Orange County NC Website
5 <br /> 1 Orange County over the previous 19 months, and how we eventually won "Project Rainbow" <br /> 2 throughout a highly competitive, multi-state site selection process. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 • Outline the specific site location, the required infrastructure to the property, the financial obligations <br /> 5 and funding resources to fully develop the site, and local and state incentives. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 • Note the transformative effect our Morinaga success story now offers to illustrate Orange County's <br /> 8 efforts to diversify our local economy and tax base, to create more and better jobs for our residents. <br /> 9 Show how the Board of County Commissioners' commitment to preparing our Economic <br /> 10 Development Zones with utilities, zoning, incentives, and thoughtful use of the quarter cent sales tax <br /> 11 for economic development, has proven to be a winning formula for the long term. And, highlight the <br /> 12 public's commitment to economic development via its favorable vote on the quarter cent sales tax. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Company Description: <br /> 16 • Morinaga & Co., which was founded 114 years ago in 1899 in Tokyo, Japan, is a major <br /> 17 international confectionary & candy maker. With $1.75 billion in global sales revenue comprised of <br /> 18 53% in chocolates, caramel & biscuits, 19% in ice cream & frozen foodstuffs, 16% in health <br /> 19 products, and 12% in cocoa/cake mix foodstuffs, the firm is Asia's equivalent to a Hershey's, Mars <br /> 20 or Nestle. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 • In Japan, which is the world's #2 overall largest candy and confectionary market (behind the USA), <br /> 23 the Company has over 40 different product lines, where it holds the #1 Japanese domestic market- <br /> 24 share for candy. Morinaga ranks similar to Kellogg Company in terms of retail sales. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 • Among Japan's top 3 competing confectionary makers, Morinaga ranks #1 for candy & caramel <br /> 27 products, #2 for biscuits, and #3 for chocolate products. The chewy fruit flavored snack that holds <br /> 28 the#1 spot within Japan, and which the company will produce here in Orange County, is called "HI- <br /> 29 CHEW". <br /> 30 <br /> 31 • Morinaga is aggressively marketing HI-CHEW across the United States and has successful store <br /> 32 displays at Target, COSTCO, 7 Eleven, and Kroger, and is found locally at the Streets at South Point <br /> 33 Mall ("It's Sugar", "World Market"). <br /> 34 <br /> 35 • Additional product lines include frozen desserts (19%), foodstuffs (10%), and the internationally- <br /> 36 renowned Weider-brand health care products such as energy drinks, nutritional vitamin/mineral <br /> 37 supplements & protein bars, & collagen-based beauty products (16% of sales). <br /> 38 <br /> 39 • Morinaga America, Inc., led by Mr. Masao Hoshino, was established in Los Angeles in 2008 for the <br /> 40 purpose of introducing the company's various product lines, starting with HI-CHEW. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 • Overseas partners include serving as the trademark distributor, licensee or supplier for world-class <br /> 43 confectionary companies such as Disney Japan, SUNKIST Growers, PEZ, Perfetti van Melle (Italy), <br /> 44 Storck (Germany), Dare Foods (Canada) and Barry Callebaut AG (Switzerland). <br /> 45 <br /> 46 • Management's corporate philanthropy strives to be a "company that improves the lives of children <br /> 47 worldwide". The firm partners with international NGOs in developing nations, and places a special <br /> 48 emphasis promoting healthy nutrition, and funding for school facilities and educational supplies, <br /> 49 especially among West African countries. <br /> 50 <br /> 51 • First Japanese corporation to be affiliated with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), which was <br /> 52 established with the objective to foster a sustainable cocoa industry, and prevent the use of child <br /> 53 labor in developing nations. This is achieved through the environmental protection of regions where <br /> 54 major global chocolate corporations cultivate cocoa, and through economic and social development. <br />