How Bazooka’s CIO is bringing AI to the gum game and navigating candy industry headwinds
Sankar Karuppasamy, the CIO of Bazooka, is implementing AI and machine learning to enhance the company's operations following its separation from Topps. The candy industry faces challenges such as inflation and changing consumer preferences, prompting Bazooka to invest in advanced forecasting and AI tools. Karuppasamy's approach focuses on productivity, workflow changes, and the adoption of agentic AI, while also providing training for employees on AI applications.
- ▪Sankar Karuppasamy transitioned from Topps to Bazooka, where he now reports directly to the CEO.
- ▪Bazooka is leveraging AI to improve demand forecasting and marketing processes amid industry challenges.
- ▪The company has seen forecasting accuracy improve from 60% to 90% through machine learning.
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| Original publisher | Fortune |
| Canonical URL | https://fortune.com/2026/06/03/bazooka-cio-ai-anthropic-agentic/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:16:24 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-03T15:27:10.222Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
When Sankar Karuppasamy served as chief information officer at trading card manufacturer Topps, he reported to the chief financial officer. But after moving into the role of CIO at gum maker Bazooka, which was separated from Topps through a $700 million sale to buyout firm Apax Partners in 2023, the technologist began to report to the CEO, Tony Jacobs. Recommended Video “There’s a lot of transformation going on, with the new owners supporting the investment,” says Karuppasamy of the role that technology plays in Bazooka’s future. The reporting structure shift reflects a broader trend across corporate America, as 65% of CIOs report to the corner office, up from 41% a decade ago, according to consulting giant Deloitte.
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