Hawaiian Host Inc has finalised its acquisition of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation from The Hershey Company. The move sees Mauna Loa joining Hawaiian Host as a subsidiary.
“Both Hawaiian Host and Mauna Loa will continue as distinct, separate brands, offering the same level of quality products our customers have grown to expect,” said Hawaiian Host President and CEO Keith Sakamoto.
“The two brands will complement each other. Hawaiian Host will continue to emphasise its chocolate macadamia products, while Mauna Loa will emphasise its salted macadamias and other macadamia snack products,” he added.
Together, Hawaiian Host and Mauna Loa will have more than 300 employees in Hawaii and will continue its commitment to support local growers and farmers.
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“This is an exciting opportunity for Hawaiian Host,” Sakamoto continued. “We not only look forward to welcoming Mauna Loa and its employees to our family, but together, building on our long legacies of sharing our high-quality products with the world.”
In 1946, Mauna Loa planted its very first macadamia nut trees near Kea”˜au, just south of Hilo, where its facilities and visitor centre are currently located on 136 acres of land. Mauna Loa is said to be one of the largest macadamia nut processors in the world with the seasonal capacity to process approximately 40 million pounds of macadamias. It also produces chocolate covered macadamias and flavoured macadamia nut products that are distributed locally, nationally and internationally. For travel retail, Mauna Loa is represented in Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Okinawa. It was acquired by The Hershey Company in 2004.
Hawaiian Host was founded by Mamoru Takitani, a third-generation Japanese descendent who dreamed of becoming a candy maker. After moving to Honolulu from the island of Maui, Takitani purchased Ellen Dye Candies, a local confectioner since 1927, and renamed it Hawaiian Host. Since then, Hawaiian Host has become the leader in chocolate-covered macadamia products. Today, the company has more than 250 products that are sold in over 23 countries around the world.
