HI-CHEW candy manufacturer celebrates ribbon cutting of $136 million, second US manufacturing facility in Orange County

Date Published: May 4, 2026

Governor Josh Stein joined HI-CHEW candy manufacturer Morinaga America Foods, Inc. to announce a $136 million investment in Mebane and the creation of 204 jobs in Orange County. In 2013, the company established its American subsidiary and selected North Carolina for its first manufacturing site outside of Asia, opening the Mebane plant in 2015 to produce one of the company’s signature products, the fruity candy HI-CHEW. 

“Morinaga’s continued investment in Orange County is a strong endorsement of North Carolina’s manufacturing workforce and our ability to support global companies as they grow in the United States,” added Lee Lilley, the North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. “We’ve built the talent, infrastructure, and partnerships that help companies succeed here, and we’re proud to see that success continue to grow in Mebane.”

To read more about the ribbon cutting visit: https://www.newsoforange.com/business/article_35c3359a-365e-4d04-b0c1-9d83f181c16e.html

To learn about Morinaga’s history visit: https://www.theassemblync.com/news/business/hi-chew-morinaga-america-mebane-north-carolina/