On Thursday in Mebane, dignitaries from multiple nations came together as the Japanese company Morinaga broke ground on a major expansion of its Hi-Chew candy factory in Orange County — a project that’s projected to be a very sweet boost to the local economy. 

“What a great day to be in Mebane,” Mayor Ed Hooks said during the ceremony held to mark the start of construction on a $137 million upgrade Morinaga’s facility along Interstate 40. The project, first announced in July, is expected to add an estimated $4.5 million annually to Orange County’s tax base within ten years of the expansion’s completion, and is still projected to have positive tax implications even with local incentives packages approved in September.

Also on hand at the ceremony were Morinaga president Eijiro Ota, Orange County manager Travis Myren, Orange County economic development director Steve Brantley, and numerous elected officials — including U.S. House Representative Valerie Foushee, who said the expansion fulfills a promise Morinaga made when they first came to Orange County more than a decade ago.

Morinaga President Eijiro Ota addresses the gathered crowd on Thursday, Oct. 3 for the groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s expansion facility.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held by the current Morinaga building, which is where the future expansion will stand.

“Morinaga promised that they would bring more jobs in the future,” said the congresswoman, “and the new expansion will bring an additional 204 good-paying jobs to our area.”

For now, Morinaga officials say the new construction should be done by mid-2026 and the new facility should open in January of 2027. The company already makes 7 million pieces of Hi-Chew candy in Orange County every day; when the new facility opens, it will be 14 million.

“Morinaga: thank you so much for choosing Mebane…again,” Hooks added to punctuate his speech.

The new facility is being built directly next to Morinaga’s original building, which first opened in 2015.

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