Japanese soft candy Hi-Chew fruit chews will be distributed by Grocery Corporation of Sydney in Australia. Morinaga & Co. manufactures the candy brand, which has more than 170 flavours.
Terry Kawabe, managing director of Morinaga Asia Pacific Co. said Hi-Chew sales have more than tripled in the US for over five years. The company said it will introduce three 100/90g peg bags, in assorted flavours, and 57g sticks in four flavours in Australia.
“We are in virtually every major retail chain in that market, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsons, HEB, Publix, Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven and AM/PM. Our candy is highly popular among young people, so we regularly exceed sales targets,” Anthony King, managing director of Grocery Corp, said.
He added that the brand has a strong following for the past decade, in the US and New Zealand. He is looking forward to expanding the brand and “tapping into this global sentiment and replicating international success” locally.
Hi-Chew is sold in New Zealand at retailers including Pak ‘n Save and New World.
