Morinaga & Co. is set to construct a new manufacturing facility in the US to enhance production of its Japanese Hi-Chew sweets brand in the country. The company’s US branch, Morinaga America, will invest over $130m in the new plant located in Mebane, North Carolina. Construction is slated to commence in October, with operations expected to begin by January 2027. The new site aims to meet the increasing demand for Hi-Chew products across all US distribution channels, creating more than 200 new jobs including production, maintenance, and quality assurance roles.
The upcoming 132,633-square-foot plant in Mebane will be Morinaga’s second facility in North Carolina, enabling the processing of “hundreds of tons of Hi-Chew candies every year.” This initiative follows the success of the company’s existing site which opened in 2015, producing the majority of Hi-Chew products for the North American market with an annual capacity exceeding two billion pieces.
Teruhiro Kawabe, President and CEO of Morinaga’s American division, expressed excitement about the brand’s growth in the US non-chocolate sweets category, achieving 20% year-over-year growth since 2018. He stated, “We are eager to maximize our production output to continue providing new, innovative Hi-Chew products to consumers and brand fans nationwide.”
Hi-Chew products are available at retailers such as Kroger, Walmart, Costco in Canada, and Amazon. The fruit-flavored candies come in various flavors like kiwi, dragon fruit, blueberry, apple, and cola. Apart from the US, Hi-Chew is also sold in Japan, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong.
As a conglomerate, Morinaga owns five food business subsidiaries in Japan, including Morinaga Angel Dessert Co. and Takasaki Morinaga Co. which produces Hi-Chew. The company also offers Chargel energy gels in the US and In Jelly in several Asian markets.
In summary, Morinaga’s expansion plan signifies its commitment to meeting consumer demand and expanding its market presence in the food and beverage industry. By investing in new facilities and focusing on innovation, Morinaga aims to deliver high-quality products and maintain its competitive edge in the sector.