive  basis  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim  chewing gum for distribution by
UMI solely in the United States through direct response  television  infomercial
advertising.   There  are  no  minimum  sales  requirements  imposed  under  the
agreement.  The Company  considers the product  prices  offered to UMI under the
agreement to be fair,  reasonable and consistent with product prices which would
be offered to unaffiliated distributors.  Sales by UMI of ChromaTrim chewing gum
under a prior distribution agreement with the Company accounted for 26.7% and 0%
of the  Company's  total sales for the years ended  December  31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively, and 5.2% of total sales for the six months ended June 30, 1996.

     The  Company  intends to continue  to expand its  marketing  efforts by (i)
hiring  additional  sales  personnel  to  obtain  and  manage  new  brokers  and
distributors, (ii) developing media advertising materials for use by the Company
and its  brokers  and  distributors  and (iii)  retaining  personnel  to further
develop the Company's  private  label  business and seek other forms of contract
manufacturing business.

Manufacturing and Packaging

     In February 1996, the Company began  manufacturing,  packaging and shipping
its chewing gum products from a 28,000 square foot leased manufacturing facility
in Phoenix,  Arizona.  The manufacture of chewing gum products  involves (i) the
storage of bulk raw materials and "fine" raw materials  (such as flavor,  colors
and active  ingredients),  (ii)  production  and mixing of the gum base in large
stainless  steel mixers,  (iii) the extruding of the gum into selected sizes and
shapes,  (iv)  coating  the gum (in the case of  chicklet  gums)  with  sugar or
sugarless  solutions and (v) packaging the gum in stick or blister  packages for
shipment.

     Prior to commencing production of the chewing gum, lot numbers are recorded
for all ingredients, certificates of ingredients are examined and filed, quality
control tests are performed and equipment and utensils are sanitized. Additional
quality control tests are conducted throughout the manufacturing process.

     The Company leases  approximately  $2 million of chewing gum  manufacturing
equipment  on a  six-year  lease at a monthly  rental of  $32,300  from  Textron
Financial  Corporation.  The Company has the option to purchase the equipment at
the  conclusion of the lease for the lesser of the then fair market value of the
equipment  or  30%  of  the  original  cost  of  the  equipment.  The  Company's
manufacturing  facility is  expected  by the end of 1996 to produce  most of the
Company's  chewing gum  products  and  provide the  capacity to meet most of the
Company's private label product  requirements for the foreseeable future.  Until
that time, the Company will continue to contract for the  manufacture of a small
portion  (currently  5%) of its  chewing  gum  products  with Ford  Machine  Gum
Company, Inc. ("Ford"). The Company's  manufacturing agreement with Ford expires
in March 1997,  however  should Ford  terminate  the  agreement  earlier for any
reason, the Company's operations would be adversely affected.  See "Risk Factors
- -  Reliance  on  Manufacturer."  Although  certain  of the  Company's  executive
officers have experience in the manufacture of chewing gum products, the Company
itself had not previously engaged in any such activities.

                                       24

<PAGE>

Competition

     The  distribution  and sale of chewing gum products are highly  competitive
and consist of three  multi-billion  dollar  United  States-based  multinational
companies (Wm.  Wrigley Jr.  Company,  Warner  Lambert  Company and Nabisco Food
Group,  Inc.) which own most of the chewing gum brands,  large specialty chewing
gum  manufacturers,  such as The Topps Company ("Bazooka" brand chewing gum) and
Marvel Holdings,  Inc.  ("Double Bubble" brand chewing gum), and small specialty
chewing  gum  product  marketers,  such as the  Company.  See  "Risk  Factors  -
Competition."

     Competitive  factors in the chewing gum industry include price,  flavor and
name recognition resulting from media advertising. The Company does not have the
capital   resources,   marketing  and   distribution   networks,   manufacturing
facilities,  personnel,  product  name  recognition  or  advertising  budget  to
introduce chewing gum brands intended to compete with the multinational  chewing
gum  manufacturers or the large specialty  chewing gum marketers.  However,  the
Company  believes (but cannot  assure) that it can develop and market  specialty
chewing  gum  products  in niche  markets  (such as the  weight  loss,  vitamin,
premenstrual  symptom or dental  hygiene  markets) that are considered too small
for exploitation by many of the Company's competitors.

FDA and Other Government Regulation

     The Company is subject to various  federal,  state and local laws affecting
its business. The Company's chewing gum products manufactured by it or by others
for it  under  contract  or  otherwise  are  subject  to  regulation  by the FDA
including  regulations  with  respect  to  labeling  of  products,  approval  of
ingredients  in products,  claims made  regarding the products and disclosure of
product  ingredients.  Moreover,  if the FDA concludes that any of the Company's
chewing gum products are "drugs" under  applicable FDA  regulations or otherwise
violate FDA rules or  regulations,  the FDA may (i) require that  manufacture of
such products be in accordance with FDA "good  manufacturing  practices"  (which
prescribe  specific  requirements  and  procedures  for the  manufacture  of FDA
regulated  products),  or (ii) restrict or remove such products from the market.
The Company (i) has  received  one Warning  Letter from the FDA  relating to the
Company's Buzz Gum product (see the paragraph  below),  (ii) believes all of its
products are in compliance with all regulatory requirements,  (iii) has not been
advised that the FDA considers  any of its products to be "drugs",  and (iv) has
not submitted any  information  or  applications  for approval to the FDA, other
than the label  revisions for Buzz Gum described in the paragraph  below. If the
Company  commences  marketing  OTC chewing gum  products,  such products will be
subject to marketing  permission and ongoing regulation by the FDA including (i)
requirements  that the Company comply with certain FDA  manufacturing  standards
and practices,  (ii) conformity with FDA labeling requirements  including dosage
information  and (iii) the  ability to  determine  the origin of all chewing gum
ingredients included in the manufacturing process.

                                       25

<PAGE>

     Advertising  claims made by the Company  with  respect to its  products are
subject  to the  jurisdiction  of the FTC as well as the FDA.  In both cases the
Company is required to obtain  scientific  data to support  any  advertising  or
labeling   health  claims  it  makes   concerning  its  products,   although  no
preclearance or filing is required to be made with either agency.

     On April  1,  1994 the  Company  received  a  Warning  Letter  from the FDA
indicating that the Company's Buzz Gum chewing gum products were mislabeled.  In
June 1994 the Company  revised its  labeling and so notified the FDA. No further
action was taken by the FDA.

     The Company's chewing gum  manufacturing  facility is subject to regulation
by various governmental agencies,  including state and local licensing,  zoning,
land  use,  construction  and  environmental  regulations  and  various  health,
sanitation, safety and fire codes and standards.  Suspension of certain licenses
or approvals, due to failure to comply with applicable regulations or otherwise,
could interrupt the Company's manufacturing operations. If the Company commences
marketing  OTC chewing gum  products,  its  manufacturing  facility will also be
subject to inspection and regulation by the FDA.

     The Company is subject to federal and state laws establishing minimum wages
and  regulating  overtime and working  conditions.  Since many of the  Company's
personnel  are paid at rates based on the federal  minimum  wage, an increase in
such minimum wage will result in an increase in the Company's labor costs.

Trademarks, Trade Names and Proprietary Rights

     The Company has obtained trademark protection from the United States Patent
Office ("USPO") for its  "ChromaTrim"  and "Buzz Gum" brands and has applied for
trademark  protection  for  its  "Repose",   "DentaHealth",   "Vita  A-C-E"  and
"CitrusSlim" brands. There can be no assurance that the Company would be able to
successfully  defend its trademarks or trade names against claims from or use by
competitors or that current or future trademark or trade name  applications will
be approved by the USPO.

     The Company considers some of its chewing gum formulations and processes to
be  proprietary  in nature  and  relies  upon a  combination  of  non-disclosure
agreements,  other  contractual  restrictions  and trade secrecy laws to protect
such proprietary information. There can be no assurance that these steps will be
adequate to prevent misappropriation of the Company's proprietary information or
that the  Company's  competitors  will not  independently  develop  chewing  gum
formulations and processes that are substantially  equivalent or superior to the
Company's.



                                       26

<PAGE>

Properties

     The Company  leases  3,345  square feet for its  executive  of ices at 4205
North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85013 on a three-year lease expiring December
31, 1998 for an average rental of  approximately  $2,900 per month.  The Company
also leases an  approximately  28,000  square foot  building for its chewing gum
manufacturing  facilities  at 246  East  Watkins,  Phoenix,  Arizona  85004 on a
ten-year lease (with two three-year renewal options) expiring December 2005 at a
monthly rental of approximately $11,000.

Employees

     As of September 30, 1996, the Company employed 41 individuals including its
six executive  officers,  28  manufacturing  and  warehouse  personnel and seven
administrative personnel.

Litigation

     There is no material  litigation  pending or threatened against the Company
except a threat of litigation involving an individual who claims he was entitled
to receive options to purchase  20,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock and
other  remuneration in  consideration of becoming a director and employee of the
Company.  The  Company  denies  that the  individual  ever  became a director or
employee of the Company and does not believe he is entitled to stock  options or
other  compensation for any reason. The Company intends to vigorously defend any
action brought against it by the individual.


                                       27

<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT

Officers and Directors

     The name, age and position of each of the Company's  executive officers and
directors are set forth below:

      Name                  Age                     Position
      ----                  ---                     --------
Richard Ratcliff(2)          61        Chairman of the Board of Directors and
                                       Senior Vice President
Gerald N. Kern               58        Chief Executive Officer, President and
                                       Director
John E. Epert(1)(2)          55        Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
                                       and Executive Vice President
Gary S. Kehoe                38        Chief Operating Officer and Director
Richard Bernstein            36        Vice President of Sales and Director
Jeffrey L. Bouchy            31        Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                       Officer
William G. Meris(1)(2)       30        Director
Gregory W. Gossett           28        Director
Woodrow C. Monte (1)         52        Director


- ----------
(1)  Member of the Audit Committee.
(2)  Member of the Stock Option Plan/Compensation Committee.

     Directors  hold office for a period of one year from their  election at the
annual meeting of  stockholders  or until their  successors are duly elected and
qualified.  Officers of the Company are elected by, and serve at the  discretion
of, the Board of  Directors.  The Company's  executive  officers were all leased
employees from the  commencement  of their  employment  with the Company through
December 31, 1995, when the Company's  employee leasing  agreement was cancelled
by it. In August 1996 and May 1996,  respectively,  Messrs.  Earl K. Manhold III
and Robert H. Wood  resigned as  directors  and in August  1996,  Mr.  Meris was
elected a director.  In August 1996, (i) Mr. Ratcliff  resigned as the Company's
Chief  Executive  Officer  and  was  appointed  its  Chairman  and  Senior  Vice
President, (ii) Mr. Epert resigned as President of the Company and was appointed
its Vice  Chairman and  Executive  Vice  President  and (iii) Gerald N. Kern was
appointed Chief Executive Officer, President and a director.

Background

     The  following  is a summary of the business  experience,  for at least the
last five years, of each executive officer and director of the Company:

     Richard  Ratcliff  became  Chief  Executive  Officer  and a director of the
Company in March 1995.  Mr.  Ratcliff was the  co-founder  with Mr. Epert and an
executive officer of Food For Health Co., Inc., a health food distributor,  from
1971 until he sold the company with Mr. Epert in 1991. From 1991 until he became
Chief Executive Officer of the Company in March 1995,  he was a passive 

                                       28

<PAGE>

investor for his own account.  Since 1991, he has also been  President of Niche,
Inc., a privately-held  company through which he provides consulting services on
matters  relating  to the  natural  food  industry.  Mr.  Ratcliff is also (i) a
director of First  Community  Financial  Corp.,  an asset-based  lender,  (ii) a
salaried officer, director and principal stockholder of Meris Financial, Inc., a
privately-held investment firm, and (iii) was formerly a director of Interhealth
Nutritionals,  Inc.,  a  privately-held  producer  of health  food  ingredients,
including an ingredient  used by the Company in one of its chewing gum products.
See "Certain  Transactions." None of Mr. Ratcliff's other positions requires any
of  his  time  during  normal  business  hours  and,  accordingly,   he  devotes
substantially  all of his  time to the  affairs  of the  Company.  Mr.  Ratcliff
resigned  as the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  in  August  1996  and is
currently  Chairman of the Board of Directors  and Senior Vice  President of the
Company.

     Gerald N. Kern became the Company's Chief Executive Officer,  President and
a  director  in August  1996.  From  1983 to 1994,  he was  President  and Chief
Operating  Officer  of  Meditech   Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,  a  manufacturer  of
proprietary  drugs. From August 1994 until August 1996, he was President of Aura
Interactive,  a manufacturer of interactive consumer products.  Prior to serving
at Meditech,  Mr. Kern was the  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief  Operating
Officer of Max Factor, one of the world's largest cosmetics companies, from 1977
to 1980.  Mr. Kern was a division  President  and corporate  Vice  President for
International Playtex from 1967 to 1977.

     John E. Epert became a director of the Company in April 1995,  its Chairman
in August 1995 and its President in January 1996. He was the co-founder with Mr.
Ratcliff and President of Food For Health Co., Inc., a health food  distributor,
from 1971 until he sold the Company with Mr.  Ratcliff in 1991.  From 1991 until
he became the Company's  Chairman in August 1995, he acted as a passive investor
for  his  own  account.  He  is  a  director  of  Unitech  Industries,  Inc.,  a
publicly-held  cellular  phone  accessory  manufacturer,   and  First  Community
Financial  Corp.,  an asset based  lender.  Mr. Epert  resigned as the Company's
President  in August 1996 and is currently  Vice  Chairman  and  Executive  Vice
President of the Company.

     Gary S. Kehoe was  employed by  LifeSavers  Company,  a division of Nabisco
Food Group, Inc., in various capacities from 1976 until he joined the Company in
June  1995 as its Chief  Operating  Officer  and a  director.  As a Senior  Food
Technologist  for  LifeSavers,  Inc., Mr. Kehoe developed six bubble gum flavors
and was listed as an  inventor  or  co-inventor  on 12 U.S.  chewing gum patents
filed by Lifesavers, Inc.

     Richard  Bernstein joined the Company in January 1996 as its Vice President
of Sales.  Since 1991,  he has also been  President,  a director  and  principal
stockholder of Bernstein Bros. Marketing Corporation (doing business as National
Distributing).  Mr.  Bernstein is not  required to spend any time during  normal
business  hours  as an  officer  and  director  of  National  Distributing  and,
accordingly,  he  devotes  substantially  all of his time to the  affairs of the
Company.  National  Distributing  markets retail consumer products including the
Company's  ChromaTrim  and  CitrusSlim  chewing gum  products.  See  "Business -
Marketing"  and  "Certain   Transactions."  Mr.  Bernstein  graduated  from  the
University of Southern  California in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree and
became a director of the Company in April 1995.



                                       29

<PAGE>

     Jeffrey L. Bouchy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting  from
Arizona  State  University  in 1989 and his Master of  Science  degree in Sports
Management  from West  Virginia  University  in 1992.  From 1992 to 1993, he was
assistant to the  Director of Finance at the  Charlotte  Coliseum,  a sports and
events  facility in  Charlotte,  North  Carolina.  From 1993 until 1994,  he was
President of Southwest Food Services, Inc., a privately-held fast food franchise
based in Phoenix,  Arizona. From 1994 until he joined the Company in May 1995 as
its Chief Financial  Officer,  he was a production  manager at Fun Tees, Inc., a
privately-held   apparel   manufacturer.   Brett  Bouchy,   a  former  principal
stockholder of the Company, is Jeffrey L. Bouchy's brother.

     William G. Meris was  employed by  Prudential  Securities,  Inc.  from 1987
until 1994, first as an intern in the Corporate Finance Department,  and then as
a retail stockbroker from 1989 until April 1994.  Subsequently,  he was employed
as a retail  stockbroker  by  Franklin-Lord,  Inc. from May 1994 to August 1994.
From October 1994 until March 1995, Mr. Meris was a co-owner of Cyberia, Inc., a
virtual  reality  entertainment  firm. From January 1995 until June 1995, he was
also a co-manager of Meris Financial,  Inc., a private investment and consulting
company. Since June 1995, Mr. Meris has been President of WGM Corporation, which
acts as the General Partner of The Monolith Fund, a private  investment  limited
partnership. He is also a director of Interhealth Nutritionals, Inc. He earned a
Bachelor  of  Science  degree in  Business  Administration  from  Arizona  State
University.

     Gregory W. Gossett  founded the Company in 1991 and was its President until
March 1995. Since March 1995, Mr. Gossett has acted as a marketing consultant to
the Company  assisting the Company in developing and securing  private label and
health food customers. He is paid, without a written contract, the sum of $2,000
per month for these  consulting  services,  which  services  may be cancelled by
either party at any time without prior notice.  From 1988 to 1990,  Mr.  Gossett
attended the University of Utah,  emphasizing marketing courses. He also acts as
a self-employed real estate investor and consultant.

     Woodrow C. Monte holds Master of Science and Ph.D.  degrees in Food Science
and Nutrition from Colorado State  University.  Since 1981, he has been Director
of the Food Science and Nutrition  Laboratories at Arizona State University.  He
joined the Company as a director in April 1995.

Significant Employee

     Richard  A.  Sigtermans  was  Manager of Quality  Control  and  Information
Systems for the Company  from October  1995 until his  promotion  to  Production
Manager in September 1996. In such capacity,  Mr.  Sigtermans is responsible for
chewing gum production and also administers the Company's management information
and  quality  assurance  departments.  From  1991 to 1993,  he was  employed  by
Lifesavers Company, a division of Nabisco Food Group, Inc., in its new product

                                       30

<PAGE>

development group. From 1993 until he joined the Company in October 1995, he was
employed by Compac Corporation,  a division of TriMas Corporation,  first as its
Quality Project Coordinator and then as its Computer Operations Supervisor.  Mr.
Sigtermans graduated from GMI Engineering & Management Institute with a Bachelor
of Science degree in 1991.

Executive Compensation

     None of the Company's  executive  officers or directors  currently  receive
compensation in excess of $100,000 per year except Mr. Kern, the Company's Chief
Executive Officer who receives a salary of $150,000 per year,  together with the
bonus and other consideration described below.

     In March 1995,  the  Company  entered  into an  employment  agreement  (the
"Employment  Agreement") employing Mr. Ratcliff as the Company's Chief Executive
Officer  through  December  31,  1996,  based  upon a salary of $5,000 per month
together with a bonus equal to 7.5% of the Company's annual net operating income
in excess of $400,000.  In March 1996, Mr. Ratcliff waived (i) his right to earn
a 7.5% bonus based upon the Company's  annual net operating  income and (ii) his
right to terminate the  Employment  Agreement  and receive a $250,000  severance
payment from the Company if the Company did not file a Registration Statement on
Form SB-2 for an initial  public  offering  by  December  1995.  The  Employment
Agreement provided for the issuance to Mr. Ratcliff of stock options to purchase
up to 520,000  shares of Common Stock at $1.50 per share at any time until March
24, 1998 and the extension of a $100,000 loan to Mr. Ratcliff  bearing  interest
at 8% per annum due December 31, 1996. The purpose of the loan was to supplement
Mr.  Ratcliff's  first year salary of $60,000 which the Company and Mr. Ratcliff
considered low for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company. For a
description of Mr. Ratcliff's (and other employees') stock options,  see "- 1995
Stock Option Plan." In August 1996, Mr. Ratcliff resigned as the Company's Chief
Executive  Officer,  voluntarily  terminated  his  employment  agreement and was
appointed the Company's Senior Vice President for which he currently  receives a
salary of $2,000 per month pursuant to an August 1996 employment agreement which
also extended the due date of Mr.  Ratcliff's  loan from the Company to December
31, 1997.

     On June 1, 1995,  the  Company  entered  into  employment  agreements  with
Messrs.  Manhold,  Kehoe and Bouchy which provided for annual salaries and stock
options as follows.

 Name of Executive             Officer Annual Salary        Stock Options (1)
 -----------------             ---------------------        -----------------
 Earl K. Manhold, III (2)              $86,000                    60,000
 Gary S. Kehoe (3)                     $70,000                    50,000
 Jeffrey L. Bouchy (4)                 $38,000                    20,000

- ----------

(1)  All stock options are exercisable at $2.00 per share until June 1, 1998. In
     January 1996, Mr. Manhold exercised his 60,000 stock options.

                                       31

<PAGE>

(2)  Does not  include an  aggregate  of $8,185  paid to Mr.  Manhold for living
     expenses incurred between June 1995 and September 1995.
(3)  Gary S. Kehoe's employment  agreement  terminates on December 31, 2000, and
     provides for annual salaries in the second through fifth year of employment
     in the amounts of $80,000, $88,000, $96,800 and $106,500, respectively. Mr.
     Kehoe is also entitled to receive bonuses of (i) $10,000 upon completion of
     the Company's  manufacturing  facility,  (ii) $10,000 at such time as newly
     introduced  chewing gum product reaches  $250,000 in gross sales during any
     consecutive 360 day period,  (iii) $100,000 at such time as any chewing gum
     product  reaches  $5,000,000 in gross sales during any  consecutive 360 day
     period and (iv) an  additional  $100,000  at such time as any  chewing  gum
     product  reaches  $10,000,000 in gross sales during any consecutive 360 day
     period.  Bonuses  will be paid each year  gross  sales  reach the  targeted
     levels. In 1995 and 1996, Mr. Kehoe received a total of $83,000 for certain
     relocation   expenses.
(4)  Jeffrey L. Bouchy's employment  agreement  terminates on December 31, 1996.
     In August 1996, his salary was increased to $60,000 annually.

     In January  1996,  Mr.  Manhold  resigned as  President  and entered into a
severance agreement with the Company pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay
Mr.  Manhold his full salary for a period of three  months and 50% of his salary
for the following  nine months,  (a total  severance  payment of $53,750)  after
which time the Company would not be responsible  for any further  payments under
Mr. Manhold's  employment  agreement.  At the same time, Mr. Epert was appointed
President of the Company pursuant to a one-year  employment contract under which
the Company agreed to pay him an annual salary of $43,000  through  December 31,
1996.  The Company  also  advanced a loan to Mr. Epert in the amount of $150,000
bearing interest at 8% per annum, due January 29, 1998 to supplement Mr. Epert's
first year salary of $43,000 which the Company and Mr. Epert  considered low for
the position of President of the Company.  In August 1996, Mr. Epert resigned as
President of the Company,  voluntarily  terminated his employment  agreement and
was  appointed  the Company's  Executive  Vice  President for which he currently
receives  a salary of $2,000 per month  pursuant  to an August  1996  employment
agreement.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into an employment  agreement with Mr.
Bernstein  through  December 31, 2000 which may be extended  until  December 31,
2005 at Mr.  Bernstein's  option if the  Company's  Net  Sales  (as  hereinafter
defined)  for the  calendar  year ending  December  31, 2000 exceed $50 million.
Under the  employment  agreement,  Mr.  Bernstein is to receive a base salary of
$100,000 with subsequent annual base salaries equal to 2% of the Company's prior
year's Net Sales but in no event may such annual base  salary  exceed  $500,000.
"Net  Sales" are  defined as gross  sales from the sale of all  products  in the
"Target  Markets,"  which in turn are  defined  as all  markets  except  (i) the
natural food markets, (ii) private label markets or (iii) markets developed from
direct response television infomercial  advertising.  In addition, Mr. Bernstein
is  entitled  to an annual  bonus equal to (i) 5% of the first $5 million of Net
Sales in excess of the prior year's Net Sales, (ii) 4% of the next $5 million of
Net  Sales in  excess of the prior  year's  Net  Sales,  (iii) 3% of the next $5
million of Net Sales in excess of the prior  year's Net Sales and (iv) 2% of all
Net Sales in excess of $20 million of Net Sales in the prior year.

                                       32

<PAGE>

     On August 21, 1996, the Company  entered into an employment  agreement with
Mr. Kern through  December 31, 1997  extendable at the  Company's  option for an
additional one year. Under the employment agreement,  Mr. Kern receives a salary
of $150,000  per year,  was granted an option to purchase  50,000  shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock at $6.00 per share under the 1995 Stock Option Plan and
was advanced a loan of $66,000  from the  Company.  Mr. Kern will also receive a
$25,000 bonus on January 15, 1997 if the Company  reports  pretax net income for
the fourth  quarter of 1996,  5% of the Company's net income for the year ending
December  31,  1997 and 5% of the  Company's  net  income  for the  year  ending
December 31, 1998, if his employment is extended for the 1998 calendar year.

     The following table discloses  certain  compensation  paid to the Company's
executive officers for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Summary Compensation Table

                                                                           Long Term Compensation
                               Annual Compensation                         Awards          Payouts
                               -------------------                         -----------------------
    (a)          (b)          (c)             (d)             (e)            (f)            (g)            (h)             (i)
Name
and
Prin-                                                        Other                                                        All
cipal                                                       Annual       Restricted                                      Other
Posi-                                                       Compen-         Stock        Options/         LTIP          Compen-
tion            Year       Salary($)       Bonus($)        sation($)     Award(s)($)      SARS(#)      Payouts($)      sation($)
- ----            ----       ---------       --------        ---------     -----------      -------      ----------      ---------

<S>             <C>         <C>                <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Gregory W.      1993        28,500             0               0              0              0              0              0
Gossett,        1994        26,460             0               0              0              0              0              0
President       1995           0               0           31,000(2)          0              0              0              0

Richard
Ratcliff,
Chief
Executive
Officer         1995        27,500             0               0              0         520,000(1)          0              0

- ----------
</TABLE>

(1)  Represents  options to  purchase  up to  520,000  shares at $1.50 per share
     until March 1998.

(2)  Represents consulting fees paid by the Company.



                                       33

<PAGE>

Option Grants in Last Year and Stock Option Grant

     The following  table provides  information on option grants during the year
ended December 31, 1995 to the named executive officer:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         % of Total
                                                       Options Granted
                                     Options            to Employees           Exercise             Expiration
       Name                        Granted (1)           in the Year              Price                Date
       ----                        -----------           -----------              -----            ------------

<S>                                  <C>                    <C>                   <C>              <C> 
Richard Ratcliff                     520,000                69.3%                 $1.50            March 25, 1998
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)  See footnote (1) to the Summary Compensation Table.

Aggregate Option Exercise in Last Year and Year-End Option Values

     The  following  table  provides  information  on the  value  of  the  named
executive  officer's  unexercised  options at December  31,  1995.  No shares of
Common  Stock were  acquired  upon  exercise  of  options  during the year ended
December 31, 1995.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Value of Unexercised       
                                   Number of Unexercised                    In-The-Money Options
                                  Options at Year End (1)                      at Year End (1)
                                  -----------------------                      ---------------

       Name                Exercisable          Unexercisable       Exercisable          Unexercisable
       ----                -----------          -------------       -----------          -------------

<S>                          <C>                      <C>           <C>                     <C>
Richard Ratcliff             520,000                  0             $2,340,000                 0
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)  The  Common  Stock  price is based  upon the $6.00  per share  price of the
     Common Stock in the Offering.

     The Company's nonsalaried directors receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses  incurred  in  attending  Board of  Directors'  meetings  and have been
granted  stock  options  under the  Company's  1995 Stock  Option  Plan.  See "-
Executive Compensation" and "- 1995 Stock Option Plan."

1995 Stock Option Plan

     In March 1995,  the Company  adopted a stock option plan (the "Plan") which
provides  for the grant of  options  intended  to qualify  as  "incentive  stock
options" and  "nonqualified  stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the United States  Internal  Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code").  Incentive stock
options are issuable  only to eligible  officers,  directors,  key employees and
consultants of the Company.

     The Plan is  administered  by the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors which is comprised of nonemployee directors. At December 31, 1995, the
Company had reserved  1,500,000  shares of Common  Stock for issuance  under the
Plan. Under the Plan, the Board of Directors determines which individuals shall

                                       34

<PAGE>

receive  options,  the time period  during which the options may be partially or
fully  exercised,  the number of shares of Common  Stock  that may be  purchased
under each option and the option price.

     The per share  exercise  price of the Common Stock may not be less than the
fair  market  value of the Common  Stock on the date the option is  granted.  No
person who owns,  directly  or  indirectly,  at the time of the  granting  of an
incentive stock option,  more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company is eligible to receive  incentive  stock options
under the Plan unless the option price is at least 110% of the fair market value
of the Common Stock subject to the option on the date of grant.

     No options may be transferred by an optionee other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution,  and during the lifetime of an optionee, the option
may only be  exercisable  by the optionee.  Options may be exercised only during
the time the option  holder is an  employee  of the Company or within 90 days of
termination of such  employment if a Registration  Statement on Form S-8 ("S-8")
covering the  underlying  shares was effective as of the date of  termination of
employment.  If an S-8 covering the  underlying  shares was not effective on the
date of  termination,  then the employee has one year  following  termination to
exercise the options.  If an employee is terminated for cause,  any  unexercised
options will be cancelled as of the date of such termination.  Options under the
Plan must be granted  within three years from the effective date of the Plan and
the exercise date of an option cannot be later than three years from the date of
grant. Any options that expire  unexercised or that terminate upon an optionee's
ceasing to be employed by the Company become  available once again for issuance.
Shares  issued upon  exercise of an option will rank  equally  with other shares
then outstanding.

     As of the date of this Prospectus,  760,000 currently  unexercised  options
have  been  granted  under  the  Plan  to  officers,  directors,  employees  and
consultants including 720,000 currently unexercised options granted to executive
officers and  directors.  The per share  exercise  prices  represented  the fair
market  value  of the  Company's  Common  Stock at the date  such  options  were
granted,  based on prior sales of the Company's  Common  Stock.  The table below
sets forth the total  number of options  issued to each  executive  officer  and
director of the Company and the exercise price. Messrs.  Manhold's,  Kehoe's and
Bouchy's  options  are  exercisable  until June 1, 1998.  All other  options are
exercisable  at  various  times  through  October  1998.  No  options  have been
exercised except 60,000 options  exercised by Mr. Manhold at $2.00 per share and
20,000 options exercised by Mr. Ratcliff at $1.50 per share.


                                       35

<PAGE>

                                      Total Number of
  Name of Executive                   Options Issued           Exercise Price
  -----------------                   --------------           --------------
John E. Epert                             20,000                    $1.80
Richard Ratcliff                         500,000                     1.50
Gary S. Kehoe                             50,000                     2.00
Jeffrey L. Bouchy                         40,000                     2.00
Woodrow C. Monte                          20,000                     1.80
Robert H. Wood                            20,000                     2.00
William G. Meris                          20,000                    6.125
Gerald N. Kern                            50,000                     6.00
                                         -------
TOTAL                                    720,000


                                       36

<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     The  following  table sets forth  information  concerning  the  holdings of
Common Stock (without  giving effect to any shares issuable upon exercise of the
Public Warrants or the Prior Representative's Unit Warrants) by each person who,
as of the date of this Prospectus, holds of record or is known by the Company to
hold  beneficially or of record,  more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, by
each  director,  and by all  directors and  executive  officers as a group.  All
shares are owned  beneficially and of record. The address of all persons (unless
otherwise noted in the footnotes  below) is in care of the Company at 4205 North
7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85013.

                                           Amount of             Percent of
Name                                       Ownership                Class
- ----                                       ---------                -----
John E. Epert(1)                              128,000                2.6
Gerald N. Kern(2)                              50,000                1.0
Richard Ratcliff(3)                           520,000                9.6
Gary S. Kehoe(4)                              190,000                3.8
Jeffrey L. Bouchy(5)                           40,000                 .8
Gregory W. Gossett                            265,000                5.4
William G. Meris(6)                            20,000                 .4
Woodrow C. Monte(7)                            20,000                 .4
Richard Bernstein(8)                          108,000                2.2
Riverlux Trust REG(9)                         645,265               13.2
Karl B. Berger(10)                            450,000                8.9
Bruce Jorgenson(11)                           250,000                5.1
All officers and directors as
a group (9 persons)
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)                    1,341,000               23.2

- ----------
(1)  Includes  options to purchase  20,000  shares of Common  Stock at $1.80 per
     share until April 1998.
(2)  Includes  options to purchase 50,000 shares at $6.00 per share until August
     1999.  Does not  include  an  option to  purchase  50,000  shares  from Mr.
     Ratcliff at $6.00 per share. See "Certain Transactions."
(3)  Includes  options to purchase up to 500,000 shares at $1.50 per share until
     March 1998.  Does not include an option held by Mr. Kern to purchase 50,000
     shares from Mr. Ratcliff at $6.00 per share. See "Certain Transactions."
(4)  Includes  warrants  to  purchase  100,000  shares  at  $2.00  per  share in
     perpetuity  and options to purchase  50,000 shares at $2.00 per share until
     June 1998.
(5)  Represents  options to purchase 20,000 shares at $2.00 per share until June
     1998 and 20,000 shares at $2.00 per share until October 1998.
(6)  Represents  options to  purchase  20,000  shares at $6.125 per share  until
     August 1999.
(7)  Represents options to purchase 20,000 shares at $1.80 per share until April
     1998.
(8)  Represents  options to  purchase  108,000  shares at $1.80 per share  until
     April 1998.

                                       37

<PAGE>

(9)  Riverlux  Trust REG,  whose  address  is  Baahofstrasse  23, CH 6301,  Zug,
     Switzerland,  is a  Liechtenstein  company  wholly owned and  controlled by
     Willy P. Verhaegen, Hans P. Bruellman and Doris Moeckli.
(10) Includes warrants to purchase 150,000 shares at $2.00 per share exercisable
     in perpetuity.  Mr. Berger's address is 97 Patterson Road, Joliet, Illinois
     60434.
(11) Dr. Jorgenson's address is 1580 Antelope Drive, #100, Layton, Utah 84041.


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     In this Prospectus,  the Company is registering (at its expense)  2,874,715
shares of  Common  Stock  which  may be sold  from  time to time in open  market
transactions at prevailing market prices less customary  selling  commissions by
the Selling  Stockholders whose names are listed in the table below. The Selling
Stockholders  may use the  Prospectus  from time to time to offer the shares for
sale in  transactions  in which  the  Selling  Stockholders  may be deemed to be
"underwriters"  within the  meaning of the 1933 Act.  The  Selling  Stockholders
acquired  the shares in private  placements  of the  Company's  Common  Stock in
November  1994 (for $.48 per share),  in February 1995 (for $1.53 per share) and
in  May  1995  (for  $1.80  per  share).   Certain  information  concerning  the
stockholdings of the Selling Stockholders is set forth below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Percentage
                                                                                         of Shares
                                Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                 Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                               Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
     Name                      to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
     ----                      -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                               <C>                 <C>                    <C>              <C>
Craig Babcock                     40,000              40,000                 0                0
1904 Midwest Club
Oak Brook, IL 60521

Dr. Clyde Balch and
  Ann C. Balch                    20,000              20,000                 0                0
645 Gallein Drive
Naples, FL 33940

Smith Barney Custodian For
H. Thomas Fehn                     6,900               6,900                 0                0
11755 Wilshire Blvd.
15th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025



                                                        38

<PAGE>
                                                                                         Percentage
                                                                                          of Shares
                                 Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                  Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
     Name                       to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
     ----                       -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                             <C>                   <C>                 <C>                <C>   
Daniel J. Beaumont and
  Gary Oswald                      15,000              15,000                 0                0
150 Northgate Road
Riverside, IL 60546

Karl H. Berger                    300,000             300,000                 0                0
P.O. Box 627
Joliet, IL 60434

W. D. Boone                        32,780              32,780                 0                0
4639 E. Gelding Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85032

John E. Brayton and
  Lynn M. Brayton                  39,340              39,340                 0                0
835 Margaret Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016

Betty Buckley                       3,000               3,000                 0                0
4205 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

Lynn Crabtree                      10,000              10,000                 0                0
3023 Timberline Drive
Fort Madison, IA 52627

Terry D'Arcy                       24,450              24,450                 0                0
1520 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60435

Lawrence Davis and
  Cynthia J. Davis                 18,000              18,000                 0                0
1672 Lawrence Court
Wichita, KS 67206



                                                        39

<PAGE>


                                                                                            Percentage
                                                                                              of Shares
                                     Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                      Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                    Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                         to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                         -----------          --------           --------          --------


<S>                                  <C>                   <C>              <C>                 <C> 
Epert Charitable Remainder 
  Unit Trust (1)                        8,160               8,160                 0                0
215 W. Mouthview
Phoenix, AZ 85201

John Epert  (1)                        15,000              15,000                 0                0
1219 ME Glendale, Ste. 25
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Peter Farrelly and
  Robert L. Farrelly                   14,000              14,000                 0                0
837 5th Street, Apt. A
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Financial Freedom Fund                 30,000              30,000                 0                0
c/o Brown Russell
519 North James St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Henry G. Funk                          32,780              32,780                 0                0
42 Briargate
Aurora, IL 60506

Gregory Gossett                       208,000             208,000                 0                0
1565 E. 775 South #11
Ogden, UT 84404

Ronald D. Hallstrom                     4,000               4,000                 0                0
3408 27th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265

Virginia Hellman                       22,000              22,000                 0                0
321 North Brighton
Burbank, CA 91506



                                                40

<PAGE>


                                                                                              Percentage
                                                                                               of Shares
                                      Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                       Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                     Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                          to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                          -----------          --------           --------          --------


<S>                                   <C>                  <C>                <C>                <C>    
Irmgard Drilling &
  Theodore Drilling JTTEN               14,000              14,000                 0                0
4901 Galway Drive
Dublin, OH 43017

Paul Janssens                          120,000             120,000                 0                0
840 South Collier Blvd., #1701
Marco Island, FL 33937

John Epert Family Trust (1)             10,000              10,000                 0                0
215 W. Northview
Phoenix, AZ 86258

Bruce Jorgenson                        130,000             130,000                 0                0
1580 West Antelope Drive
Layton, UT 84041

Gary Kehoe (1)                          40,000              40,000                 0                0
4205 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

Bradley Kelly                              166                 166                 0                0
1524 Mount Road
Ogden, Ut 84404

Geraldine Kelly                          2,000               2,000                 0                0
1524 Mount Road
Ogden, UT 84404

Jason S. Kelly                             834                 834                 0                0
1524 Mount Road
Ogden, UT 84404

George Knostman                         14,000              14,000                 0                0
801 W. Fairground Avenue
Hillsboro, IL 62049

Michael Lang                            46,780              46,780                 0                0
32 Forest Lane
South Barrington, IL 60010



                                                 41

<PAGE>

                                                                                            Percentage
                                                                                             of Shares
                                    Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                     Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                   Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                        to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                        -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                                   <C>                 <C>                    <C>              <C>
Gaylon Naifeh                         20,000              20,000                 0                0
2619 Madison Avenue
Burlington, IA 52601

Michael Nordstrom                     11,900              11,900                 0                0
18335 Lamplighter Court
Brookfield, WI 53045

Martin Oliveira and
  Laurie Oliveira                      1,400               1,400                 0                0
44 Hamilton Court
Danville, CA 94526

Kendall Oltrooge                      32,780              32,780                 0                0
6416 North 31st
Phoenix, AZ 85016

J. Kley Partners                      30,000              30,000                 0                0
Edward D. Johnson, Jr.
324 N. Wilmette Avenue
Westmont, IL 60559

Traxlein Partners                     15,000              15,000                 0                0
William A. Traxel
5348 Gettysberg
Rockford, IL 61111

Edward Penry                           5,500               5,500                 0                0
529 Walden Drive
Palatine, IL 60062

Fehn & Sherwin SLB
  Flex Prototype                       6,900               6,900                 0                0
11755 Wilshire Blvd.
15th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025

                                               42

<PAGE>

                                                                                            Percentage
                                                                                             of Shares
                                     Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                      Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                    Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                         to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                         -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                                    <C>                 <C>                    <C>              <C>
Gary Richter/Richter Supply Inc.       20,000              20,000                 0                0
401 K Profit Sharing Plan
1231 Channahon Road
Joliet, IL 60436

Riverlux Trust REG (2)                645,265             645,265                 0                0
Bachofstrasse 23, CH 6301,
Zug, Switzerland

Sylvia Robinson                         2,800               2,800                 0                0
6528 W. Bloomfield
Glendale, AZ 85304

Gary Rudy IRA                          28,000              28,000                 0                0
1004 Lacross Street
Lacross, WI 54601

Wallace B. Ruminson &
  Patti Ruminson JTEN                  56,000              56,000                 0                0
444 W. Putnam
Porterville, CA 93257

Robert Salomon                         20,000              20,000                 0                0
3875 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062

Steve Scharman                         10,000              10,000                 0                0
4665 Signe Lane
Ogden, UT 84403

Lawrence R. Schroeder                  14,000              14,000                 0                0
35 Surrey Lane West
Barrington Hills, IL 60010

John D. Scott and
  Jane Scott                           14,000              14,000                 0                0
30 Jackson Street
Sullivan, MO 63080

                                                        43

<PAGE>

                                                                                          Percentage
                                                                                           of Shares
                                  Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                   Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                 Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                      to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                      -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                                  <C>                 <C>                   <C>              <C>
Stewart Shanahan                     3,000               3,000                 0                0
4335 W. Sunnyside Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85304

Thomas Shuda                        32,780              32,780                 0                0
914 Buffalo Wilson Road
Colville, WA 99114

Alice J. Slanec
  POD Alice J. Slanec
Trustee Alice J. Slanec             10,000              10,000                 0                0
21148 N. 18th Street
Barrington, IL 60010

Douglas A. Smith                    16,000              16,000                 0                0
604 Mesa Court
Waukesha, WI 53188

Melissa J. Smith                     5,000               5,000                 0                0
47608 E. Bernell Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Floyd Stalker                        1,000               1,000                 0                0
4205 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

John Stummer                        10,500              10,500                 0                0
3739 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618

James Swanson and
  Abby Swanson                      56,000              56,000                 0                0
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, IL 60563

Kenneth W. Swarts                   39,340              39,340                 0                0
3000 Bonacum Drive
Lincoln, NE 68502

                                             44

<PAGE>

                                                                                          Percentage
                                                                                           of Shares
                                  Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                   Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                 Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                      to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                      -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                                 <C>                 <C>                    <C>           <C>
Templar Corporation                 65,000              65,000                 0                0
310 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Karen Tierney and
  James Vawter                      14,000              14,000                 0                0
21428 Riverview Court
Salines, CA 93908

Josephine Tinimbang                 14,400              14,400                 0                0
4851 W. Greenleaf
Lincoln Wood, IL 60646

Willie Verhaegen                   100,000             100,000                 0                0
MECHSLSBSTEENWBG 148
B 2520 Edegem
Antwerpen
Belgium

David H. Welch                       8,230               8,230                 0                0
5917 N. Isabel
Peoria, IL 61614

John Whalen                          4,000               4,000                 0                0
2431 Alamo Glen Drive
Danville, CA 94526

Robert Wood                         29,000              29,000                 0                0
GNT Industries
3413 Eastern Avenue S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49508

Scott Wooley                         6,000               6,000                 0                0
995 West Glenn
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007


                                             45

<PAGE>

                                                                                          Percentage
                                                                                           of Shares
                                  Number of                              Number of        Outstanding
                                   Shares             Number of        Shares to be       to be Owned
                                 Owned Prior       Shares Offered       Owned After          After
       Name                      to Offering          For Sale           Offering          Offering
       ----                      -----------          --------           --------          --------

<S>                                <C>                 <C>                    <C>              <C>
Robert W. Wyatt                    32,780              32,780                 0                0
9595 Distribution Avenue
San Diego, CA 92121

George A. York                     28,000              28,000                 0                0
8020 North 13th Street
Pheonix, AZ 85020

John J. You                        30,000              30,000                 0                0
5550 N. Kenmore
Chicago, IL 60640

</TABLE>

- --------------------
(1)  Messers. Epert and Kehoe are officers and directors of the Company.

(2)  Riverlux Trust REG is a principal stockholder of the Company.

                                                        46

<PAGE>

                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

     The Company  was  incorporated  on  February  4, 1991.  Between the date of
incorporation  and November  1994,  the Company issued an aggregate of 2,500,000
shares of its Common Stock to officers, directors and business associates for an
aggregate of $29,000, or $.012 per share.

     In November 1994, Gregory W. Gossett, the Company's founder,  President and
majority  stockholder,  sold 1,550,000 shares of his Common Stock in the Company
to Dale  Holdings,  LDC ("Dale") for  $750,000,  or $.48 per share.  On the same
date,  the Company sold an additional  516,740  shares to Dale for $250,000,  or
$.48  per  share.  Accordingly,  as of  November  1994,  Dale  was the  majority
stockholder of the Company, owning an aggregate of 2,066,740 shares, or 68.5% of
the Company's then  outstanding  Common Stock.  At that time (and until December
1995) Dale was owned 51% by Riverlux Trust REG, a Liechtenstein company, and 49%
by Brett  Bouchy.  In January  1995 Dale  purchased  24,850  shares  from Miguel
Paloma, a nonaffiliated stockholder of the Company.

     In February 1995,  Dale sold an aggregate of 367,150 shares of Common Stock
of the Company held by it to a group of  investors  for  $560,000,  or $1.53 per
share. After paying  commissions of $56,000,  Dale loaned the remaining $504,000
to the Company, evidenced by a promissory note bearing interest at 8% per annum,
which was paid in full with proceeds of the Prior Offering. Proceeds of the loan
were used by the Company to (i) purchase  inventory,  (ii) provide Mr.  Ratcliff
with the $100,000 loan required under his employment  agreement,  (iii) pay cash
dividends  to the  Company's  stockholders  aggregating  $37,449,  (iv)  repay a
stockholder loan in the amount of $43,000, (v) pay legal and accounting fees and
(v) satisfy working capital needs, including the purchase of inventory.

     On March 24, 1995,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement with
Richard  Ratcliff,  its Chief  Executive  Officer,  which provides for a salary,
bonus and loan to Mr.  Ratcliff.  On June 1,  1995,  the  Company  entered  into
employment agreements with Messrs.  Manhold,  Kehoe and Bouchy. In January 1996,
the Company entered into employment  agreements with Messrs. Epert and Bernstein
and in August 1996 the Company  entered into an  employment  agreement  with Mr.
Kern.  Subsequently,  Messrs. Ratcliff, Epert and Manhold voluntarily terminated
their  employment  agreements  and Messrs.  Ratcliff and Epert  entered into new
employment  agreements in August 1996,  effective through December 31, 1997. See
"Management - Executive Compensation."

     In May 1995, the Company sold 420,000 shares of its Common Stock to a group
of  non-affiliated  investors for $1.80 per share.  At the same time,  Dale also
sold  420,000  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock owned by it for $1.80 per
share to a group of investors.

     In June 1995,  Dale loaned the Company  $346,000  evidenced by a promissory
note bearing  interest at 8% per annum due the earlier of June 19, 1997,  or the
closing  date  of  the  Offering.  This  second  Dale  loan  resulted  from  the
aforementioned sale by Dale in May 1995 of 420,000 shares of the Company's

                                       47

<PAGE>

Common  Stock at $1.80 per  share.  The two  loans  from  Dale  which  aggregate
$850,000  are  collateralized  by  all  of the  Company's  accounts  receivable,
inventory  and  equipment  (subordinated  to the Textron  Financial  Corporation
equipment lease,  see "Business - Manufacturing  and Packaging") and were repaid
in full from the proceeds of the Prior Offering.

     In April and October  1995,  the Company  issued  40,000 and 100,000  stock
options  respectively to Meris Financial  Incorporated  ("Meris") for consulting
services rendered to the Company including  services rendered in connection with
the Offering. The options were exercisable at $6.00 per share and were to expire
three years from the date of issuance.  In March 1996, at the Company's request,
Meris agreed to cancel its options in order to assist the Company in  compliance
with certain NASD rules which limit the number of options and warrants  issuable
in  connection  with a public  offering.  Meris has not  received,  and will not
receive, any other compensation in connection with the Offering. Mr. Ratcliff is
an officer and director of Meris.

     In October  1995,  the  Company  borrowed  $1,550,000  from a group of four
lenders (the "1995 Bridge Loan"). As additional compensation for the 1995 Bridge
Loan, the Company issued an aggregate of 465,000 common stock purchase  warrants
to the  lenders,  each such  warrant  exercisable  to purchase  one share of the
Company's Common Stock at $2.00 per share exercisable in perpetuity.  The Bridge
Loan bore  interest at 8% per annum and was repaid in full from  proceeds of the
Prior  Offering.  The  Bridge  Loan  lenders  included  Brett  Bouchy,  a former
principal stockholder of the Company (who received 165,000 warrants), and Robert
H. Wood, a former  director of the Company (who received  75,000  warrants).  In
March  1996,  Brett  Bouchy  sold  100,000  warrants to Gary S. Kehoe and 65,000
warrants to Robert H. Wood,  both  officers and  directors  of the Company,  for
$5.00 per  warrant.  The purchase  price was paid by the issuance of  promissory
notes by Messrs.  Kehoe and Wood to Mr. Bouchy bearing interest at 9% per annum.
The warrants are not collateral for the promissory  notes.  The promissory notes
are due the earlier of (i) six months after the  warrants are  exercised or (ii)
if during the period  commencing  from April 24,  1997 until  April 24, 2000 the
closing  price of the  Company's  Common  Stock on  NASDAQ is $10.00 or more per
share for five  consecutive  trading days then the promissory  notes are due six
months from the last such trading day. If neither event occurs,  the  promissory
notes becomes void and of no value on April 24, 1999 and the warrants remain the
property of Messrs.  Kehoe and Wood.  Under no  circumstances  will the warrants
become  returnable  to Mr.  Bouchy.  Mr. Bouchy sold the warrants in response to
comments  from the  National  Market who had advised the  Company  that  neither
NASDAQ nor the National  Market would list the  Company's  securities so long as
Mr. Bouchy was an equity holder in the Company.  The National Market's objection
to allowing Mr. Bouchy to remain an equity  holder in the Company  resulted from
fines  and  censures  imposed  upon Mr.  Bouchy  by the NASD and the  Securities
Commission of the State of Arizona.

     In December 1995, Dale dissolved and issued 51% and 49% respectively of its
Common  Stock in the  Company and its loans  receivable  due from the Company to
Riverlux  Trust  REG and Brett  Bouchy.  Riverlux  Trust  REG and  Brett  Bouchy
received 665,265 shares and 639,175 shares, respectively, of Dale's

                                       48

<PAGE>

stockholdings in the Company and $433,500 and $416,500,  respectively, of Dale's
loans receivable from the Company. The loans were repaid in full out of proceeds
of the Prior Offering. Subsequently, Riverlux Trust REG and Mr. Bouchy each sold
20,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock to Mr. Kehoe for $2.00 per share.

     In January 1996, the Company  repurchased from Brett Bouchy,  the remaining
619,175  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock owned by him for $4.50 per share
resulting in a gain to Mr. Bouchy of $2,489,083. In order to fund the repurchase
and  retirement  of such  shares,  the Company  sold in a January  1996  private
placement  of its Common  Stock an  aggregate  of 619,175  shares to the Selling
Stockholders  for $4.50 per share  after  payment of  commissions.  The  Company
repurchased  Brett  Bouchy's  shares in response to comments  from the  National
Market as set  forth in the  carry  over  paragraph  above.  Without a NASDAQ or
National  Market  listing,  the  Company  would be unable to  complete  a public
offering of its securities.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into a two-year distribution agreement
with  Bernstein  Bros.   Marketing   Corporation  (doing  business  as  National
Distributing) (a company in which Richard Bernstein,  an officer and director of
the Company, is President,  a director and a principal  stockholder) pursuant to
which the  Company  agreed to sell to  National  Distributing  at fixed  product
prices on a  non-exclusive  basis  ChromaTrim  and  CitrusSlim  chewing  gum for
distribution by National  Distributing  solely to non-chain  convenience stores,
grocery  stores,  drugstores and other similar retail food stores.  There are no
minimum sales  requirements  imposed under the agreement.  The Company considers
the product  prices offered to National  Distributing  under the agreement to be
fair,  reasonable and  consistent  with product prices which would be offered to
unaffiliated distributors.  Sales by National Distributing of ChromaTrim chewing
gum under a prior  distribution  agreement with the Company  accounted for 42.8%
and 62.4% of the Company's total sales for the years ended December 31, 1995 and
1994  respectively,  and 18.7% of the  Company's  total sales for the six months
ended June 30, 1996. A loss of National Distributing as a distributor could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's operations.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into a two-year distribution agreement
with Universal Merchants, Inc. ("UMI") (a company in which Richard Bernstein, an
officer  and  director of the  Company  was  formerly a  principal  stockholder)
pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to UMI at fixed product prices on a
non-exclusive  basis  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim  chewing gum for distribution by
UMI solely in the United States through direct response  television  infomercial
advertising.   There  are  no  minimum  sales  requirements  imposed  under  the
agreement.  The Company  considers the product  prices  offered to UMI under the
agreement to be fair,  reasonable and consistent with product prices which would
be offered to unaffiliated distributors.  Sales by UMI of ChromaTrim chewing gum
under a prior distribution agreement with the Company accounted for 26.7% and 0%
of the  Company's  total sales for the years ended  December  31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively,  and 5.2% of the  Company's  total sales for the six months  ended
June 30,  1996.  In December  1994,  the Company  loaned  National  Distributing
$100,000  bearing  interest  at 8% per annum.  The loan was repaid  with  $3,000
interest in March 1995. See "Business - Marketing."

                                       49

<PAGE>

     In January  1996,  Earl K. Manhold  III, a former  director of the Company,
exercised  options to purchase  60,000 shares of the  Company's  Common Stock at
$2.00 per  share and sold such  shares  to John E.  Epert,  the  Company's  then
Chairman for the same price per share.

     The Company has purchased,  since 1994, an ingredient in its ChromaTrim gum
product from Interhealth Nutritionals, Inc., ("Interhealth"), a company in which
Mr.  Ratcliff was formerly a member of the Board of  Directors.  The Company did
not pay a different price for the ingredient  during the time Mr. Ratcliff was a
member of  Interhealth's  Board of Directors  and the Company  believes that the
price it has paid and currently pays for the ingredient is fair,  reasonable and
consistent with prices charged by unaffiliated suppliers.

     In January 1996, the Company loaned Mr. Epert $150,000  bearing interest at
8% per annum due January 29, 1998. See "Management - Executive Compensation."

     In August 1996, Mr. Ratcliff  granted Mr. Kern the option to purchase up to
50,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock held or purchasable by Mr. Ratcliff
for $6.00 per share at any time  between  February 1, 1998 and February 28, 1998
so long as Mr. Kern is employed by the Company at that time.

     The Company believes that the terms of all agreements described above which
involve the Company's officers, directors,  principal stockholders or affiliates
are fair,  reasonable  and  consistent  with terms that the Company could obtain
from unaffiliated third parties. All future agreements with officers, directors,
principal  stockholders  and  affiliates  will be  approved by a majority of the
Company's disinterested directors.



                                       50

<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Common Stock

     The Company is authorized to issue  10,000,000  shares of common stock,  no
par  value  (the  "Common  Stock"),  of which  4,896,740  shares  are  currently
outstanding.  In addition,  the Company has issued the Public Warrants  together
with common  stock  purchase  warrants to purchase  465,000  shares at $2.00 per
share in perpetuity and stock options to purchase (i) 40,000 shares at $6.00 per
share at any time until April 1998,  (ii)  100,000  shares at $6.00 per share at
any time until October 1998,  and (iii) 360,000 shares at $1.80 per share at any
time until  April  1998.  The  Company  has also  reserved  for  issuance  up to
1,500,000  shares under the  Company's  1995 Stock Option Plan, of which 760,000
shares are  currently  issuable at exercise  prices  between $1.50 and $6.00 per
share at any time  through  August  1999.  In March 1996 the 40,000 and  100,000
previously  issued  options  exercisable  at $6.00 per share were  cancelled  by
Meris. See "Certain  Transactions",  see also "Capitalization" and "Management -
1995 Stock Option Plan."

     Upon  issuance,  the  shares of Common  Stock are not  subject  to  further
assessment  or call.  The holders of Common  Stock are  entitled to one vote for
each share held of record on each matter  submitted  to a vote of  stockholders.
Cumulative  voting for election of directors  is not  permitted.  Subject to the
prior rights of any series of Preferred Stock which may be issued by the Company
in the future,  holders of Common  Stock are  entitled to receive  ratably  such
dividends  that may be declared by the Board of Directors  out of funds  legally
available therefor, and, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company,  are entitled to share ratably in all assets  remaining after
payment of  liabilities.  Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive  rights and
have no rights to convert  their  Common  Stock into any other  securities.  The
outstanding  Common  Stock  is,  and the  Common  Stock to be  outstanding  upon
completion  of  the  Offering   will  be,   validly   issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

Public Warrants

     In connection  with the Prior  Offering,  the Company issued 460,000 Public
Warrants.  Each Public  Warrant  represents  the right to purchase  one share of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $7.50 per share at any time until April 24,
2001. The exercise price and the number of shares  issuable upon exercise of the
Public  Warrants  are subject to  adjustment  in certain  events  including  the
issuance of Common Stock as a dividend on shares of Common  Stock,  subdivisions
or combinations  of the Common Stock or similar  events.  The Public Warrants do
not contain  provisions  protecting  against dilution resulting from the sale of
additional shares of Common Stock for less than the exercise price of the Public
Warrants or the current market price of the Company's securities.

     Public  Warrants may be redeemed in whole or in part,  at the option of the
Company after  October 24, 1996,  upon 30 days'  notice,  at a redemption  price
equal to $.01 per Public  Warrant if the closing price of the  Company's  Common
Stock on the  National  Market is at least  $9.00  per share for 20  consecutive
trading days,  ending not earlier than five days before the Public  Warrants are
called for redemption.


                                       51

<PAGE>

     Holders of Public  Warrants  may  exercise  their  Public  Warrants for the
purchase of shares of Common Stock only if a current prospectus relating to such
shares is then in effect and only if such  shares  are  qualified  for sale,  or
deemed to be exempt from  qualification  under applicable state securities laws.
The Company is required to use its best efforts to maintain a current prospectus
relating  to such shares of Common  Stock at all times when the market  price of
the Common Stock  exceeds the exercise  price of the Public  Warrants  until the
expiration date of the Public Warrants,  although there can be no assurance that
the Company will be able to do so.

     The shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Public Warrants will
be,  when  issued  in  accordance  with  the  Public  Warrants,  fully  paid and
non-assessable.   The  holders  of  the  Public   Warrants  have  no  rights  as
stockholders until they exercise their Public Warrants.

     For the life of the Public  Warrants,  the  holders  thereof  are given the
opportunity to profit from a rise in the market for the Company's  Common Stock,
with a resulting dilution in the interest of all other stockholders.  So long as
the Public Warrants are outstanding, the terms on which the Company could obtain
additional capital may be adversely affected. The holders of the Public Warrants
might be  expected to exercise  them at a time when the  Company  would,  in all
likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital by a new offering of securities
on terms more favorable than those provided by the Public Warrants.

Preferred Stock

     The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000  shares of preferred stock, no
par value (the "Preferred Stock"), none of which is currently  outstanding.  The
Preferred  Stock may,  without  action by the  stockholders  of the Company,  be
issued by the Board of  Directors  from time to time in one or more  series  for
such consideration and with such relative rights,  privileges and preferences as
the  Board  may  determine.  Accordingly,  the  Board  has the  power to fix the
dividend  rate and to  establish  the  provisions,  if any,  relating  to voting
rights,  redemption rates, sinking fund provisions,  liquidation preferences and
conversion rights for any series of Preferred Stock issued in the future.

Use of Preferred Stock As Anti-Takeover Device

     It is not possible to state the actual effect of any other authorization of
Preferred  Stock  upon the rights of  holders  of Common  Stock  until the Board
determines  the specific  rights of the holders of any other series of Preferred
Stock. The Board's authority to issue Preferred Stock also provides a convenient
vehicle in connection with possible  acquisitions and other corporate  purposes,
but could  have the  effect of making  it more  difficult  for a third  party to
acquire a majority of the  outstanding  voting  stock.  Accordingly,  the future
issuance  of  Preferred  Stock may have the  effect of  delaying,  deferring  or
preventing  a change in control of the  Company  without  further  action by the
stockholders and therefore, may be used as an "anti-takeover" device adversely

                                       52

<PAGE>

affecting the holders of the Common Stock and depressing the value of the Common
Stock.  The Company has no current plans to issue any Preferred Stock. See "Risk
Factors - Control by Management;  Authorization and Issuance of Preferred Stock;
Prevention of Changes in Control."

Common Stock Eligible For Future Sale

     Upon completion of the Offering,  there will be 4,896,740  shares of Common
Stock outstanding,  all of which have been registered for public sale and may be
immediately sold by the holders, subject only to the agreement by the holders of
2,874,715  shares (all of which are being registered  hereby),  who have entered
into a  lock-up  agreement  with the  Prior  Representative  on April  24,  1996
pursuant to which they agreed not to sell or  otherwise  dispose of any of their
shares of Common Stock until April 24, 1998 without the prior written consent of
the Prior  Representative.  Any future  sales may  adversely  affect  prevailing
market  prices for the Common  Stock and could impair the  Company's  ability to
raise capital  through the sale of its equity  securities.  The Company has also
granted  certain  demand and piggyback  registration  rights with respect to the
Representative's  Warrants and the Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the
Prior Representative's Warrants.

Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

     Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc., 370 Seventeenth Street, Suite 2350, Denver,
Colorado 80202, is the Company's transfer agent and warrant agent.

Dividends

     In the past,  the Company has paid  limited  cash  dividends  on its Common
Stock and does not intend to pay any cash  dividends  on its Common Stock in the
foreseeable  future.  Earnings,  if any, will be retained to finance growth. The
Company  has  no  financing  or  other  agreements  which  prohibit  payment  of
dividends.

Limitation on Liability

     The Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  provides  that  liability of
directors to the Company for monetary  damages is  eliminated to the full extent
provided by Utah law. Under Utah law, a director is not personally liable to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as
a director except for liability arising from (i) a financial benefit received by
a  director  to  which  such  director  is not  entitled,  (ii)  an  intentional
infliction of harm on the Corporation or the shareholders,  (iii) a violation of
Section 16-10a-842 of Utah Code annotated which prohibits certain  distributions
by the  Company  of cash  or  property  to  affiliates,  or (iv) an  intentional
violation of criminal law.

     The effect of this  provision in the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  is to
eliminate the rights of the Company and its stockholders (through  stockholders'
derivative suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages from a

                                       53

<PAGE>

director  for  breach of the  fiduciary  duty of care as a  director  (including
breaches  resulting from negligent or grossly negligent  behavior) except in the
situations  described in clauses (i) through (iv) above. This provision does not
limit  or  eliminate  the  rights  of the  Company  or any  stockholder  to seek
non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach
of a  director's  duty of care or any  liability  for  violation  of the federal
securities laws.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal  matters in connection  with the Offering will be passed upon
for the Company by the Law Office of Gary A. Agron, Englewood, Colorado.

                                    EXPERTS

     The financial  statements  of the Company for the years ended  December 31,
1994 and 1995,  appearing in this Prospectus and  Registration  Statement,  have
been audited by Angell & Deering,  independent  auditors,  as set forth in their
report thereon appearing elsewhere herein and in the Registration Statement, and
are included in reliance  upon such report given upon the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       54

<PAGE>


                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS




Financial Statements                                              Page
- --------------------                                              ----
  Independent Auditors' Report                                     F-2

  Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1996 (Unaudited)
   and December 31, 1995                                           F-3

  Statements of Operations for the six months
   ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 (Unaudited) and
   for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994                  F-5

  Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
   for the six months ended June 30, 1996 (Unaudited)
   and for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994              F-6

  Statements of Cash Flows for the six months
   ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 (Unaudited) and
   for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994                  F-7

  Notes To Financial Statements                                    F-9
















                                       F-1


<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT





To the Board of Directors
Gum Tech International, Inc.


We have audited the accompanying  balance sheet of Gum Tech International,  Inc.
as of December 31, 1995 and the related  statements  of  operations,  changes in
stockholders'  equity and cash flows for the years ended  December  31, 1995 and
1994.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Gum Tech International, Inc. as
of December  31, 1995 and the results of its  operations  and its cash flows for
the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.




                                              /S/  ANGELL & DEERING
                                              Angell & Deering
                                              Certified Public Accountants

Denver, Colorado
January 18, 1996, except for
Note 9 and Note 12 as to which
the date is March 4, 1996





                                       F-2


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS



                                     ASSETS

                                               June 30,             December 31,
                                                 1996                   1995
                                             -----------            ------------
                                              (Unaudited)
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                  $ 3,317,729            $  503,327
  Accounts receivable, net of
   allowance for doubtful
   accounts of $10,555 and
   $14,889, respectively                       1,222,794               935,331
  Inventories                                  1,459,880               898,665
  Prepaid expenses and other                     141,213                44,488
  Deferred income taxes                          215,412                    --
                                             -----------            ----------

     Total Current Assets                      6,357,028             2,381,811
                                             -----------            ----------

Property and Equipment, at cost:
  Machinery and equipment                      3,228,515               990,274
  Office furniture and equipment                  79,097                35,316
  Leasehold improvements                         185,778               182,440
                                             -----------            ----------
                                               3,493,390             1,208,030
  Less accumulated depreciation                 (203,786)              (20,274)
                                             -----------            ----------

     Net Property and Equipment                3,289,604             1,187,756
                                             -----------            ----------

Other Assets:
  Deposits                                       172,530               679,616
  Notes receivable                               264,931               100,000
  Deferred offering costs                             --               188,250
  Other                                          142,203                54,311
  Restricted Cash                                102,758                    --
                                             -----------            ----------

     Total Other Assets                          682,422             1,022,177
                                             -----------            ----------

     Total Assets                            $10,329,054            $4,591,744
                                             ===========            ==========







                     The accompanying notes are an integral
                       part of these financial statements.

                                       F-3


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS



                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                                  June 30,          December 31,
                                                    1996               1995
                                                 ----------         ------------
                                                 (Unaudited)
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable                               $   535,036        $  399,824
  Accrued expenses:
   Income taxes                                           --            24,408
  Customer deposits                                       --            36,959
  Current portion of long-term debt                  221,749                --
                                                 -----------        ----------

     Total Current Liabilities                       756,785           461,191
                                                 -----------        ----------

Long-Term Debt, net of current portion above:
  Stockholders and others                                 --         2,507,363
  Obligations under capital leases                 1,594,160                --
                                                 -----------        ----------

     Total Long-Term Debt                          1,594,160         2,507,363
                                                 -----------        ----------

Commitments and Contingencies                             --                --

Stockholders' Equity:
  Preferred stock: no par value,
   1,000,000 shares authorized,
   none issued or outstanding                             --                --
  Common stock: no par value,
   10,000,000 shares authorized,
   4,876,740 and 3,436,740 shares
   issued and outstanding,
   respectively                                    7,851,060           917,117
  Retained earnings                                  127,049           706,073
                                                 -----------        ----------

     Total Stockholders' Equity                    7,978,109         1,623,190
                                                 -----------        ----------

     Total Liabilities and
      Stockholders' Equity                       $10,329,054        $4,591,744
                                                 ===========        ==========







                     The accompanying notes are an integral
                       part of these financial statements.

                                       F-4


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                           STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS



                                          Six Months Ended June 30,           Years Ended December 31,
                                          -------------------------           ------------------------
                                             1996            1995               1995            1994
                                             ----            ----               ----            ----
                                                  (Unaudited)

<S>                                       <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>       
Net sales                                 $2,044,531      $1,732,825         $4,343,590       $1,941,562

Cost of sales                              1,069,832         967,760          2,310,643        1,011,956
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

     Gross Profit                            974,699         765,065          2,032,947          929,606

Operating expenses                         1,624,415         352,198          1,118,510          694,555
Research and development                      50,773          12,392             90,348               --
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

     Income (Loss) From Operations          (700,489)        400,475            824,089          235,051
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

Other Income (Expense):
  Interest and other income                   45,733          26,460             53,212              940
  Interest expense                          (137,611)        (25,416)          (108,980)          (4,402)
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

     Total Other Income (Expense)            (91,878)          1,044            (55,768)          (3,462)
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

Income (Loss) Before Provision
 For Income Taxes                           (792,367)        401,519            768,321          231,589

Provision (benefit) for income taxes        (213,343)        143,006            270,850               --
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------       ----------

Net Income (Loss)                         $ (579,024)     $  258,513         $  497,471       $  231,589
                                          ==========      ==========         ==========       ==========

Pro Forma Information:
 Historical income (loss) before
  provision for income taxes              $ (792,367)     $  401,519         $  768,321       $  231,589
 Pro forma provision (benefit)
  for income taxes                          (213,343)        143,006            270,850           81,000
                                          ----------      ----------         ----------      -----------

 Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)              $ (579,024)     $  258,513         $  497,471       $  150,589
                                          ==========      ==========         ==========       ==========

Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Per
 Share of Common Stock                    $     (.15)     $      .06         $      .11       $      .03
                                          ==========      ==========         ==========       ==========

Weighted Average Number of
 Common Shares Outstanding                 3,974,103       4,392,658          4,392,658        4,392,658
                                          ==========      ==========         ==========       ==========

</TABLE>






                               The accompanying notes are an integral
                                 part of these financial statements.

                                                 F-5


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


                                                      Common Stock 
                                              -----------------------------           Retained
                                               Shares              Amount             Earnings
                                               ------              ------             --------

<S>                                           <C>                <C>                 <C>      
Balance at December 31, 1993                  2,500,000          $   29,000          $  79,462

Cash dividends                                       --                  --            (65,000)

Issuance of common stock                        516,740             250,000                 --

Net income                                           --                  --            231,589
                                              ---------          ----------          ---------

Balance at December 31, 1994                  3,016,740             279,000            246,051

Cash dividends                                       --                  --            (37,449)

Issuance of common stock in
 private offering (net of
 offering costs of $117,883)                    420,000             638,117                 --

Net income                                           --                  --            497,471
                                              ---------          ----------          ---------

Balance at December 31, 1995                  3,436,740             917,117            706,073

Issuance of common stock upon
 exercise of stock options
 (unaudited)                                     60,000             120,000                 --

Issuance of common stock and
 warrants in public offering
 (net of offering costs of
  $1,466,057) (unaudited)                     1,380,000           6,813,943                 --

Net income (loss) (unaudited)                        --                  --           (579,024)
                                              ---------          ----------          ---------

Balance at June 30, 1996
 (unaudited)                                  4,876,740          $7,851,060          $ 127,049
                                              =========          ==========          =========
</TABLE>










                                  The accompanying notes are an integral
                                    part of these financial statements.

                                                    F-6


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                          STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                          
                                            Six Months Ended June 30,          Years Ended December 31,
                                            -------------------------          ------------------------
                                               1996           1995               1995             1994
                                               ----           ----               ----             ----
                                                   (Unaudited)
<S>                                        <C>              <C>                <C>                <C>    
Cash Flows From Operating
 Activities:
  Net income (loss)                        $  (579,024)     $  258,513        $   497,471        $ 231,589
  Adjustments to reconcile net
   income (loss) to cash (used)
   by operating activities:
    Depreciation                               183,512           4,067             13,077            3,068
    Deferred income taxes                     (215,412)             --                 --               --
    Provision for bad debts                         --              --             11,000           15,877
    Changes in assets and liabilities:
     (Increase) in accounts receivable        (287,463)       (600,861)          (661,302)         (65,935)
     (Increase) in inventories                (561,215)       (827,067)          (663,928)        (179,306)
     (Increase) in
      prepaid expenses and other               (96,725)         (6,206)           (43,940)            (548)
     (Increase) in deposits and other         (175,245)        (57,046)           (52,207)         (27,665)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts
      payable and accrued expenses               3,441         246,992            102,235          (74,429)
     Increase (decrease) in
      customer deposits                        (36,959)        130,200             36,959               --
                                           -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------
          Net Cash (Used) By
           Operating Activities             (1,765,090)       (851,408)          (760,635)         (97,349)
                                           -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
  Capital expenditures                        (614,056)        (27,582)          (864,322)         (14,497)
  Increase in notes receivable                (150,000)       (100,000)          (100,000)        (102,104)
  Receipt of principal on
   notes receivable                                 --         100,000            100,000               --
  Deposits on purchase of
   equipment and other                              --        (781,055)          (667,623)              --
                                           -----------      ----------         ----------       ----------
          Net Cash (Used) By
           Investing Activities               (764,056)       (808,637)        (1,531,945)        (116,601)
                                           -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------

Cash Flows From Financing
 Activities:
  Proceeds from borrowing                      706,397       1,400,000          2,400,000           50,000
  Principal payments on
   notes payable                            (2,485,042)        (41,742)           (41,742)          (9,258)
  Issuance of common stock                   8,400,000         756,000            756,000          250,000
  Cash dividends                                    --         (37,449)           (37,449)         (65,000)
  Offering costs incurred                   (1,277,807)       (184,311)          (306,133)              --
                                           -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------
          Net Cash Provided By
           Financing Activities              5,343,548       1,892,498          2,770,676          225,742
                                           -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------

                               The accompanying notes are an integral
                                 part of these financial statements.
                                                  F-7
                                       
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                                   (Continued)


                                             Six Months Ended June 30,          Years Ended December 31,
                                             -------------------------          ------------------------
                                                1996            1995               1995            1994
                                                ----            ----               ----            ----
                                                     (Unaudited)
         <S>                                <C>             <C>                <C>                <C>   
          Net Increase in Cash
           and Cash Equivalents             $ 2,814,402      $  232,453        $   478,096       $   11,792

          Cash and Cash Equivalents
           at Beginning of Period               503,327          25,231             25,231           13,439
                                            -----------      ----------        -----------       ----------

          Cash and Cash Equivalents
           at End of Period                 $ 3,317,729      $  257,684        $   503,327        $  25,231
                                            ===========      ==========        ===========        =========

Supplemental Disclosure of
 Cash Flow Information:
   Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest                                $   244,973      $    3,191        $     3,191        $   2,828
    Income taxes                                 23,165         106,052            246,442               --

Supplemental Disclosure of
 Non-cash Investing and
 Financial Activities:
    Capital lease obligation
     incurred for new equipment             $ 1,194,544       $      --        $        --        $      --



</TABLE>










                                     The accompanying notes are an integral
                                       part of these financial statements.

                                                      F-8


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gum Tech  International,  Inc. (the "Company") was  incorporated in Utah on
     February 4, 1991 to develop,  market and distribute  specialty  chewing gum
     products  under its own brand names and on a private  label basis for other
     chewing gum marketers.  The Company  currently markets chewing gum products
     with certain ingredients added to promote weight control, energy endurance,
     alleviate some  pre-menstrual  symptoms and promote oral hygiene and breath
     freshness.  The Company also markets a chewing gum product  which  includes
     anti-oxidant vitamins.

     The Company  currently  contracts  with others for the  manufacture  of its
     chewing gum products but expects to complete the leasehold improvements and
     purchase of  equipment  for its 28,000  square  foot  leased  manufacturing
     facility  in January  1996.  The  Company  expects  to produce  most of its
     chewing gum products at the new facility.  The Company relies substantially
     upon two distributors to market its products (Note 9).

     Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
     --------------------------------------
     The  financial  statements as of June 30, 1996 and for the six months ended
     June 30, 1996 and 1995 are unaudited, however, in the opinion of management
     of the Company,  all  adjustments  (consisting  solely of normal  recurring
     adjustments)  necessary to a fair presentation of the financial  statements
     for the interim periods have been made.

     Amendment to Authorized Common and Preferred Shares and Stock Split
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     In March 1995, the Company's  stockholders adopted a resolution approving a
     five for one stock split of the issued and outstanding  common shares.  The
     Company's  Board  of  Directors  also  authorized,   and  the  shareholders
     approved,  an  amendment  and  restatement  of the  Company's  Articles  of
     Incorporation,  to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock
     from 1,000,000 to 10,000,000  shares and to authorize the issuance of up to
     1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

     In December  1995,  the  Company  approved a two for one stock split of the
     issued and outstanding  common shares.  All share information and per share
     data have been retroactively  restated for all periods presented to reflect
     the stock splits and increase in authorized shares.

     Inventories
     -----------
     Inventories  are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined
     using the first-in, first-out pricing method.





                                       F-9


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. Organization and Summary of Significant  Accounting Policies (Continued)
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     Property and Equipment
     ----------------------

     Depreciation of the primary asset  classifications  is calculated  based on
     the following estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.

               Classification                          Useful Life in Years
               --------------                          --------------------
             Machinery and equipment                           5-10
             Office furniture and equipment                    5
             Leasehold improvements                            10

     Depreciation of property and equipment charged to operations is $13,077 and
     $3,068 for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     Revenue Recognition
     -------------------
     The Company  recognizes  revenue  from product  sales upon  shipment to the
     customer.

     Income Taxes
     ------------
     Beginning  January 1, 1993,  the  Company  was an S  corporation  under the
     provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly,  no provision was
     made for income  taxes  since all  income,  deductions,  gains,  losses and
     credits  were  reported  on the  tax  returns  of the  stockholders.  The S
     corporation  status of the Company  terminated  on  November  18, 1994 and,
     thereafter,  the Company became a taxable  entity.  Effective  November 18,
     1994,  the  Company  adopted  the  provisions  of  Statement  of  Financial
     Accounting Standards No. 109 (SFAS No. 109), "Accounting for Income Taxes."
     SFAS No. 109 requires the liability  method of accounting for income taxes.
     Deferred income taxes result from temporary  differences in the recognition
     of revenue and expenses for income tax and  financial  reporting  purposes.
     These differences are primarily due to depreciation.

     Deferred Offering Costs
     -----------------------
     In connection with the Company's  proposed public offering (Note 12), costs
     incurred to complete  the  offering  have been  deferred and will be offset
     against the proceeds of the offering if completed, or charged to expense if
     the offering is not completed.

     Pro Forma Net Income
     --------------------
     The statements of operations  include certain pro forma information  giving
     effect to a provision for income taxes as if the Company had been a taxable
     entity paying  federal and state income taxes for all periods  presented at
     the rates applicable in each period.

     Net Income Per Share of Common Stock
     ------------------------------------
     Net income per share of common  stock is based  upon the  weighted  average
     number  of  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock  and,  pursuant  to  the
     Securities and Exchange

                                      F-10


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. Organization and Summary of Significant  Accounting Policies (Continued)
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     Net Income Per Share of Common Stock (Continued)
     ------------------------------------------------
     Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins,  common shares, options and warrants
     issued by the Company at prices below the assumed  initial public  offering
     price during the twelve months immediately  preceding the offering date are
     included in the  calculation  as if they were  outstanding  for all periods
     presented.

     Cash and Cash Equivalents
     -------------------------
     For purposes of the  statements  of cash flows,  the Company  considers all
     highly  liquid  investments  with a maturity of three  months or less to be
     cash equivalents.

     Estimates
     ---------
     The  preparation of the Company's  financial  statements in conformity with
     generally accepted accounting  principles requires the Company's management
     to make  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the  reported  amounts of
     assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities
     at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues
     and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from
     those estimates.

 2. Inventories
    -----------
     Inventories at December 31, 1995 consist of the following:

     Raw materials and packaging                                   $772,336
     Finished goods                                                 126,329
                                                                   --------
        Total                                                      $898,665
                                                                   ========

 3. Long-Term Debt
    --------------

     Long-term debt consists of the following:

     Stockholders
     ------------
     8% notes due on the  earlier of February
     1997 or the  closing  date of any IPO of
     the Company's securities, collateralized
     by accounts  receivable,  inventory  and
     equipment. The notes are subordinated to
     the Company's equipment lease.                               $ 504,000

     8% notes due on the earlier of June 1997
     or the  closing  date  of any IPO of the
     Company's securities,  collateralized by
     accounts   receivable,   inventory   and
     equipment. The notes are subordinated to
     the Company's equipment lease.                                 346,000

                                      F-11


<PAGE>



                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 3. Long Term Debt (Continued)
    --------------------------
            
     Stockholders (Continued)
     ------------------------
     8% unsecured notes due on the earlier of
     July 1997 or the closing date of any IPO
     of the Company's securities.                              $1,300,000

     Individual
     ----------
     8% unsecured  note due on the earlier of
     July 1997 or the closing date of any IPO
     of the Company's securities.                                 250,000

     Accrued  interest  due  at  maturity  of
     long-term notes payable.                                     107,363
                                                               ----------
     Total Long-Term Debt                                      $2,507,363
                                                               ==========

     Installments  due on debt  principal  at December 31, 1995 are as follows:

       Year Ending December 31, 1997                           $2,507,363
       -----------------------------                           ==========

 4.  Income Taxes

     As  described  in Note 1, no  provision  was made for income  taxes in 1994
     since the Company was an S  corporation.  The S  corporation  status of the
     Company terminated on November 18, 1994. The provision for income taxes for
     the year ended December 31, 1995 is as follows:

                                Current            Deferred              Total
                                -------            --------              -----
     Federal                    $234,440           $     --            $234,440
     State                        36,410                 --              36,410
                                --------           --------            --------

          Total                 $270,850           $     --            $270,850
                                ========           ========            ========

     The  following is a  reconciliation  of the  provision  for income taxes to
     income before provision for income taxes computed at the federal  statutory
     rate of 34% for the year ended December 31, 1995.

     Income taxes at the federal statutory rate                      $261,229
     State income taxes, net of federal taxes                          25,355
     Net operating loss carryover                                     (12,372)
     Nondeductible expenses                                             4,157
     Other                                                             (7,519)
                                                                     --------

          Total                                                      $270,850
                                                                     ========

 5. Employee Benefit Plan
    ---------------------

     The Company  adopted a  simplified  Employee  Pension  Plan in 1992 for its
     employees. Employee contributions are discretionary and the Company matches
     the employees contributions up to 3% of the employees salary. The

                                      F-12


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 5. Employee Benefit Plan (Continued)
    --------------------------------
     Company's  contributions  are fully vested when they are made.  The Company
     made  contributions of $-- and $1,955 for the years ended December 31, 1995
     and 1994, respectively. The Company terminated the Plan in 1995.

 6. Stock Options and Warrants
    --------------------------
     Stock Option Plan
     ------------------
     In March 1995,  the Company  adopted a stock option plan (the "Plan") which
     provides for the grant of both  incentive  Stock Options and  Non-qualified
     Options. A total of 1,200,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for
     issuance  under the Plan.  Incentive  stock  options are  issuable  only to
     eligible officers, directors, key employees and consultants of the Company.
     The Plan is administered by a committee selected by the Board of Directors,
     which  determines  those  individuals who shall receive  options,  the time
     period during which the options may be  exercised,  the number of shares of
     common stock that may be purchased under each option, and the option price.
     Unless sooner  terminated,  the Plan shall remain in effect for a period of
     three years from the date of the Plan's adoption.

     The per share  exercise  price of the common stock may not be less than the
     fair  market  value of the common  stock on the date the option is granted.
     The aggregate  fair market value  (determined  as of the date the option is
     granted) of the common stock that any employee may purchase in any calendar
     year  pursuant to the  exercise of incentive  stock  options may not exceed
     $100,000.  No person who owns,  directly or indirectly,  at the time of the
     granting of an incentive  stock  option to him,  more than 10% of the total
     combined  voting  power of all  classes  of stock of the  Company  shall be
     eligible to receive any  incentive  stock options under the Plan unless the
     option  price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the common stock
     subject to the option, determined on the date of grant.

     The exercise date of an option  granted under the Plan cannot be later than
     three  years from the date of grant.  All  options  granted  under the Plan
     provide  for the payment of the  exercise  price in cash or, with the prior
     written  consent of the  Company,  by  delivery to the Company of shares of
     common stock already owned by the optionee having a fair market value equal
     to the exercise price of the options being  exercised,  or by a combination
     of such methods of payment.

     The following  table  contains  information  on the stock options under the
     Company's  Plan for the year  ended  December  31,  1995.  The  outstanding
     agreements expire from March 1998 to August 1998.




                                      F-13


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


6.  Stock Options and Warrants (Continued)
    -------------------------------------  
     Stock Option Plan (Continued)
     ----------------------------
                                              Number  of     Option Price
                                                Shares         Per Share
                                                ------         ---------
       Options  outstanding at
        January 1, 1995                              --                  --
       Granted                                  750,000      $1.50 to $2.00  
       Exercised                                     --                  -- 
       Cancelled                                     --                  -- 
                                                -------      --------------

       Options outstanding at
        December 31, 1995                       750,000      $1.50 to $2.00
                                                =======      ==============

     Non-qualified Stock Options
     ---------------------------

     The  Company  has  granted  non-qualified  stock  options  to  consultants,
     distributors and other individuals.  The outstanding agreements expire from
     April 1998 to October 1998. The following table contains information on all
     of the stock options, except those granted under the Company's stock option
     plan, for the year ended December 31, 1995.

                                         Number of           Option Price
                                          Shares               Per Share
                                          ------               ---------
      Options outstanding at
       January 1, 1995                         --                        --
        Granted                           500,000            $1.80 to $6.00
        Exercised                              --                        --
        Cancelled                              --                        --
                                          -------            --------------

      Options outstanding at
       December 31, 1995                  500,000            $1.80 to $6.00
                                          =======            ==============

     Warrants
     --------

     In 1995,  the  Company  borrowed  $1,550,000  from a group of four  lenders
     ("1995 Bridge Loan"). As additional consideration for the 1995 Bridge Loan,
     the Company issued an aggregate of 465,000  common stock purchase  warrants
     to the lenders.The warrants were issued at exercise prices in excess of the
     fair  market  value of the common  stock at the date they were  issued and,
     therefore,  the Company  determined  that they had a fair value of zero and
     the Company  assigned  the entire  proceeds for the 1995 Bridge Loan to the
     notes  payable.  Each warrant is  exercisable  to purchase one share of the
     Company's common stock at $2.00 per share in perpetuity. All 465,000 of the
     warrants are outstanding at December 31, 1995.

 7.  Preferred Stock
     ---------------
     The authorized preferred stock of the Company consists of 1,000,000 shares,
     no par value. The preferred stock may be issued in series from time to time
     with such designation,  rights, preferences and limitations as the Board of
     Directors  of  the  Company  may  determine  by  resolution.   The  rights,
     preferences  and  limitations  of separate  series of  preferred  stock may
     differ with respect to such matters as may be determined by the Board of

                                      F-14


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 7.  Preferred Stock (Continued)
     --------------------------
     Directors,  including without limitation, the rate of dividends, method and
     nature of payment of dividends,  terms of  redemption,  amounts  payable on
     liquidation,  sinking fund provisions (if any), conversion rights (if any),
     and  voting  rights.  Unless  the nature of a  particular  transaction  and
     applicable  statutes  require  approval,  the  Board of  Directors  has the
     authority to issue these shares without shareholder approval.

 8.  Commitments and Contingencies
     -----------------------------
     Leases
     ------
     The  Company  leases its office  facilities,  manufacturing  and  warehouse
     facilities and certain equipment under long-term leasing arrangements.  The
     Company's  manufacturing and warehouse  facilities lease contains two three
     year renewal options. In addition, the Company's executive offices contains
     a two year renewal  option.  The following is a schedule of future  minimum
     lease  payments at December 31, 1995 under the Company's  operating  leases
     that have initial or remaining  noncancellable lease terms in excess of one
     year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Year Ending
       December 31,                Facilities           Equipment           Total
       ------------                ----------           ---------           -----
<S>     <C>                        <C>                  <C>              <C>       
        1996                       $  147,350           $  921           $  148,271
        1997                          156,109              767              156,876
        1998                          163,832               --              163,832
        1999                          125,915               --              125,915
        2000                          131,976               --              131,976
        Thereafter                    688,507               --              688,507
                                   ----------           ------           ----------

      Total Future Minimum
       Lease Payments              $1,413,689           $1,688           $1,415,377
                                   ==========           ======           ==========
</TABLE>

     Rental expense  charged to operations was $53,362 and $42,295 for the years
     ended December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     In December  1995,  the Company  entered  into a six year  equipment  lease
     agreement to finance the purchase of its  equipment at an interest  rate of
     approximately  9.5%.  The lease is  collateralized  by all of the Company's
     equipment.  The lease was funded in January 1996 and the equipment acquired
     will be added to the master lease agreement in January and February 1996.

     Employment Agreements
     ---------------------
     On March 24, 1995,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement (the
     "Employment  Agreement")  employing  Mr.  Ratcliff as the  Company's  Chief
     Executive  Officer based upon a salary of $5,000 per month  together with a
     bonus equal to 7.5% of the Company's pre-tax annual net operating income in
     excess of $400,000. The Employment Agreement also provides for the issuance
     to Mr. Ratcliff of stock options to

                                      F-15


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 8. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
    ----------------------------------------
     Employment Agreements (Continued)
     --------------------------------
     purchase  up to  520,000  shares of common  stock at $1.50 per share at any
     time until  March 24,  1998 and the  extension  of a  $100,000  loan to Mr.
     Ratcliff at 8% interest due on December 31, 1996.

     In January 1996, the Company entered into an employment  agreement with Mr.
     Bernstein  through  December 31, 2000 which may be extended  until December
     31,  2005  at  Mr.  Bernstein's  option  if the  Company's  net  sales  (as
     hereinafter  defined) for the calendar year ending December 31, 2000 exceed
     $50 million. Under the employment agreement,  Mr. Bernstein is to receive a
     base salary of $100,000 with subsequent annual base salaries equal to 2% of
     the  Company's  prior year's net sales but in no event may such annual base
     salary  exceed  $500,000.  "Net  sales" are defined as gross sales from the
     sale of all products in the "Target Markets",  which in turn are defined as
     all markets except (i) the natural food markets, (ii) private label markets
     or (iii) markets  developed  from direct  response  television  infomercial
     advertising.  In  addition,  Mr.  Bernstein  is entitled to an annual bonus
     equal to (i) 5% of the first $5 million of net sales in excess of the prior
     year's net sales,  (ii) 4% of the next $5 million of net sales in excess of
     the prior year's net sales, (iii) 3% of the next $5 million of net sales in
     excess of the prior year's net sales and (iv) 2% of all net sales in excess
     of $20 million of net sales in the prior year.

     Purchase of Manufacturing Equipment
     -----------------------------------
     The Company  will  commence  manufacturing  its own chewing gum products in
     1996.  In  connection  therewith,  the  Company has  entered  into  various
     agreements  for the purchase of  equipment.  As of December  31, 1995,  the
     Company  has  remaining  commitments  for  the  purchase  of  approximately
     $1,550,000  of  equipment  which  has  not  been  received,  and  has  paid
     approximately  $650,000  leaving a remaining  commitment  of  approximately
     $900,000 which will be covered under the Company's  master lease  agreement
     discussed above.

 9.  Related Party Transactions
     --------------------------
     On November 18, 1994, Gregory Gossett, the Company's founder, President and
     majority  stockholder,  sold  1,550,000  shares of his common  stock in the
     Company to Dale  Holdings,  Inc.,  LDC ("Dale") for  $750,000,  or $.48 per
     share.  On the same date, the Company sold an additional  516,740 shares to
     Dale for $250,000, or $.48 per share.

     In February 1995,  Dale sold an aggregate of 367,150 shares of common stock
     of the Company held by it to a group of eleven  investors for $560,000,  or
     $1.53 per share.  After  paying  commissions  of  $56,000,  Dale loaned the
     remaining $504,000 to the Company, evidenced by a promissory note (Note 3).
     In May 1995 the Company and Dale each sold

                                      F-16


<PAGE>
                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


9.  Related Party Transactions (Continued)
    -------------------------------------
     420,000  shares of the  Company's  common stock through an  Underwriter  at
     $1.80 per share and paid a commission  of 10% of the gross  proceeds of the
     common  stock.  Dale loaned the Company  $346,000  from the proceeds of the
     common stock sold by it, which is evidenced by a promissory  note (Note 3).
     Both loans from Dale are  collateralized  by all of the Company's  accounts
     receivable,  inventory and equipment.  The notes were distributed to Dale's
     two  partners  in  December  1995 and the notes  were  subordinated  to the
     Company's equipment lease (Note 8).

     On March 24, 1995,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement with
     Richard Ratcliff, its Chief Executive Officer, which provides for a salary,
     bonus,  stock  options  and  loan  to Mr.  Ratcliff.  In  March  1996,  the
     employment agreement was amended to delete the bonus provision (Note 8). As
     of December 31, 1995, the Company has a note  receivable  from Mr. Ratcliff
     of $100,000 (Note 8).

     The  Company has  entered  into  exclusive  U.S.  and foreign  distribution
     agreements (the "Distribution  Agreements") with Bernstein Bros.  Marketing
     Incorporated  (doing  business  as  National  Distributing)   ("National").
     National holds exclusive  rights to market the Company's  ChromaTrim gum to
     retailers  within the United States,  except  retailers in the natural food
     industry,  the  private  label  market or directly  to  customers  ("direct
     response") through media advertisements and infomercials broadcast on cable
     television networks.  United Merchants, Inc. ("UMI") holds rights to market
     the same products on a direct  response  basis within the United States and
     both on a direct response basis and to retail  accounts  outside the United
     States.  National and UMI (collectively the  "Distributors")  also have the
     first right of refusal to market any new diet chewing gums developed by the
     Company under the same terms and conditions as the  ChromaTrim  agreements.
     Richard Bernstein,  a director of the Company,  is an executive officer and
     director of National and a principal  stockholder of UMI. The  Distribution
     Agreements, which primarily relate to the Company's ChromaTrim chewing gum,
     represented  69.5% and  66.9% of the  Company's  total  sales for the years
     ended  December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  Although  minimum  sales
     requirements  are required under the  Distribution  Agreements,  should the
     Distributors  fail to meet such minimum  sales  requirements  or should the
     Distributors  otherwise breach the Distribution  Agreements for any reason,
     the Company's operations would be substantially and adversely affected.  To
     date, the Distributors have failed to meet the minimum sales  requirements.
     Trade accounts  receivable from National and UMI were $775,130 and $681,428
     at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  Payments are  generally  due
     within 30 days of the invoice date.



                                      F-17


<PAGE>

                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


9.  Related Party Transactions (Continued)
    -------------------------------------
     In January 1996, the Company,  National and UMI cancelled  their  exclusive
     U.S., and foreign Distribution  Agreements.  The Company entered into a two
     year agreement  with National  pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell
     National,  on a non-exclusive basis,  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim chewing gum
     for sale by  National  solely  to  non-chain  convenience  stores,  grocery
     stores,  drugstores  and other  similar  retail  food  stores.  The Company
     entered  into a two year  agreement  with UMI pursuant to which the Company
     agreed to sell to UMI on a  non-exclusive  basis  ChromaTrim and CitrusSlim
     chewing  gum for sale by UMI solely in the  United  States  through  direct
     response television infomercial advertising.

     The Company  loaned  $100,000  to National at 8% interest in December  1994
     which  was  evidenced  by a  promissory  note  due in  1995.  The  $100,000
     principal and $3,000 interest was repaid to the Company in March 1995.

     In January  1996,  Mr.  Manhold,  a director and previous  President of the
     Company,  exercised  options to  purchase  60,000  shares of the  Company's
     common  stock at $2.00 per share and sold  such  shares to Mr.  Epert,  the
     Company's Chairman and President, for $2.00 per share.

     In  January  1996,  the  Company  loaned  $150,000  to Mr.  Epert  under  a
     promissory note with interest at 8% per annum, due in January 1998.

10. Concentration of Credit Risk and Major Customers
    ------------------------------------------------
     The Company's accounts receivable are due from customers located throughout
     the United  States and various  foreign  countries.  The  Company  performs
     periodic  credit  evaluations  of its  customers'  financial  condition and
     generally  requires no  collateral.  The  Company  maintains  reserves  for
     potential  credit  losses,  and such losses have not exceeded  management's
     expectations.

     Sales to major customers, as a percentage of net sales, for the years ended
     December 31, 1995 and 1994 were as follows:
 
                                                         1995        1994
                                                         ----        ----

             Customer A                                  42.8%       62.4%
             Customer B                                  26.7%

11.  Private Offering of Common Stock
     --------------------------------
     In January  1996,  the Company sold  619,175  shares of its common stock at
     $5.00 per share through an Underwriter. The Company paid a sales commission
     of 10% of the gross  proceeds  of the  common  stock  sold.  All of the net
     proceeds of the offering  ($2,786,288)  were used to repurchase  from Brett
     Bouchy, a principal stockholder of the Company, and retire,  619,175 shares
     of the Company's  common stock held by Mr. Bouchy at a repurchase  price of
     $4.50 per share. Other

                                      F-18


<PAGE>
                          GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


11.  Private  Offering  of  Common  Stock  (Continued)
     ------------------------------------------------
     expenses of the offering,  including legal fees,  accounting fees, printing
     and other expenses will be paid by Mr.Bouchy.

12.  Proposed Public Stock Offering
     ------------------------------
     The Company has  executed a letter of intent with an  Underwriter  to offer
     400,000 units of the Company's  securities,  each unit  consisting of three
     shares of the  Company's  common  stock  and one  redeemable  common  stock
     purchase  warrant  to the  public  at  $18.00  per unit.  Each  warrant  is
     exercisable  to purchase one share of common stock at $7.50 per share for a
     period of five years from the effective date of the Company's  Registration
     Statement  and may be redeemed by the Company after six months for $.01 per
     warrant if the  closing  price of the common  stock on the NASDAQ  National
     Market System is at least $9.00 per share for 20 consecutive  trading days.
     The  Company  will also  grant the  Underwriter  an option to  purchase  an
     additional  60,000  units from the Company to cover  over-allotments  for a
     period  of  thirty  days  from  the  effective  date  of  the  Registration
     Statement.

     The Company will pay the  Underwriter a commission  equal to ten percent of
     the gross proceeds of the offering and a non-accountable  expense allowance
     equal to three percent of the gross proceeds of the offering. In connection
     with the  offering,  the  Company  has  agreed to issue the  Underwriter  a
     warrant,  for $100, to purchase up to 40,000 units for $24.75 per unit. The
     Underwriter's  warrant is exercisable  for a period of four years beginning
     one year from the effective date of the Registration  Statement.  The units
     subject to the Underwriter's warrant will be identical to the units sold to
     the  public.   There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  offering  will  be
     successfully completed.

13.  Subsequent Events (Unaudited)
     ----------------------------
     Public Stock Offering
     ---------------------
     The public stock  offering was completed and the closing  occurred on April
     30, 1996. In May 1996 the Underwriter  exercised its over-allotment  option
     for 60,000 additional units.

     Stock Option Plan
     -----------------
     In May 1996,  the  Company  amended its stock  option plan to increase  the
     number of options available under the Plan to 1,500,000.  In addition,  the
     Company  filed a  Registration  Statement to register  all shares  issuable
     under the Plan.




                                      F-19



<PAGE>

==========================================     =================================

     No dealer,  salesman or other  person
has   been    authorized   to   give   any
information or to make any representations
other than contained in this Prospectus in
connection  with  the  Offering  described           2,874,715 SHARES OF
herein,   and  if  given  or  made,   such              COMMON STOCK
information or representations must not be
relied upon as having been  authorized  by
the  Company.  This  Prospectus  does  not
constitute   an  offer  to  sell,  or  the
solicitation  of  an  offer  to  buy,  the
securities offered hereby to any person in
any state or other  jurisdiction  in which
such offer or  solicitation  is  unlawful.
Neither the  delivery  of this  Prospectus        GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
nor any sale  hereunder  shall,  under any
circumstances, create any implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of
the Company since the date hereof.


             ---------------

            TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                                       Page
Available Information..................  2
Prospectus Summary.....................  3
Risk Factors...........................  7
Capitalization......................... 13
Price Range of Common Stock............ 13              ---------------
Use of Proceeds........................ 13
Selected Financial Data................ 14                 PROSPECTUS
Management's Discussion and
  Analysis of Financial Condition                       ---------------
  and Results of Operations............ 15             
Business............................... 20
Management............................. 28
Principal Stockholders................. 37
Selling Stockholders................... 38
Certain Transactions................... 47
Description of Securities.............. 51
Legal Matters.......................... 54
Experts................................ 54
Financial Statements...................F-1

     Until __________, 1996 (25 days after
the date of this Prospectus),  all dealers
effecting  transactions  in the registered
securities,  whether or not  participating
in this  distribution,  may be required to            .........., 1996
deliver a Prospectus.  This is in addition
to the  obligation of dealers to deliver a
Prospectus when acting as underwriters and
with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions.

==========================================     =================================


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 24. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Article 5 of the Company's Bylaws provides as follows:

                    "ARTICLE 5. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
                         OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES

     5.1  Indemnification  of Directors  and  Officers.  The  corporation  shall
indemnify any individual made a party to a proceeding  because the individual is
or was a director or officer of the corporation,  against liability  incurred in
the  proceeding,  but  only  if such  indemnification  is  both  (i)  determined
permissible and (ii)  authorized,  as such are defined in subsection (a) of this
section  5.1.  (Such  indemnification  is  further  subject  to  the  limitation
specified in subsection 5.1(c).)

          5.1.(a)  Determination  and  Authorization.  The corporation shall not
indemnify a director or officer under this section unless:

               (1)  a  determination  has  been  made  in  accordance  with  the
          procedures  set  forth in  section  16-10a-906(2)  of the Act that the
          director  or  officer  met  the  standard  of  conduct  set  forth  in
          subsection (b) below; and

               (2) payment has been authorized in accordance with the procedures
          set forth in section  16-10a-906(4)  of the Act based on a  conclusion
          that the expenses are  reasonable,  the  corporation has the financial
          ability  to make  the  payment,  and the  financial  resources  of the
          corporation  should be devoted to this use rather  than some other use
          by the corporation.

          5.1.(b) Standard of Conduct. The individual shall demonstrate that:

               (1) his or her conduct was in good faith; and

               (2) he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in,
          or not opposed to, the corporation's best interests; and

               (3) in the  case  of any  criminal  proceeding,  he or she had no
          reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

          5.1.(c) No Indemnification in Certain  Circumstances.  The corporation
shall not indemnify a director or officer under this Section 5.1 of Article 5:



<PAGE>

               (1) in  connection  with a  proceeding  by or in the right of the
          corporation  in which the director or officer was  adjudged  liable to
          the corporation; or

               (2) in  connection  with any other  proceeding  charging that the
          director or officer derived an improper personal  benefit,  whether or
          not  involving  action  in his  or her  official  capacity,  in  which
          proceeding  he or she was adjudged  liable on the basis that he or she
          derived an improper personal benefit.

          5.1.(d) Indemnification in Derivative Actions Limited. Indemnification
permitted  under this section 5.1 in  connection  with a proceeding by or in the
right  of  the  corporation  is  limited  to  reasonable  expenses  incurred  in
connection with the proceeding.

     5.2. Advance of Expenses for Directors and Officers.  If a determination is
made,  following the  procedures of section  16-10a-906(2)  of the Act, that the
director or officer has met the following  requirements  and if an authorization
of payment is made  following the  procedures and standards set forth in section
16-10a-906(4)  of the Act, then the  corporation  shall pay for or reimburse the
reasonable  expenses  incurred  by a  director  or  officer  who is a party to a
proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, if:

          5.2.(a) the director or officer  furnishes  the  corporation a written
affirmation  of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard
of conduct described in section 5.1;

          5.2.(b) the director or officer  furnishes  the  corporation a written
undertaking,  executed  personally or on his or her behalf, to repay the advance
if it is  ultimately  determined  that he or she did not  meet the  standard  of
conduct; and

          5.2.(c) a  determination  is made that the facts  then  known to those
making the determination would not preclude indemnification under section 5.1 of
these bylaws or Part 9 of the Act.

     5.3.  Indemnification  of Agents and  Employees  Who Are Not  Directors  or
Officers.  The board of  directors  may  indemnify  and advance  expenses to any
employee  or agent of the  corporation  who is not a director  or officer of the
corporation to any extent  consistent  with public policy,  as determined by the
general or specific actions of the board of directors.

     5.4.  Insurance.  By action of the board of directors,  notwithstanding any
interest of the  directors  in such  action,  the  corporation  may purchase and
maintain  liability  insurance  on behalf of a person who is or was a  director,
officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation,  against any liability
asserted  against or incurred by such  person in that  capacity or arising  from
such  person's  status as a director,  officer,  employee,  fiduciary  or agent,
whether or not the  corporation  would have the power to  indemnify  such person
under the applicable provisions of the Act."

                                      II-2

<PAGE>

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933,  as  amended,  may be  permitted  to  officers,  directors  or  persons
controlling  the Company,  the Company has been advised  that, in the opinion of
the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission,   Washington,   D.C.  20549,   such
indemnification  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in such Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the officer,  director or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by  such  officer,  director  or  controlling  person  in  connection  with  the
securities  being  registered,  the Company  will,  unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,  submit to a court
of appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 25.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.(1)

         SEC Registration Fee..........................           $ 5,227
         NASD Filing Fee...............................                 0
         Blue Sky Legal and Filing Fees................             4,000
         Printing Expenses.............................             5,000
         Legal Fees and Expenses.......................            10,000
         Accounting Fees...............................             7,500
         Miscellaneous Expenses........................            18,273
                                                                  -------

         TOTAL.........................................           $50,000 (1)



     (1)  All expenses, except the SEC registration fee and NASD filing fee, are
          estimated.

ITEM 26.  Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

     During the last three years,  the Registrant  sold the following  shares of
its Common Stock which were not registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

(i) In November 1994, the Registrant  sold 516,740 shares to Dale Holdings,  LDC
for $250,000 or $.48 per share.



                                      II-3

<PAGE>

(ii) In May 1995, the Registrant  sold 420,000 shares of its Common Stock to the
individuals named below at $1.80 per share. Kensington Securities, Inc. acted as
the Selling Agent for the securities earning a sales commission of $75,600 based
upon  gross  proceeds  from  the sale of the  securities  by the  Registrant  of
$756,000.  (Kensington  earned an  additional  sales  commission  of  $75,600 by
selling  $756,000  of  securities  held  by Dale  Holdings,  Inc.  (a  principal
stockholder of the Registrant) at the same price per share. See "Underwriting.")

         Name                                    Number of Shares
         ----                                    ----------------

Earl and Ruth A. Miller                                 60,000
James and Abby Swanson                                  56,000
Craig Babcock                                           40,000
John J. You                                             30,000
Daniel T. Nordstrom                                     22,200
Traxlein Partners                                       11,800
Terry D'Arcy                                            40,000
Michael R. Nordstrom                                    19,400
J. Kley Partners                                        30,000
George Knostman                                         14,000
Lawrence and Cynthia J. Davis                           18,000
Lawrence R. Schroeder                                   14,000
Gary Rudy IRA                                           28,000
Josephine Tinimbang                                     14,400
Gerald Laughlin and Charlie Clatterbuck                 22,200
                                                       -------

Total                                                  420,000

(iii) In October  1995,  the  Registrant  issued an aggregate of 465,000  common
stock  purchase  warrants  to the  following  four  individuals  in the  amounts
following their names: Brett Bouchy (165,000  Warrants),  Robert H. Wood (75,000
Warrants),  Karl  B.  Berger  (150,000  Warrants)  and  John W.  Frasco  (75,000
Warrants) and as additional compensation for loaning the Registrant an aggregate
of  $1,550,000.  The warrants are  exercisable at $2.00 per share in perpetuity.
The loans bear interest at 8% per annum, are due the earlier of July 1997 or the
closing date of the Offering and were  advanced by the four  individuals  in the
following amounts: Brett Bouchy - $550,000;  Robert H. Wood - $250,000;  Karl B.
Berger - $500,000; John W. Frasco - $250,000.

(iv) In April and October 1995, the  Registrant  issued 40,000 and 100,000 stock
options  respectively to Meris Financial  Incorporated  ("Meris") for consulting
services  rendered to the  Company.  The options were  exercisable  at $6.00 per
share with the  40,000  options  exercisable  until  April 1998 and the  100,000
options  exercisable  until  October  1998.  In March 1996 Meris  cancelled  the
options. See "Description of Securities - Common Stock."

(v) In April  1995,  the  Registrant  issued  108,000  stock  options to Richard
Bernstein,  72,000 stock options to Bernard  Bernstein,  54,000 stock options to
Chaim Bess and 126,000 stock

                                      II-4

<PAGE>

options  to Steven  Oscherowitz  all for  consulting  services  rendered  to the
Company exercisable at $1.80 per share until April 1998.

(vi) In January 1996 the  Registrant  sold 619,175 shares of its Common Stock at
$5.00 per share to the  individuals  named below.  Kensington  Securities,  Inc.
acted as the Selling  Agent for the  securities  earning a sales  commission  of
$309,587  based  upon  gross  proceeds  from the sale of the  securities  by the
Registrant of $3,095,875.  These shares were  subsequently  registered  with the
Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 file number 333-870
declared effective by the Commission on April 24, 1996.

     Name and Address                           Number of Shares
     ----------------                           ----------------

Craig Babcock                                          15,000
1904 Midwest Club Parkway
Oak Brook, IL 60521

Clyde and Anne Balch                                    5,000
645 Galleon Drive
Naples, FL 33940

James M. Barry                                          5,000
175 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60604

Karl Berger                                            40,000
97 Patterson Road
Joliet, IL 60434

Doyle Boatwright                                        5,000
2029 E. Montebello
Phoenix, AZ 85016

William and Robin Boone                                15,000
4639 E. Gelding Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85032

Lynn and John Brayton                                   6,000
835 Margret Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016

Robert Brumbaugh                                       10,000
546 W. Campus Drive
Arlington Heights, IL 60004


                                      II-5

<PAGE>

     Name and Address                                  Number of Shares
     ----------------                                  ----------------

Dan Chiapetta                                                5,000
740 W. Melrose Street
Chicago, IL 60657

C. C. Management                                             5,000
c/o Charles and Linda Clatterbuck
1008 Marian Avenue
Bellevue, NE 68005

Consolidated Tax Services, Inc.                              5,000
c/o Richard J. LaGrant
125 Millis Lane
Schaumburg, IL 60193

Lynn Crabtree                                               10,000
3023 Timberlane Drive
Fort Madison, IA 52627

Ernest P. and Kathleen L. Dallafior                          5,000
614 N. Harvey Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302

Terry D'Arcy                                                12,500
304 James Street
Plainfield, IL 60544

William L. Davis                                            10,375
115 Danvers Farm Circle
Union, OH 45322

Michael F. and Jana K. Day                                  13,800
253 Farr Avenue
Wadsworth, OH 44281

Michael and MaryAnn DiDomenico                               5,000
5215 N. Marmora
Chicago, IL 60630

Barry Donner                                                 6,000
23781 Hobart Bay
Dana Point, CA 92629

                                      II-6

<PAGE>

     Name and Address                                 Number of Shares
     ----------------                                 ----------------

David A. Dysard                                             5,000
201 Thurman Avenue
Michigan City, IN 46360

Henry A. and Wanda F. Dziopek                               5,000
5026 W. Newland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60656

Financial Freedom Fund                                     25,000
c/o Walter B. Russell
519 N. James Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Peter Fischer                                               5,000
392 Roan Street
San Jose, CA 95123

Gerald F. Freund                                            5,000
227 Town Acres Lane
Roselle, IL 60172

R. Scott Green                                              5,000
6243 E. Sunnyside Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

John Matthew Hamilton                                      10,000
311 Patricia Drive
Georgetown, TX 78628

Haskes Revocable Family Trust                               6,000
2323 N. Central Avenue #504
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Don Hawkins Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Giddens                  5,000
6402 Clairmont Drive
Austin, TX 78749

John P. Hess                                                5,000
12428 N. Emily Lane
Mequon, WI 53092


                                      II-7

<PAGE>

      Name and Address                                  Number of Shares
      ----------------                                  ----------------

James R. Howland                                               3,000
19262 Jasper Hill Road
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679

Irmgard Drilling                                               5,000
c/o Annette G. Bouska
4901 Galway Drive
Dublin, OH 43017

Gary R. Italia                                                 2,500
950 Tarpon Center Drive, Unit 504
Venice, FL

John K. Jensen                                                 5,000
7272 East Gainey Ranch #118
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

John Epert Family Trust                                       10,000
215 W. Northview
Phoenix, AZ 85021

Stuart Krasnow                                                 5,000
4321 W. Foster
Skokie, IL 60076

Robert and Regina LaMotte                                      5,000
25515 Blondo Street
Waterloo, NE 68069

Christopher J. Lang                                           10,000
923 Hidden Hill Lane
Palatine, IL 60067

Helene D. Lilly                                                5,000
9048 N. 14th Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85021

Ruth & David Macklin                                           5,000
3815 Kiess
Glenview, IL 60025


                                      II-8

<PAGE>

     Name and Address                                 Number of Shares
     ----------------                                 ----------------

Megavest Financial Group, Inc.                               30,000
c/o George A. York
8020 N. 13th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Ronald and Trudy Orzechowski                                  6,000
2007 Mark Terrace
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

Gary D. Oswald                                               15,000
2888 Spruce Court
Geneva, IL 60134

Peter J. Pluth                                               12,500
17050 McLanna Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544

Paul Powers and Marcia Weinkoff                              20,000
150 Cobey Road
Rocky Hill, CT

RAHM                                                         25,000
c/o Ruth Miller and William A. Traxel
4909 Forrest Grove
Lovespark, IL 61111

Dennis T. Reed                                               14,000
22810 Capehart Road
Gretna, NE 68028

Lyle P. Reigel                                               10,000
2515 W. Prospect Avenue
Appleton, WI 54915

Gary A. Richter                                               5,000
1231 Channahon Road
Joliet, IL 60436

Gary Rudy                                                    10,000
1004 LaCrosse Street
LaCrosse, WI 54601

                                      II-9

<PAGE>

     Name and Address                                Number of Shares
     ----------------                                ----------------

William Rudy                                               5,000
722 Ash Court
Verona, WI 53593

Nick and Brigitte Sasso                                    5,000
1711 Galloway Drive
Barrington, IL 60010

Thomas Shuhda                                              5,200
672 S. Wynne, Apt. 25
Colville, WA 99114

Alice J. Slanec Trust                                     10,000
c/o Alice J. Slanec
21148 N. 18th Street
Barrington, IL 60010

Douglas A. Smith                                           5,000
604 Meas Court
Waukesha, WI 53188

Melissa J. Smith                                           5,000
4608 E. Bernell Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85028

Abby Swanson                                               7,100
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, IL 60563

Barbara A. Swanson                                         6,000
c/o James A. Swanson, Custodian Under UGMA
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, Ill 60563

David J. Swanson                                           6,000
c/o James G. and Abby L. Swanson
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, IL 60563



                                      II-10

<PAGE>

     Name and Address                              Number of Shares
     ----------------                              ----------------

James Swanson                                              7,100
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, IL 60563

James and Abby Swanson                                     8,100
809 Zaininger Avenue
Naperville, IL 60563

Kim W. Swartz                                             10,000
P.O. Box 22910
Lincoln, NE 68542-2910

James S. Tiernan                                           5,000
1332 Dartmouth Road
Flossmoor, IL 60422

Josephine C-H Tinimbang                                    5,000
4851 W. Greenleaf
Lincolnwood, IL 60646

Vince Villanucci                                           5,000
923 Allison
Lorain, OH 44052

David H. Welch                                            25,000
5917 N. Isabell
Peoria, IL 61614

John Whalen & Martin Oliveira                              6,000
2431 Alamo Glen Drive
Danville, CA 94526

Robert H. Wood                                            15,000
930 Cape Marco Tampico, #505
Marco Island, FL 33937

Scott J. Wooley                                            6,000
995 W. Glenn
Elk Grove, IL 60007



                                      II-11

<PAGE>

   Name and Address                                 Number of Shares
   ----------------                                 ----------------

John J. You                                              15,000
5550 N. Kenmore
Chicago, IL 60640

(vii) From time to time,  the  Registrant  has issued stock  options  (currently
aggregating  760,000 such stock  options) to  employees,  officers and directors
under its 1995 Stock Option Plan.

     With respect to the sales made,  the  Registrant  relied on Section 4(2) of
the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  and/or  Regulation D,
Rule 506. No  advertising or general  solicitation  was employed in offering the
securities.  The securities  were offered to a limited number of individuals and
the  transfer  thereof  was  appropriately  restricted  by the  Registrant.  All
shareholders were accredited  investors as that term is defined under Regulation
D under the 1933 Act and were capable of analyzing the merits and risks of their
investment who  acknowledged  in writing that they were acquiring the securities
for investment and not with a view toward  distribution or resale and understood
the speculative nature of their investment.

ITEM 27.  Exhibits.

 Exhibit No.                      Title
 -----------                      -----

    1.01      Form of Underwriting Agreement(1)

    1.02      Form of Selling Agreement(1)

    1.03      Form of Representative's Warrants(1)

    1.04      Amended Form of Underwriting Agreement(1)

    1.05      Amended Form of Selling Agreement(1)

    1.06      Form of Representative's Unit Warrant(1)

    1.07      Form of Warrant Agreement(1)

    2.01      Certificate of Incorporation and Amendments thereto of the
              Registrant(1)

    2.02      Bylaws of the Registrant(1)

    5.01      Opinion of Gary A. Agron, regarding legality of the Common Stock
              (includes Consent)(1)

                                      II-12

<PAGE>

  10.01        1995 Stock Option Plan(1)

  10.02        Lease Agreement - Phoenix Executive Office Facility(1)

  10.03        Employment Contract with Mr. Ratcliff(1)

  10.04        Employment Contract with Mr. Manhold(1)

  10.05        Employment Contract with Mr. Kehoe(1)

  10.06        Employment Contract with Mr. Bouchy(1)

  10.07        Form of Bridge Loan Agreement together with Exhibits thereto(1)

  10.08        Lease Agreement - Phoenix, Arizona manufacturing facility(1)

  10.09        Amendment to Stock Option Plan(1)

  10.10        Lease with Textron Financial Corporation(1)

  10.11        Memorandum of Understanding with Universal Merchants, Inc.
               (U.S.A.)(1)

  10.12        Memorandum of Understanding with Bernstein Bros. Marketing
               Corporation(1)

  10.13        Waiver Under Employment Agreement (Mr. Ratcliff)(1)

  10.14        LaLanne License Agreement(1)

  10.15        Manufacturing Agreement with Ford Machine Company, Inc.(1)

  10.16        Employment Agreement with Mr. Bernstein(1)

  10.17        Engagement Agreement (Mayday, Inc.)(1)

  10.18        Employment Agreement with Mr. Epert(1)

  10.19        Employment Agreement with Mr. Kern(2)

  10.20        Revised Employment Agreement with Mr. Ratcliff

  10.21        Revised Employment Agreement with Mr. Epert


                                      II-13

<PAGE>

  23.01       Consent of Angell & Deering(1)

  23.02       Consent of Gary A. Agron (See 5.01, above)(1)

  23.03       Consent of Angell & Deering(1)

  23.04       Consent of Angell & Deering(1)

  23.05       Consent of Angell & Deering(1)

  23.06       Consent of Gary A. Agron

  23.07       Consent of Angell & Deering

- ----------
     (1)  Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's  Registration  Statement
          on Form SB-2 declared  effective by the  Commission on April 24, 1996,
          file number 333-870. (2) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
          Form 8K dated August 26, 1996, Commission File Number 0-27646.

ITEM 28.  Undertakings.

     The Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a) That  insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the  Registrant,  the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion
of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  such  indemnification  is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.  In the
event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

     (b) That  subject  to the  terms and  conditions  of  Section  13(a) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, it will file with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission such supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports as
may be  prescribed by any rule or  regulation  of the  Commission  heretofore or
hereafter duly adopted pursuant to authority conferred in that section.


                                      II-14

<PAGE>

     (c) That any post-effective amendment filed will comply with the applicable
forms,  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission  in  effect at the time such
post-effective amendment is filed.

     (d) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

     (i)  To  include  any  prospectus  required  by  section  10(a)(3)  of  the
     Securities Act of 1933;

     (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising  after the
     effective  date  of  the   registration   statement  (or  the  most  recent
     post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the aggregate,
     represent  a  fundamental  change  in  the  information  set  forth  in the
     registration statement;

     (iii) To  include  any  material  information  with  respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration  statement or any
     material change to such information in the registration statement;

     (e) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (f) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
Offering.

     (g)  To  provide  to  the  Underwriter  at  the  closing  specified  in the
Underwriting Agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such
names  as  required  by the  Underwriter  to  permit  prompt  delivery  to  each
purchaser.


                                      II-15

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the  requirements  of filing on Form SB-2 and has  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 18, 1996.

                                               GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                                              By: /S/  GERALD N. KERN
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                       Gerald N. Kern
                                                  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons on the
dates indicated.

       Signature                      Title                         Date
       ---------                      -----                         ----


/s/ Richard Ratcliff         Chairman of the Board of           October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
Richard Ratcliff             Directors and Senior Vice
                             President

/s/ Gerald N. Kern           Chief Executive Officer,           October 18, 1996
Gerald N. Kern               President and Director

/s/ John E. Epert            Vice Chairman of the Board of      October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
John E. Epert                Directors and Executive
                             Vice President

/s/ Gary S. Kehoe            Chief Operating Officer and        October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
Gary S. Kehoe                Director

/s/ Richard Bernstein        Vice President of Sales and        October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
Richard Bernstein            Marketing and Director

/s/ Jeffrey L. Bouchy        Secretary, Treasurer, Chief        October 18, 1996
Jeffrey L. Bouchy            Financial Officer (Principal
                             Accounting Officer)

/s/ William G. Meris         Director                           October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
William G. Meris

/s/ Gregory W. Gossett       Director                           October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
Gregory W. Gossett

/s/ Woodrow C. Monte         Director                           October 18, 1996
- -------------------------
Woodrow C. Monte



<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


     Exhibit No.                           Title

       10.20           Revised Employment Agreement with Mr. Ratcliff

       10.21           Revised Employment Agreement with Mr. Epert

       23.06           Consent of Gary A. Agron

       23.07           Consent of Angell & Deering




                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE:      August 14, 1996

EMPLOYMENT DATE:    The date on which  Gerald  Kern can  assume  on a full  time
                    basis,   responsibility   for  the  overall  and  day-to-day
                    operations of Employer, but in no event later than September
                    l, 1996.


TRANSITION PERIOD:  Commencing   August  14,  1996  and  continuing   through  a
                    transition  period to expire at the  discretion of Employer,
                    but in no event later than December 31, 1996.

EMPLOYER:           GUMTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                    a Utah corporation

EMPLOYEE:           RICHARD RATCLIFF

PURPOSE:
- -------

     Employer is in the business of  manufacturing,  marketing and selling value
added gum products to wholesalers and distributors and in the retail and private
label  markets  (collectively,  the  "Business").  Employer  desires  to  employ
Employee as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Employer, effective on the
Effective  Date, and as the Senior Vice President of Employer,  effective on the
Employment Date, and Employee  desires to accept such employment,  on the terms,
covenants  and  conditions  set  forth  in  this   Employment   Agreement  (this
"Agreement").

AGREEMENTS:
- -----------

     For the  reasons  set  forth  above,  and in  consideration  of the  mutual
promises and agreements set forth in this Agreement, Employer and Employee agree
as follows:

l.  Employment Duties.
    ------------------

          l.l  Subject  to and in  accordance  with  this  Agreement,   Employer
employs  Employee  as the  Chairman  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  Employer,
effective on the Effective  Date, and as the Senior Vice  President of Employer,
effective on the Employment Date, and Employee accepts  employment with Employer
subject to the  general  supervision  and  pursuant  to the  orders,  advice and
direction of Employer. In his capacity as Chairman of the Board, Employee shall,
commencing on the Effective  Date,  preside at all meetings of the  shareholders
and of the Board of  Directors  and  shall  assist in long  range  planning  and
policy-making  decisions  of Employer  and shall in general  perform  such other
duties as shall be  designated  by the Board of Directors  from time to time. In
his  capacity  as the  Senior  Vice  President,  he will  generally  assist  the
President  and  perform  such  other  duties  from time to time  agreed  upon by
Employer and Employee.

<PAGE>

          1.2  Commencing  on  the  Employment  Date,  Employee  shall  use  his
reasonable  efforts in the performance of all the duties that may be required of
and from him pursuant to the express and implicit  terms of this  Agreement  but
shall not be required  to devote his full time  thereto.  Such  duties  shall be
rendered in Phoenix,  Arizona, and at such other places as Employer and Employee
shall mutually agree upon.

          1.3  Nothing  herein   contained   shall  be  construed  to  create  a
partnership or joint venture between Employer and Employee. Neither party hereto
shall be liable  for the debts or  obligations  of the  other  unless  expressly
assumed in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

     2. Term. This Agreement  shall become  effective on the Effective Date and,
unless  terminated  sooner pursuant to Section 5, continue  through December 31,
1997.

     3. Compensation and Other Benefits.
        -------------------------------

          3.1  Compensation.  For services  rendered to Employer  hereunder,  in
whatever  capacity  rendered,  Employee  shall  have  and  receive,  subject  to
withholding and other applicable taxes, compensation as follows:

               3.1.1     During  the  Transition  Period,  a  monthly  salary of
                         $5,000 per month,  payable  monthly  commencing  on the
                         Effective   Date,  in  arrears  in  two  equal  monthly
                         installments.

               3.1.2     On the expiration of the Transition  Period through the
                         expiration  of the term of this  Agreement,  a  monthly
                         salary of $2,000 per month, payable monthly, in arrears
                         in two equal  monthly installments;  provided, however,
                         that in the event that  Employee  is required to expend
                         in excess of 80 hours per month  fulfilling  his duties
                         hereunder, then Employer and Employee shall renegotiate
                         the monthly salary to be  commensurate  with the duties
                         hereunder.

          3.2  Business  Expenses.  Upon  submission  of  proper  documentation,
Employer  shall pay or  reimburse  Employee  for all  reasonable  and  necessary
office,  telephone,  travel and other expenses incurred by him in the pursuit of
his duties on behalf of Employer.

          3.3 Employee  Benefits.  Employee  shall be entitled to participate in
any other bonus, stock option,  incentive  compensation,  deferred compensation,
group  medical and dental  insurance  plans or other  plans or  programs  and to
receive any other  benefits  for which he is  eligible  and which  Employer  may
provide its employees generally or its officers specifically.

     4. Facilities. Employer shall provide and maintain (or cause to be provided
and maintained) such facilities, equipment, offices, secretarial help, and other
services and supplies as it deems  necessary for  Employee's  performance of his
duties under this Agreement, as established from time to time by Employer.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

     5. Termination.
        ------------

          5.1  This  Agreement  and  Employee's   employment  hereunder  may  be
terminated at any time:


               (a)       Upon mutual agreement in writing.

               (b)       By Employee upon the material breach by Employer of any
                         of the material provisions of this Agreement.

               (c)       By Employer for Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement,
                         the term "Cause" shall mean: (i) conduct on the part of
                         Employee  which  is  intended  to  result  directly  or
                         indirectly in substantial  gain or personal  enrichment
                         at the expense of Employer; (ii) the material breach by
                         Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement: or
                         (iii) the failure by Employee to substantially  perform
                         his duties hereunder.

Further,  this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder shall automatically
terminate  upon the death,  disability or insanity of Employee or the bankruptcy
of Employer or the discontinuance of Employer's Business.

          5.2 Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or of Employee's
employment  hereunder, the  parties  hereto  shall he  required to carry out any
provision  hereof  which  contemplate  performance  by them  subsequent  to such
termination, nor shall such termination affect any liability or obligation which
has accrued prior to such termination, including but not limited to, accrued but
unpaid compensation and any liability for loss or damage on account of default.


          5.3  Following any  termination  of  employment  hereunder,  or notice
thereof, Employee shall fully cooperate with Employer in all matters relating to
the  winding  up of his  pending  work on behalf  of  Employer  and the  orderly
transfer  of any such  pending  work to other  employees  of  Employer as may be
designated by Employer.  In consideration  thereof,  Employer shall pay Employee
for any services  rendered  post-termination  at a rate equivalent to the hourly
rate  payable to Employee  during the Initial  Term or the  Extension  Term,  as
applicable, during which the termination occurred.

          5.4 Upon  termination  of this  Agreement,  or whenever  requested  by
Employee,  Employee  shall  immediately  turn over to Employer all of Employer's
property,  including all items used by Employee in rendering services hereunder,
that may be in Employee's possession or under his control.

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

     6. Covenant Not to Compete: Disclosure of Information.
        ---------------------------------------------------

          6.1 Solicitation.
              ------------

               6.1.1     For  a  period  of  six   months   after  the  date  of
                         termination  of this  Agreement,  Employee  shall  not,
                         whether  alone  or  as a  partner,  officer,  director,
                         employee or  shareholder  (or other holder of an equity
                         interest) of, or consultant,  advisor or lender to, any
                         other corporation, partnership or other entity, or as a
                         trustee,  fiduciary  or other  representative,  solicit
                         Employer's customers with respect to, engage in or have
                         any interest,  including, as a creditor, in any person,
                         partnership, corporation, association,or other business
                         entity, whether as employee,  officer, director, agent,
                         consultant,  stockholder  or holder of any right to any
                         form of equity ownership, or otherwise, that engages in
                         the Business.

               6.1.2     Employee shall not, during,  or for a period of six (6)
                         months  after the term of this  Agreement,  solicit any
                         employee,    sales    representative   or   independent
                         contractor  of Employer for  employment  by any person,
                         firm,  partnership,  corporation,  association or other
                         entity for any  reason or purpose  allied or related to
                         the Business whatsoever.

     6.2 Non Disclosure.
         ---------------

               6.2.1     Employee hereby  recognizes and acknowledges  that: (i)
                         Employee  will  be  making  use of,  acquiring,  and/or
                         adding to  proprietary  information  of a  special  and
                         unique  nature and value  relating to and including but
                         not limited to, such matters  Employer's trade secrets,
                         systems,  procedures,  manuals,  confidential  reports.
                         lists of suppliers,  research and development projects,
                         policies, processes, formulas, techniques, know-how and
                         facts   relating   to  sales,   advertising,   mailing,
                         promotions,   financial  matters,  customers,  customer
                         lists,  purchases or requirements or other methods used
                         and preferred by Employer in its  operations,  (ii) the
                         Company will disclose certain  proprietary  information
                         to  Obligator  including,  but  not  limited  to,   the
                         details  of any  statistical  or  financial  data,  the
                         operations  and  structure of the business of Employer,
                         and manuals, forms, techniques,   methods or procedures
                         of Employer  used by or made  available  to Employee in
                         the course of Employee's  employment  (the  information
                         referenced  to in  paragraphs  6.2.1 (i) and (ii) above
                         are  hereinafter   collectively   referred  to  as  the
                         "Proprietary Information").


                                      -4-

<PAGE>

               6.2.2     Employee hereby  recognizes and  acknowledges  that the
                         Proprietary  Information  is a  valuable,  special  and
                         unique asset of Employer's business.

               6.2.3     Employee  will not at any time  directly or  indirectly
                         make use of, divulge or disclose any,of the Proprietary
                         Information   or  any  part  thereof  for  any  purpose
                         whatsoever   to   any   person,   firm,    corporation,
                         association  or other  entity for any reason or purpose
                         whatsoever  that has been obtained by, or disclosed to,
                         him as a  result  of his  relationship  with  Employer.
                         Immediately  upon request by Employer,  Employee  shall
                         return to Employer  any and all  materials  relating to
                         Proprietary Information.

          6.3 Acknowledgement.
              ---------------
               6.3.1     Employee  acknowledges that the covenants  contained in
                         this Section 6 are a material  inducement  for Employer
                         to  enter  into  this  Agreement  and  to  perform  its
                         obligations hereunder and that the services Employer is
                         to render to  Employer  hereunder  are of a special and
                         unusual  character  with a unique  value  to  Employer.
                         Employee  acknowledges  that it would take at least six
                         (6) months for  Employer to retain and train  personnel
                         to replace Employee. Accordingly, Employee acknowledges
                         that the  restrictions  contained in this Section 6 are
                         reasonably  necessary for the  protection of Employer's
                         business  and  that a breach  of any such  restrictions
                         could not  adequately be  compensated  by damages in an
                         action at law.

               6.3.2     In the  event  of a  breach  or  threatened  breach  by
                         Employee of any provision  contained in this Section 6,
                         Employer  shall be  entitled  to obtain, by  posting an
                         appropriate   bond,  an  injunction   (preliminary   or
                         permanent, or a temporary restraining order)restraining
                         Employee  from  the  activity  or  threatened  activity
                         constituting or that would constitute a breach.

               6.3.3     In the event of a breach by Employee  of any  provision
                         contained  under  this  Section  6, Employer  shall  be
                         entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits,
                         compensation,   commissions,   remunerations  or  other
                         benefits that  Employee,  directly or  indirectly,  has
                         realized and/or may realize as a result of, arising out
                         of or in connection of any such breach.

               6.3.4     The  remedies  provided  in this  Section 6 shall be in
                         addition  to,  and not in lieu  of,  any and all  other
                         remedies of Employer at law or in equity.

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     7. Miscellaneous.
        --------------

          7.1 Notice.  Notices required or permitted to he given hereunder shall
be  sufficient if in writing  and delivered or  deposited in  the mail,  postage
prepaid,  certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested  (or the  equivalent in a
foreign country),  addressed, if to Employer, at its principal place of business
and, if to Employee,  at the address set forth in Employer's employee records or
to such other address as may be designated in writing  hereafter by either party
hereto.  All  notices  hereunder  shall be  effective:  (a) five (5) days  after
deposit  in the  mail;  or (b) upon  delivery,  if  delivered  in  person  or by
commercial express service.

          7.2 Burden Except as otherwise  provided herein,  this Agreement shall
be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of any  successor  of Employer and any
such successor shall be deemed  substituted for Employer under the terms of this
Agreement.  As used in this  Agreement,  the  term  "successor"  shall  mean any
person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by
merger, purchase or otherwise acquires all or substantially all of the assets or
business of Employer.

          7.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
understanding  by  and  between  Employer  and  Employee  with  respect  to  the
employment  of  Employee  and  no  representations,   promises,   agreements  or
understandings,  written or oral, not contained  herein shall be of any force or
effect.  No change or  modification  of this Agreement shall be valid or binding
unless it is in  writing  and signed by the  parties  intended  to be bound.  No
waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing
and signed by the parties  against whom the waiver is sought to he enforced.  No
valid waiver of any  provision  of this  Agreement at any time shall be deemed a
waiver of any other provision of this Agreement at such time or any other time.

          7.4 Arbitration.  ln the event any dispute or controversy  arising out
of this Agreement  cannot be settled by Employer and Employee,  such controversy
or dispute, at the election of either Employer or Employee, by written notice to
the other,  may be submitted to  arbitration in Phoenix,  Arizona,  and for this
purpose Employer and Employee each hereby expressly  consent to such arbitration
and such  place.  In the event  Employer  and  Employee  cannot,  within l5 days
following  the  election to submit the dispute or  controversy  to  arbitration,
mutually agree upon an arbitrator to settle their dispute or  controversy,  then
Employer and Employee shall each select one  arbitrator and the two  arbitrators
shall  select  a  third  arbitrator.  The  decision  of  the  majority  of  said
arbitrators  shall be binding upon Employer and Employee for all  purposes,  and
judgment to enforce any such  binding  decision  may be entered in the  Superior
Count,  Maricopa  County,  Arizona (and for this  purpose  Employer and Employee
hereby  irrevocably  consent  to the  jurisdiction  of said  court).  If  either
Employer or Employee  fails to select an  arbitrator  within  fifteen  (15) days
after written  demand from the other party to do so, then the Chief Judge in the
United States  District Court of the District of Arizona shall select such other
arbitrator.  At the  election of either  Employer or Employee,  all  arbitrators
shall be selected  pursuant to the then existing  rules and  regulations  of the
American  Arbitration  Association  governing  commercial  transactions.  At the
request of either Employer or Employee, arbitration proceedings shall be

                                      -6-


<PAGE>

conducted in the utmost  secrecy.  In such case,  all  document,  testimony  and
records shall be available for inspection  only for purposes of the  arbitration
and only by either party and their  respective  attorneys  and experts who shall
agree, in advance and in writing, to receive all such information in secrecy. In
all other respects,  the arbitrators  shall conduct all proceedings  pursuant to
the  Uniform  Arbitration  Act as adopted  by  the State of Arizona and the then
existing  rules  and  regulations  of  the   American  Arbitration   Association
governing  commercial  transactions.  The  costs  of  the  arbitration  and  the
arbitrators  shall be borne by the  non-prevailing party, as  determined  by the
arbitrators, and each party shall bear their own attorney's fees.

          7.5  Prohibition  Against  Assignment.  This  Agreement is personal to
Employee  and  Employee  shall  not  assign  or  delegate  any of his  rights or
obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of Employer.

          7.6 Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed in all respects
whether as to validity, construction,  capacity, performance or otherwise by the
laws of the State of Arizona.  The section  headings used in this  Agreement are
included  so]ely for  convenience  and shall not affect or be used in connection
with the interpretation of this Agreement.

          7.7  Severability.  The provisions of this  Agreement  shall he deemed
severable  and  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity and enforceability of
the other provisions.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this document to he effective
the date first above written.


                                 GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
                                 a Utah corporation



                                 By: /S/  JOHN EPERT
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     John Epert, President

                                                   (EMPLOYER)


                                    /S/  RICHARD RATCLIFF
                                    -------------------------------------------

                                                   (EMPLOYEE)




                                      -7-






                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE:     August 14, 1996

EMPLOYMENT DATE:    The date on which  Gerald  Kern can  assume  on a full  time
                    basis,   responsibility   for  the  overall  and  day-to-day
                    operations of Employer, but in no event later than September
                    1, 1996

TRANSITION PERIOD:  Commencing   August  14,  1996  and  continuing   through  a
                    transition  period to expire at the  discretion of Employer,
                    but in no event later than December 31, 1996

EMPLOYER:           GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                    a Utah corporation

EMPLOYEE:           JOHN EPERT

PURPOSE:
- --------

     Employer is in the business of  manufacturing,  marketing and selling value
added gum products to wholesalers and distributors and in the retail and private
label  markets  (collectively,  the  "Business").  Employer  desires  to  employ
Employee as an Executive Vice President of Employer, effective on the Employment
Date, and Employee desires to accept such employment on the terms, covenants and
conditions set forth in this Employment Agreement (this "Agreement").

AGREEMENTS:
- -----------

     For the  reasons  set  forth  above,  and in  consideration  of the  mutual
promises and agreements set forth in this Agreement, Employer and Employee agree
as follows:

1. Employment: Duties.
   -------------------
 
          1.1 Subject to and in accordance with this Agreement, Employer employs
Employee as an Executive Vice President of Employer, effective on the Employment
Date,  and Employee  accepts  employment  with  Employer  subject to the general
supervision and pursuant to the orders, advice and direction of Employer. In his
capacity as an Executive Vice President,  he will generally assist the President
and perform  such other  duties  from time to time  agreed upon by Employer  and
Employee.

          1.2  Commencing  on  the  Employment  Date,  Employee  shall  use  his
reasonable  efforts in the performance of all the duties that may be required of
and from him pursuant to the express and implicit  terms of this  Agreement  but
shall not be required  to devote his full time  thereto.  Such  duties  shall be
rendered in Phoenix,  Arizona, and at such other places as Employer and Employee
shall mutually agree upon.

<PAGE>

          1.3  Nothing  herein   contained   shall  be  construed  to  create  a
partnership or joint venture between Employer and Employee. Neither party hereto
shall be liable  for the debts or  obligations  of the  other  unless  expressly
assumed in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

     2 Term.  This Agreement  shall become  effective on the Effective Date and,
unless  terminated  sooner pursuant to Section 5, continue  through December 31,
1997.

     3. Compensation and Other Benefits.
     -----------------------------------

          3.1  Compensation.  For services  rendered to Employer  hereunder,  in
whatever  capacity  rendered,  Employee  shall  have  and  receive,  subject  to
withholding and other applicable taxes, compensation as follows:

               3.1.1     During  the  Transition   Period,  a  daily  salary  of
                         $3,583.50 per month, payable monthly, commencing on the
                         Effective   Date,  in  arrears  in  two  equal  monthly
                         installments.

               3.1.2     On the expiration of the Transition  Period through the
                         expiration  of the  term of this  Agreement, a  monthly
                         salary of $2,000 per month, payable monthly, in arrears
                         in two equal monthly installments;  provided,  however,
                         that in the event that  Employee  is required to expend
                         in excess of 8O hours per month  fulfilling  his duties
                         hereunder, then Employer and Employee shall renegotiate
                         the monthly salary to be  commensurate  with the duties
                         hereunder.

          3.2  Business  Expenses. Upon  submission  of  proper   documentation,
Employer  shall pay or  reimburse  Employee  for all  reasonable  and  necessary
office,  telephone,  travel and other expenses incurred by him in the pursuit of
his duties on behalf of Employer.

          3.3 Employee  Benefits.  Employee  shall be entitled to participate in
any other bonus, stock option,  incentive  compensation,  deferred compensation,
group  medical and dental  insurance  plans or other  plans or  programs  and to
receive any other  benefits  for which he is  eligible  and which  Employer  may
provide its employees generally or its officers specifically.

         4.  Facilities.  Employer  shall provide and  maintain  (or cause to be
provided and maintained) such facilities,  equipment, offices, secretarial help,
and other services and supplies as it deems necessary for Employee's performance
of his  duties  under  this  Agreement,  as  established  from  time  to time by
Employer.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

     5. Termination.
        ------------

          5.1  This  Agreement  and  Employee's   employment  hereunder  may  be
terminated at any time:

               (a)       Upon mutual agreement in writing.

               (b)       By Employee upon the material breach by Employer of any
                         of the material provisions of this Agreement.

               (c)       By Employer for Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement,
                         the term "Cause" shall mean: (i) conduct on the part of
                         Employee  which  is  intended  to  result  directly  or
                         indirectly in substantial  gain or personal  enrichment
                         at the expense of Employer; (ii) the material breach by
                         Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement; or
                         (iii) the failure by Employee to substantially  perform
                         his duties hereunder.

Further,  this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder shall automatically
terminate  upon the death,  disability or insanity of Employee or the bankruptcy
of Employer or the discontinuance of Employer's Business.

          5.2 Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or of Employee's
employment  hereunder,  the  parties  hereto  shall be required to carry out any
provision  hereof  which  contemplate  performance  by them  subsequent  to such
termination, nor shall such termination affect any liability or obligation which
has accrued prior to such  termination,  including,  but not limited to, accrued
but  unpaid  compensation  and any  liability  for loss or damage on  account of
default.

          5.3  Following any  termination  of  employment  hereunder,  or notice
thereof, Employee shall fully cooperate with Employer in all matters relating to
the  winding  up of his  pending  work on  behalf of  Employer  and the  orderly
transfer  of any such  pending  work to other  employees  of  Employer as may be
designated by Employer.  In consideration  thereof,  Employer shall pay Employee
for any services  rendered  post-termination  at a rate equivalent to the hourly
rate  payable to Employee  during the Initial  Term or the  Extension  Term,  as
applicable, during which the termination occurred.

          5.4 Upon  termination  of this  Agreement,  or whenever  requested  by
Employer,  Employee  shall  immediately  turn over to Employer all of Employer's
property,  including all items used by Employee in rendering services hereunder,
that may be in Employee's possession or under his control.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>

     6. Covenant Not to Compete: Disclosure of Information.
        ---------------------------------------------------

          6.1 Solicitation
              ------------

               6.1.1     For  a  period  of  six   months   after  the  date  of
                         termination  of this  Agreement,  Employee  shall  not,
                         whether  alone  or  as a  partner,  officer,  director,
                         employee or  shareholder  (or other holder of an equity
                         interest) of, or consultant,  advisor or lender to, any
                         other corporation, partnership or other entity, or as a
                         trustee,  fiduciary  or other  representative,  solicit
                         Employer's customers with respect to, engage in or have
                         any interest,  including as a creditor,  in any person,
                         partnership,   corporation,   association,   or   other
                         business   entity,   whether  as   employee,   officer,
                         director,  agent, consultant,  stockholder or holder of
                         any right to any form of equity ownership, or otherwise
                         that engages in the Business.

               6.1.2     Employee  shall not,  during or for a period of six (6)
                         months  after the term of this  Agreement,  solicit any
                         employee,    sales    representative   or   independent
                         contractor  of Employer for  employment  by any person,
                         firm,  partnership,  corporation,  association or other
                         entity for any  reason or purpose  allied or related to
                         the Business whatsoever.

          6.2 Non Disclosure.
              ---------------

               6.2.1     Employee hereby  recognizes and acknowledges  that: (i)
                         Employee  will  be  making  use of,  acquiring,  and/or
                         adding to  proprietary  information  of a  special  and
                         unique nature and value relating to and including,  but
                         not limited to, such matters  Employer's trade secrets,
                         systems,  procedures,  manuals,  confidential  reports,
                         lists of suppliers,  research and development projects,
                         policies, processes, formulas, techniques, know-how and
                         facts   relating   to  sales,   advertising,   mailing,
                         promotions,   financial  matters,  customers,  customer
                         lists,  purchases or requirements or other methods used
                         and preferred by Employer in its  operations,  (ii) the
                         Company will disclose certain  proprietary  information
                         to Obligor  including,  but not limited to, the details
                         of any  statistical  or financial  data, the operations
                         and structure of the business of Employer, and manuals,
                         forms,  techniques,  methods or  procedures of Employer
                         used by or made  available to Employee in the course of
                         Employee's employment (the information referenced to in
                         paragraphs  6.2.1 (i) and (ii)  above  are  hereinafter
                         collectively    referred   to   as   the   "Proprietary
                         Information").


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

               6.2.2     Employee hereby  recognizes and  acknowledges  that the
                         Proprietary  Information  is a  valuable,  special  and
                         unique asset of Employer's business.

               6.2.3     Employee  will not at any time,  directly or indirectly
                         make use of, divulge or disclose any of the Proprietary
                         Information   or  any  part  thereof  for  any  purpose
                         whatsoever   to   any   person,   firm,    corporation,
                         association  or other  entity for any reason or purpose
                         whatsoever  that has been obtained by, or disclosed to,
                         him as a  result  of his  relationship  with  Employer.
                         Immediately  upon request by Employer,  Employee  shall
                         return to Employer  any and all  materials  relating to
                         Proprietary Information.

          6.3 Acknowledgement.
              ---------------

               6.3.1     Employee  acknowledges that the covenants  contained in
                         this Section 6 are a material  inducement  for Employer
                         to  enter  into  this  Agreement  and  to  perform  its
                         obligations hereunder and that the services Employee is
                         to render to  Employer  hereunder  are of a special and
                         unusual  character  with a unique  value  to  Employer.
                         Employee  acknowledges  that it would take at least six
                         (6) months for  Employer to retain and train  personnel
                         to replace Employee. Accordingly, Employee acknowledges
                         that the  restrictions  contained in this Section 6 are
                         reasonably  necessary for the  protection of Employer's
                         business  and  that a breach  of any such  restrictions
                         could not  adequately be  compensated  by damages in an
                         action at law.

               6.3.2     In the  event  of a  breach  or  threatened  breach  by
                         Employee of any provision  contained in this Section 6,
                         Employer  shall be  entitled  to obtain,  by posting an
                         appropriate   bond,  an  injunction   (preliminary   or
                         permanent,    or   a   temporary   restraining   order)
                         restraining  Employee  from the activity or  threatened
                         activity   constituting  or  that  would  constitute  a
                         breach.

               6.3.3     In the event of a breach by Employee  of any  provision
                         contained  under  this  Section  6,  Employer  shall be
                         entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits,
                         compensation,   commissions,   remunerations  or  other
                         benefits that  Employee,  directly or  indirectly,  has
                         realized and/or may realize as a result of, arising out
                         of or in connection of any such breach.

               6.3.4     The  remedies  provided  in this  Section 6 shall be in
                         addition  to,  and not in lieu  of,  any and all  other
                         remedies of Employer at law or in equity.


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     7. Miscellaneous.
        --------------

          7.1 Notice.  Notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be  sufficient  if in writing and  delivered or  deposited in the mail,  postage
prepaid,  certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested  (or the  equivalent in a
foreign country),  addressed, if to Employer, at its principal place of business
and, if to Employee,  at the address set forth in Employer's employee records or
to such other address as may be designated in writing  hereafter by either party
hereto. All notices hereunder shall be effective:(a) five (5) days after deposit
in the mail;  or (b) upon  delivery,  if  delivered  in person or by  commercial
express service.

          7.2 Burden.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall
be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of any  successor  of Employer and any
such successor shall be deemed  substituted for Employer under the terms of this
Agreement. As used in this Agreement,the term "successor" shall mean any person,
firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by merger,
purchase  or  otherwise  acquires  all or  substantially  all of the  assets  or
business of Employer.

          7.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
understanding  by  and  between  Employer  and  Employee  with  respect  to  the
employment  of  Employee  and  no  representations,   promises,   agreements  or
understandings,  written or oral, not contained  herein shall be of any force or
effect.  No change or  modification  of this Agreement shall be valid or binding
unless it is in  writing,  and signed by the parties  intended  to be bound.  No
waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing
and signed by the parties  against whom the waiver is sought to be enforced.  No
valid  waiver of any provision of this  Agreement at  any time shall be deemed a
waiver of any other provision of this Agreement at such time or any other time.

          7.4 Arbitration.  In the event any dispute or controversy  arising out
of this Agreement cannot be settled by Employer and Employee such controversy or
dispute,  at the election of either  Employer or Employee,  by written notice to
the other,  may be submitted to  arbitration in Phoenix,  Arizona,  and for this
purpose Employer and Employee each hereby expressly  consent to such arbitration
and such  place.  In the event  Employer  and  Employee  cannot,  within 15 days
following  the  election to submit the dispute or  controversy  to  arbitration,
mutually agree upon an arbitrator to settle their dispute or  controversy,  then
Employer and Employee shall each select one  arbitrator and the two  arbitrators
shall  select  a  third  arbitrator.  The  decision  of  the  majority  of  said
arbitrators  shall be binding upon Employer and Employee for all  purposes,  and
judgment to enforce any such  binding  decision  may be entered in the  Superior
Court.  Maricopa  County,  Arizona (and for this  purpose  Employer and Employee
hereby  irrevocably  consent  to the  jurisdiction  of said  court).  If  either
Employer or Employee  fails to select an  arbitrator  within  fifteen  (l5) days
after written  demand from the other party to do so, then the Chief Judge in the
United States  District Court of the District of Arizona shall select such other
arbitrator.  At the  election of either  Employer or Employee,  all  arbitrators
shall be selected  pursuant to the then existing  rules and  regulations  of the
American  Arbitration  Association  governing  commercial  transactions.  At the
request  of  either  Employer  or  Employee,  arbitration  proceedings  shall be
conducted in the utmost secrecy.  In such


                                      -6-

<PAGE>


case,  all  documents,  testimony and records shall be available for  inspection
only  for  purposes  of the  arbitration  and only by  either  party  and  their
respective  attorneys and experts who shall agree, in advance and in writing, to
receive all such information in secrecy.  In all other respects, the arbitrators
shall conduct all proceedings pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act as adopted
by the State of  Arizona  and the then  existing  rules and  regulations  of the
American Arbitration Association governing commercial transactions. The costs of
the arbitration and the arbitrators shall be borne by the non-prevailing  party,
as  determined  by  the  arbitrators,  and  each  party  shall  bear  their  own
attorneys'fees.

          7.5  Prohibition  Against  Assignment.  This  Agreement is personal to
Employee  and  Employee  shall  not  assign  or  delegate  any of his  rights or
obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of Employer.

          7.6 Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed in all respects
whether as to validity, construction,  capacity, performance or otherwise by the
laws of the State of Arizona.  The section  headings used in this  Agreement are
included  solely for  convenience  and shall not affect or be used in connection
with the interpretation of this Agreement.

          7.7  Severability.  The provisions of this  Agreement  shall be deemed
severable  and  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement shall nol affect the validity and enforceability of
the other provisions.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF the parties have executed this document to be effective
the date first above written.


                                     GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
                                     a Utah corporation

                                     By:  /S/  RICHARD RATCLIFF
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Richard Ratcliff, Chief Executive Officer

                                                 (EMPLOYER)




                                     /S/  JOHN EPERT
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                      JOHN EPERT

                                                 (EMPLOYEE)


                                      -7-



                                                                  Exhibit 23.06


                                October 21, 1996



Gum Tech International, Inc.
4205 North Seventh Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

                    Re: Registration Statement on Form SB-2

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are  counsel  for Gum  Tech  International,  Inc.,  a Utah  corporation  (the
"Company") in  connection  with the filing of a  Registration  Statement on Form
SB-2 covering the registration of 2,874,715 shares of Common Stock to be sold by
certain selling stockholders

We hereby  consent to the use of our name under the caption  "Legal  Matters" in
the Prospectus constituting a part of the subject Registration Statement.




                                               Very truly yours,



                                               By:  /S/  GARY A. AGRON
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     Gary A. Agron

GGA/mdi




              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby  consent to the use, in this  Registration  Statement on Form SB-2, of
our report dated January 18, 1996, except for Note 9 and Note 12 as to which the
date  is  March  4,  1996,  relating  to the  financial  statements  of Gum Tech
International,  Inc.  for the years ended  December  31, 1995 and 1994,  and the
reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus contained in
said Registration Statement.


                                            /S/  ANGELL & DEERING
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Angell & Deering
                                             Certified Public Accountants


Denver, Colorado
October 21, 1996




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