Morinaga & Co., Ltd. has opened its second Hi-Chew manufacturing facility, expanding production capacity in North Carolina as demand for the candy brand continues to grow in the U.S. market. The company marked the completion of the new plant with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 21 in Mebane, N.C.
The new state-of-the-art facility is intended to increase output while supporting Morinaga’s broader growth and innovation strategy. Company officials said the factory spans more than 132,000 sq ft, represents an investment of more than $130 million, and is expected to create about 200 new jobs in Orange County.
According to Morinaga, the second factory will help the company keep pace with rising demand and a growing roster of retail partners. The facility is expected to be fully operational by October 2026 and add 1.2 billion Hi-Chew chewlets annually across the brand’s peg bag and stand-up pouch portfolio.
The expansion builds on Morinaga’s existing manufacturing footprint in the state. The company said its first U.S. manufacturing facility opened in North Carolina in 2015 as its first production facility outside Asia, helping supply the majority of Hi-Chew products for the North American market.
“The opening of this new facility marks an exciting new chapter for our company, especially as Hi-Chew brand fans continue to grow across the United States,” says Teruhiro Kawabe, Chief Representative for the USA and President, CEO of Morinaga America, Inc. “This expansion will allow Hi-Chew to scale its operations while creating a bigger opportunity for our research and development team to experiment with new crave-worthy flavors. We’re proud to continue investing in the Mebane community and work together to create a future filled with more fun, flavorful Hi-Chew moments.”
