March 5, 2026
Meiji to Invest ¥10 Billion in Hello Panda Production Line and Facility Upgrades at the Meiji America York Plant
York Plant's first Hello Panda Production line will respond to growing demand in America for the globally popular chocolate snack, Hello Panda.
Operations set to launch gradually from FY2027
Meiji Co., Ltd. (President and Representative Director: Bunjiro Yao) is pleased to announce that it will invest roughly ¥10 billion*1 in the York Plant operated by Meiji America Inc. (360 South Belmont Street, York, PA 17403, U.S.A.) to expand the Hello Panda production line and upgrade aging existing facilities. The upgraded lines is scheduled to begin operations gradually from FY2027.
The main objective of these investments is to establish the first dedicated production line for Hello Panda at the York Plant (located in Eastern United States). These investments will enable Meiji to respond to growing demand in the U.S.A. for Hello Panda, the most popular chocolate snack among Meiji Group confectionery products sold overseas. The upgrades will expand our production system for Hello Panda in the U.S.A. to a two-base structure with locations in both the Eastern and Western regions of the country.
Hello Panda is tremendously popular, with 2024 sales in the U.S.A. up nearly three-fold*2 compared to 2018. In the past, production was limited to the Santa Ana Plant (line expanded*3 in 2025). With upgrades to the York Plant, we will accelerate business expansion in the East and aim to double FY2024 sales in the U.S.A. by FY2030.
We will leverage the biscuit manufacturing technology and knowhow we have cultivated in various countries to deliver our products to a greater number of customers. We are striving to offer the deliciousness and joy of our products to customers around the world.
Some products from the Hello Panda line
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About the Hello Panda brand
Hello Panda is a chocolate cream-filled biscuit featuring an illustration of a panda. Today, Hello Panda is sold in roughly 30 countries, including the U.S.A., South East Asian nations, the Middle East, Europe, and China.
Products sold in the U.S.A. feature illustrations of pandas engaged in various sports. To promote further brand recognition, we leverage various media formats to promote the fun brand image of Hello Panda, including commercials aired on television and YouTube, and outdoor ads printed on the seats of baseball stadiums.
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Overview of production center to be upgraded
Location: Meiji America York Plant
Product line being upgraded: Hello Panda, etc.
Investment details: Adding Hello Panda production line, upgrades to aging facilities
Investment amount: $64.6 million (approx. ¥10 billion*1) [Breakdown]
Hello Panda production line installation (including building renovations): $55.0 million Upgrades to aging facilities producing Animal Crackers, etc.*4: $9.6 million
Schedule (planned): Gradual launch of operations from FY2027
- About Meiji America
Operations
Confectionery manufacturing, sales, and sales of imported products
Major products manufactured and sold Hello Panda, Chocorooms, Animal Crackers*4, Ginger Snaps*4
Reference URL
https://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/group/414_america.html
https://meijiamerica.com/
Meiji America exterior
*1. US $1 = JP ¥156.54 (as of March 2, 2026)
*2. Comparison of sales for April 2024 to March 2025 and January 2018 to December 2018.
*3. Reference press release: Hello Panda Biscuits Are a Hit Overseas! Hello Panda Pretzel Available in America from October as a New Product That Will Further Promote Business Growth - Investing nearly 4.1 billion yen in Meiji America to expand production and develop the business into our No. 1 global brand - (October 16, 2024) https://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2024/1016_01/index.html
*4. Product of Meiji Group company D.F. Stauffer Biscuit Company, which offers various biscuits in the U.S.A. nationwide.
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