Morinaga America Inc., the parent company of chewy candy HI-CHEW, held the groundbreaking ceremony for its second manufacturing facility in Mebane, NC on October 3. This is a significant step in expanding the chewy candy’s presence in the U.S., says the brand.

Initially announced in July, the new facility is set to open in January 2027, significantly increasing the brand’s production capacity to meet the ever-growing demands for HI-CHEW’s fruit-flavored chewlet. Representing Morinaga America Inc.’s ongoing investment in local communities, the new Mebane facility is set to bring over 200 job opportunities to Orange County.

The following brand executives attended the groundbreaking ceremony: 

• Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), chief representative for the USA & president, CEO of Morinaga America, Inc.
• Eijiro Ota, president & CEO of Morinaga Japan
• Noriyuki Nishikawa, president & CEO of Morinaga America Foods, Inc.

"The new facility in Mebane is a significant step forward for Morinaga America, Inc., as it will substantially increase our production capacity to meet growing consumer demand in the U.S.," says Kawabe. 

"Currently, in the United States, over two billion pieces of HI-CHEW are consumed every year. The new facility will allow us to scale further and potentially double our production. In addition to advanced tech, we’re positioned to produce a wider variety of products while maintaining the high quality that brand fans expect, and continue to innovate and bring new flavors to market more efficiently," he explains.

"Morinaga America, Inc. is deeply committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and the Mebane facility will be no exception. In addition to creating over 200 local jobs, we aim to build lasting relationships within the Orange County community, ensuring our presence here is both meaningful and beneficial for the long term," Kawabe finishes.

Morinaga & Co. (HI-CHEW) is on the current Candy Industry “Global Top 100 Candy Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Global Top 100” rankings.