Swedish contract manufacturer WiJo Pouches has opened its first North American production facility in Lexington County, South Carolina, bringing 170 new manufacturing jobs and a $13.5 million investment to the state.
The company has leased a 55,000-square-foot facility at 381 Burton Road in Lexington, just off Interstate 20, where it will produce nicotine pouches, caffeine blends, mushroom-based functional pouches and other next-generation oral products.
Replicating the Swedish model on US soil
WiJo’s Lexington facility is built to mirror the company’s operations in Helsingborg, Sweden — combining R&D with full-scale manufacturing under one roof, delivering rapid production cycles and supply chain stability for the North American market.
“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 CEO Jerry Sweetland. “We sincerely appreciate the support of the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Lexington County Economic Development, whose guidance made selecting Lexington the clear and strategic choice.”
Contract manufacturing for emerging pouch brands
The facility operates primarily as a contract manufacturer and private-label producer for third-party brands entering or expanding in the oral pouch space. As demand accelerates across US convenience retail, domestic manufacturing capacity has become a key competitive advantage — offering brands shorter lead times and reduced supply chain risk.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster welcomed the investment as part of the state’s effort to attract advanced international manufacturers. “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.”
Part of a broader US manufacturing surge
WiJo’s arrival reflects a wider investment wave. Reynolds American has committed more than $3.2 billion to US operations through 2030, with VELO Plus production expanding at its Tobaccoville, North Carolina campus. Swisher has announced a $135 million expansion to produce Rogue and Mojo pouches, targeting at least 240 new jobs by end of 2027.
Nicotine pouches have grown more than 40% year-on-year in recent US data, now outselling traditional dip in dollar terms. For WiJo, Lexington is a long-term bet on that trajectory — and on the growing need for flexible domestic contract manufacturing to serve it.
