The Japan-based Morinaga & Co., LTD., confectionery company has thus far not been seriously impacted by its country’s recent disasters, but they are doing their part to help with relief efforts.

The American distributors of the products plan to sell their HI-CHEW Fruit Chews at a reduced rate during the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend and then donate 100% of the proceeds to recovery efforts, says Catherine Kaliniak, a spokeswoman for the brand.

Within the last week, Japan has been hit by an 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a tsunami and the threat of nuclear disaster, all of which has devastated the country.

Hi-CHEW is the number 1-selling soft candy in Japan, and was established in 1899. Morinaga America, it’s U.S. distributor, is based in Irvine, Calif.

HI-CHEW flavors include strawberry, green apple, mango, melon, banana and grape and are available in individual sticks or small bags. The Expo, which will run from Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20, features the latest in comics, movies, television, toys, anime, manga and video games.

For more information on HI-Chew, visit www.hi-chew.com for more information on the expo, www.c2e2.com.

- C.L.