By Timothy S. Donahue
- WiJo Pouches North America will invest $13.5 million to establish its first U.S. nicotine pouch manufacturing facility in Lexington, South Carolina.
- The 55,000-square-foot facility is projected to employ around 170 workers and start production in March 2026.
- WiJo will use the site to contract manufacture and privately label nicotine and other functional oral pouches for third-party brands.
WiJo Pouches North America announced that it will build its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lexington County, South Carolina, marking a major expansion of the Swedish contract manufacturer’s North American operations in the growing oral-pouch sector.
The company announced it will invest $13.5 million to build a 55,000-square-foot production facility, which is expected to employ an estimated 170 workers once fully operational. WiJo expects the plant will start production in March 2026. The building that will house the factory is currently under construction, according to local reporting by the Lexington County Chronicle.
WiJo describes itself as a contract manufacturer specializing in tobacco-free oral pouch products and related formats. According to the company’s website, its production capabilities include oral pouches containing nicotine, caffeine, nootropic supplements, and mushroom-based functional ingredients, as well as oral capsules. In addition to manufacturing, the company offers research and development, private labeling, branding, and packaging services for companies that sell oral products.
The South Carolina facility will be WiJo’s first manufacturing plant in the United States and its key operation for North American production.
Jerry Sweetland, CEO of WiJo Pouches North America, stated that the project demonstrates both a long-term commitment to the region and confidence in the state’s industrial ecosystem.
“As a long-standing member of the South Carolina business community for more than 25 years, I am honored to lead WiJo Pouches NA here in the Midlands,” Sweetland said. “We sincerely appreciate the support and partnership of the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Lexington County Economic Development, whose guidance made selecting Lexington the clear and strategic choice. We look forward to the future, to WiJo’s continued growth, and to being a valued and collaborative contributor to the regional business community.”
South Carolina officials presented the investment as part of the state’s wider effort to attract advanced manufacturing operations.
“Welcoming another international manufacturer to South Carolina further strengthens our thriving business community,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “WiJo Pouches NA’s new facility, along with the 170 new jobs it creates in Lexington County, will provide opportunities that greatly benefit our state and people for years to come.”
South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III stated that the decision strengthens the state’s role as a manufacturing hub.
“WiJo Pouches NA’s decision to select South Carolina as the home of its first North American manufacturing facility is another big win for our state,” Lightsey said. “Our business-friendly environment and skilled workforce make Lexington County the ideal location for WiJo Pouches NA’s new operation, and we congratulate the company on this exciting announcement.”
The WiJo project contributes to a growing list of nicotine-related manufacturing investments across the southeastern United States, as companies pursue domestic production capacity for oral nicotine, functional pouch, and capsule products amid evolving regulatory, tax, and supply chain conditions.
