РЕЛИЗ ГРУППЫ "What's News" VK.COM/WSNWS
РЕЛИЗ ГРУППЫ "What's News" VK.COM/WSNWS SPECIAL ADVERTISTING SECTION KIKKOMAN CORPORATION: MULTIPLE MILESTONES HIGHLIGHT A CENTURY OF QUALITY Global food giant Kikkoman Corporation just marked the 100th anniversary <strong>of</strong> its <strong>in</strong>corporation <strong>in</strong> Japan, but the company is even prouder <strong>of</strong> its achievements overseas. Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO <strong>and</strong> Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Kikkoman Corporation, is a nigh ageless embodiment <strong>of</strong> his company’s philosophy, <strong>and</strong> also the firm’s most energetic spokesman. “This is a time <strong>of</strong> anniversaries,” Mogi says, beam<strong>in</strong>g. “We just celebrated the 100th anniversary <strong>of</strong> the establishment <strong>of</strong> what is now Kikkoman Corporation. Although our bus<strong>in</strong>ess goes back centuries, we legally <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong> 1917.” Asked about the company’s century <strong>of</strong> changes, Mogi says it’s more important to talk about what has not changed: “Our focus on consumers has been at the center <strong>of</strong> Kikkoman’s approach s<strong>in</strong>ce the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g.” He notes that even before its legal <strong>in</strong>corporation, the soy sauce brewer set up a research laboratory. “Our research facility worked constantly to improve <strong>and</strong> unify the quality <strong>of</strong> our Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO <strong>and</strong> Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Kikkoman Corporation products,” he says proudly. “Quality for the end consumer became our guid<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciple. And that has never changed.” From Japan to the World Mogi notes that this year also marks the 45th anniversary <strong>of</strong> the company’s first overseas plant <strong>in</strong> Walworth, Wiscons<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> the 20th anniversary <strong>of</strong> its Folsom, California plant. The two facilities have helped make Kikkoman a household name <strong>in</strong> North America. But Kikkoman is a Japanese company. Surely the Japanese plants are more important? “Kikkoman is a global company,” he corrects. “One with a proud Japanese heritage. But our overseas markets contribute more to our sales <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>its. America is very important, <strong>and</strong> Europe <strong>and</strong> Asia are grow<strong>in</strong>g rapidly.” Mogi smiles aga<strong>in</strong>, for there are more celebrations to discuss. “At the end <strong>of</strong> last year we marked the 20th anniversary <strong>of</strong> our European flagship plant <strong>in</strong> the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s, which is our production base for the region.” He po<strong>in</strong>ts out that the European <strong>and</strong> American markets are vastly different. While the U.S. has regional variations <strong>in</strong> cul<strong>in</strong>ary styles, <strong>in</strong> general “American”-style cook<strong>in</strong>g is more similar than different. Not so with Europe. “Each country <strong>in</strong> Europe has a different food culture, <strong>and</strong> some have more than one,” he expla<strong>in</strong>s. “Because Kikkoman is so highly consumer-oriented, that means respect<strong>in</strong>g, celebrat<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> becom<strong>in</strong>g a part <strong>of</strong> 20 or 30 different food cultures. We are constantly develop<strong>in</strong>g recipes <strong>and</strong> different ways to use our products that will enhance each different local cuis<strong>in</strong>e.” A Taste for Growth His approach must be work<strong>in</strong>g, because European sales have been grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> double digits for over a decade. Growth is the name <strong>of</strong> the game <strong>in</strong> Asia as well. Although the company now has factories <strong>and</strong>/or sales <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>in</strong> Taiwan, Thail<strong>and</strong>, Ch<strong>in</strong>a, the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es, <strong>and</strong> Australia, Kikkoman’s ongo<strong>in</strong>g Asian expansion began with a plant <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore. However, Mogi says they are too busy meet<strong>in</strong>g grow<strong>in</strong>g Asian dem<strong>and</strong> to th<strong>in</strong>k about the 35th anniversary <strong>of</strong> this plant <strong>in</strong> 2020. “Asian consumers already have their own local season<strong>in</strong>gs that are similar to soy sauce,” he notes. “However, they are not accustomed to the richly flavored, aromatic sauce that is the hallmark <strong>of</strong> Kikkoman. We are already see<strong>in</strong>g solid growth <strong>in</strong> these markets, <strong>and</strong> I expect even greater results <strong>in</strong> the future.” For a company that has been around <strong>in</strong> one form or another for centuries, it is <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g to hear the chairman talk seriously about “the next hundred years.” Mogi is constantly look<strong>in</strong>g to the future, envision<strong>in</strong>g more growth <strong>in</strong> today’s markets <strong>and</strong> the prospect <strong>of</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g up new markets <strong>in</strong> South America <strong>and</strong> Africa <strong>in</strong> the decades to come. But some th<strong>in</strong>gs, he po<strong>in</strong>ts out, will never change. “Even a hundred years from now, our focus will still be on the consumer,” he says. Yuzaburo Mogi is a descendant <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the found<strong>in</strong>g families <strong>of</strong> Kikkoman, which is one <strong>of</strong> the oldest cont<strong>in</strong>ually runn<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>esses <strong>in</strong> Japan. He became company President <strong>in</strong> 1995, was named Chairman <strong>in</strong> 2004, <strong>and</strong> assumed the title <strong>of</strong> Honorary CEO <strong>and</strong> Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>in</strong> 2011. Mogi holds an MBA from Columbia University. www.kikkoman.com Japan 6