Page 59 - Forbes - USA (February 2018)

SPECIAL ADVERTISTING SECTION

KIKKOMAN

CORPORATION:

MULTIPLE MILESTONES HIGHLIGHT A CENTURY OF QUALITY

Global food giant Kikkoman Corporation just marked the 100th anniversary of its incorporation in Japan, but
the company is even prouder of its achievements overseas.

Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman products,” he says proudly. “Quality for the Taiwan, Thailand, China, the Philippines, and
of the Board of Kikkoman Corporation, is a end consumer became our guiding principle. Australia, Kikkoman’s ongoing Asian expan-
nigh ageless embodiment of his company’s And that has never changed.” sion began with a plant in Singapore. How-
philosophy, and also the firm’s most energetic ever, Mogi says they are too busy meeting
spokesman. From Japan to the World growing Asian demand to think about the
“This is a time of anniversaries,” Mogi says, Mogi notes that this year also marks the 45th 35th anniversary of this plant in 2020.
beaming. “We just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company’s first overseas “Asian consumers already have their own
anniversary of the establishment of what is plant in Walworth, Wisconsin and the 20th local seasonings that are similar to soy sauce,”
now Kikkoman Corporation. Although our anniversary of its Folsom, California plant. The he notes. “However, they are not accustomed
business goes back centuries, we legally two facilities have helped make Kikkoman a to the richly flavored, aromatic sauce that is
incorporated in 1917.” household name in North America. the hallmark of Kikkoman. We are already
Asked about the company’s century of But Kikkoman is a Japanese company. Surely seeing solid growth in these markets, and I
changes, Mogi says it’s more important to the Japanese plants are more important? expect even greater results in the future.”
talk about what has not changed: “Our focus “Kikkoman is a global company,” he For a company that has been around in one
on consumers has been at the center of corrects. “One with a proud Japanese form or another for centuries, it is inspiring to
Kikkoman’s approach since the beginning.” He heritage. But our overseas markets contribute hear the chairman talk seriously about “the
notes that even before its legal incorporation, more to our sales and profits. America is very next hundred years.” Mogi is constantly look-
the soy sauce brewer set up a research important, and Europe and Asia are growing ing to the future, envisioning more growth in
laboratory. rapidly.” today’s markets and the prospect of opening
“Our research facility worked constantly Mogi smiles again, for there are more up new markets in South America and Africa
to improve and unify the quality of our celebrations to discuss. “At the end of last in the decades to come. But some things, he
year we marked the 20th anniversary of our points out, will never change. “Even a hundred
European flagship plant in the Netherlands, years from now, our focus will still be on the
which is our production base for the region.” consumer,” he says.
He points out that the European and American
markets are vastly different. While the U.S. has
regional variations in culinary styles, in general
“American”-style cooking is more similar than
different. Not so with Europe.
“Each country in Europe has a different
food culture, and some have more than one,”
he explains. “Because Kikkoman is so highly
consumer-oriented, that means respecting,
celebrating, and becoming a part of 20 or
30 different food cultures. We are constantly
developing recipes and different ways to use Yuzaburo Mogi is a descendant of one of
our products that will enhance each different the founding families of Kikkoman, which is
local cuisine.” one of the oldest continually running busi-
nesses in Japan. He became company Presi-
A Taste for Growth dent in 1995, was named Chairman in 2004,
His approach must be working, because Euro- and assumed the title of Honorary CEO and
pean sales have been growing in double dig- Chairman of the Board in 2011. Mogi holds
its for over a decade. Growth is the name of an MBA from Columbia University.
Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman the game in Asia as well. Although the com-
of the Board of Kikkoman Corporation pany now has factories and/or sales offices in www.kikkoman.com

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