Morinaga & Co., Ltd., the holding company of Morinaga America, Inc. and a global confectionery manufacturer, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire My/Mochi Ice Cream, reportedly the largest mochi ice cream brand in the U.S. This strategic acquisition brings together two businesses with strong brand heritage, deep category expertise, and complementary capabilities—uniting to shape the future of snacking in the U.S., Morinaga says.

Morinaga recently announced plans to expand HI-CHEW production capacity in the U.S. with the opening of its second factory in 2027. To build upon this expansion and further accelerate its long-term growth strategy, the company will now add the My/Mochi brand to its portfolio. As noted by Circana's MULO + Conv 2025 Week 52 data, the U.S. novelty ice cream market has demonstrated steady expansion in recent years, reaching an estimated $8.6 billion in sales in 2025. With the U.S. being one of Morinaga's priority global growth regions, this acquisition aims to enable the company to enter the U.S. frozen dessert market at full scale, while supporting 2030 Morinaga business goals and beyond.

My/Mochi is reportedly known for its multi-textural sensation of ice cream wrapped in sweet, pillowy rice dough. Rooted in Japanese confectionery traditions and first introduced in Los Angeles in 1993, the brand has transformed this heritage into a modern, playful snacking experience enjoyed by millions, it says. According to the latest 52-week SPINS MULO data ending January 25, My/Mochi achieved $80 million in sales.

"In welcoming My/Mochi to the Morinaga family, we see a tremendous opportunity to build a sustainable snacking business positioned for future growth," says Teruhiro (Terry) Kawabe, chief representative for the USA and president and CEO of Morinaga America, Inc. "We will honor the heritage and innovation behind My/Mochi while combining the strengths of our brands to bring even more fun and excitement to consumers and customers across the U.S."

Leveraging Morinaga's strong expertise and flavor innovation in frozen confectionery including but not limited to popsicles, ice cream bars, sandwich ice cream, chocolate-coated ice cream, and single-sized cup ice cream, this acquisition will aim to enhance My/Mochi's product development capabilities while benefiting from Morinaga's proven brand-building and commercial strengths, the brand says. Together, the companies will accelerate innovation and unlock new growth opportunities in the frozen snack category, it adds.

The addition of My/Mochi's portfolio complements Morinaga America, Inc.'s existing and growing lineup of brands, including HI-CHEW, HI-SOFT, and Chargel.

"We are thrilled to partner with Morinaga & Co., Ltd., a globally reputable company, whose scale and research and development capabilities will enhance our ability to innovate and grow," says Craig Berger, president and CEO of My/Mochi. "We're looking forward to reaching a broader group of consumers and driving meaningful impact together in the years to come."

Upon completion of the acquisition, My/Mochi will become part of Morinaga & Co., Ltd., and will remain headquartered in Los Angeles under the continued leadership of President and CEO Craig Berger.

Morinaga's acquisition of the My/Mochi brand supports its mission to bring smiles to customers around the world, it says. With the strong growth and brand recognition of HI-CHEW in the U.S., the combined strengths of both companies will create new synergies in product development, marketing, and distribution—further enhancing Morinaga's ability to serve consumers nationwide, it 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.