Morinaga & Co., Ltd., the holding company of Morinaga America, Inc. and a leading global confectionery manufacturer, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire My/Mochi Ice Cream, the largest mochi ice cream brand in the United States.

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. 

With the U.S. being one of Morinaga's priority global growth regions, this acquisition enables the company to enter the U.S. frozen dessert market at full scale, while supporting 2030 Morinaga business goals and beyond.

My/Mochi is known for its multi-textural sensation of cool, creamy premium 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. According to the latest 52-week SPINS MULO data ending January 25, My/Mochi achieved $80 million in sales, reinforcing its position as the category leader in mochi ice cream.

"In welcoming My/Mochi to the Morinaga family, we see a tremendous opportunity to build a sustainable snacking business positioned for future growth," said Teruhiro (Terry) Kawabe, president & 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 enhance My/Mochi's product development capabilities while benefiting from Morinaga's proven brand-building and commercial strengths. Together, the companies will accelerate innovation and unlock new growth opportunities in the frozen snack category.

The addition of My/Mochi's portfolio complements Morinaga America, Inc.'s existing and growing lineup of well-known 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," said Craig Berger, president & 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 Berger.

Morinaga's acquisition of the My/Mochi brand supports its mission to bring smiles to customers around the world. 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.

About Morinaga America, Inc.
Established in 2008, Morinaga America, Inc. is the official distributor of HI-CHEW, HI-SOFT, and Chargel in the United States. Morinaga America, Inc. (marketing and sales) and Morinaga America Foods, Inc. (manufacturing) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morinaga & Co., Ltd., which began in 1899 as the first modern candy maker and producer of chocolates in Japan. In 2015, Morinaga America, Inc. opened its first United States manufacturing facility in North Carolina. With over 500 flavors of HI-CHEW debuted in Japan, Morinaga America, Inc. has introduced the United States market to the best of Japanese confectionery.