WiJo Pouches announces $13.5 nicotine pouch plant in South Carolina

WiJo Pouches North America announced December 1 that it would build its first U.S. manufacturing site would be built in Lexington, South Carolina. In a statement, the Swedish manufacturer of tobaccoless nicotine pouches and other products said it would spend $13.5 million on a 55,000-square-foot factory and staff it with an estimated 170 employees. The company says it expects the factory to start production in March 2026.

Wijo’s website says it is a contract manufacturer for oral pouches containing functional chemicals like nicotine, caffeine, nootropic supplements and mushroom-based recipes, as well as oral capsules. The company employs research and development to produce products as well as manufacturing, private labelling, branding and packaging to companies selling the oral products.

According to local press the Lexington County Chronicle, the future factory building that will house WiJo’s new factory is currently under construction.

What people are saying

“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,” said WiJo Pouches North America CEO Jerry Sweetland. “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.”

“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.”

“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. 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,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III.

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