History
The city of Noda was originally chosen as Kikkoman's main base owing to its ideal location near the Edo River, which has served as a convenient transportation route to and from Tokyo for centuries. Noda has been well-known for its soy sauce production since the Edo period (1603-1867). In December 1917, eight family companies merged to form the predecessor of Kikkoman Corporation, Noda Shoyu Co., Ltd., with capital of 7 million yen.
- 1925 April
- Noda Shoyu Co., Ltd., merges with Noda Shoyu Jozo Co., Ltd., Manjo Mirin
Co., Ltd. and Nippon Shoyu Co., Ltd. - 1930 August
- The Takasago soy sauce production plant (formerly the Kansai Plant) is constructed near Osaka.
- 1957 June
- Kikkoman International Inc. is established in San Francisco, California (U.S.).
- 1961 July
- Kikko Food Industries Co., Ltd., is established by Kikkoman. In July 1991, the company becomes Nippon Del Monte Corporation.
- 1962 February
- Tone Beverage Co., Ltd., a Kikkoman subsidiary, is established. In February 1963, the company becomes Tone Coca-Cola bottling Co., Ltd.
- 1962 October
- Katsunuma Yoshu Co., Ltd., is established by Kikkoman. In March 1964, the company becomes Mann's Wine Co., Ltd.
- 1964 October
- Noda Shoyu Co., Ltd. is renamed Kikkoman Shoyu Co., Ltd.
- 1969 June
- Kikkoman invests in Japan Food Corporation, of the U.S. In June 1978, the company becomes JFC International Inc.
- 1970 March
- Kikkoman invests in Pacific Trading Co., Ltd.
- 1972 March
- Kikkoman Foods, Inc., a soy sauce production facility, is established in Walworth, Wisconsin (U.S.).
- 1972 August
- Kikkoman + Daitokai (Europe) GmbH is established in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- 1974 February
- Kikkoman Restaurant, Inc. is established.
- 1979 March
- Kikkoman Trading Europe GmbH is established in Neuss, Germany.
- 1980 October
- The company takes on its present name, Kikkoman Corporation.
- 1983 January
- Kikkoman Ajinomingei Co., Ltd. is established.
- 1983 June
- Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd., a production facility, is established in Singapore.
- 1983 October
- Kikkoman Business Development Inc. is established.
- 1986 August
- New soy sauce production facilities begin operations at Kikkoman's Chitose Plant, Hokkaido (Japan).
- 1990 January
- Kikkoman buys perpetual marketing rights for the Del Monte brand in the Asian-Pacific region, excluding the Philippines.
- 1990 February
- A joint venture company, President Kikkoman Inc., is established to produce soy sauce in Tainan, Taiwan.
- 1996 March
- Production of shochu, a clear Japanese spirit, commences at a new facility of the Ojima Plant, Japan.
- 1997 March
- Kikkoman holds a ground-breaking ceremony for the second American soy sauce plant in Folsom, California, U.S.A.
- 1997 October
- Kikkoman opens Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V., its first European soy sauce plant, in Hoogezand-Sappemeer, The Netherlands.
- 1998 May
- Kikkoman sponsors expansion of the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.
- 1998 June
- Kikkoman Foods, Inc., in Walworth, Wisconsin, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
- 1998 October
- Kikkoman Foods, Inc., opens second U.S. plant in Folsom, California.
- 1999 July
- Kikkoman opens new headquarters building in Noda, Chiba Prefecture.
- 1999 October
- Kikkoman Institute for International Food Culture opens in Noda, Chiba Prefecture.
- 1999 November
- Kikkoman announces a joint venture with its partner in Taiwan to build soy sauce plant in China.
- 2000 May
- A joint venture company, Kunshan President Kikkoman Biotechnology Co., Ltd., is established in Kunshan, China.
- 2001 January
- Kikkoman Trading Asia Pte Ltd., is established in Singapore.
- 2002 June
- The Wisconsin Plant of Kikkoman Foods, Inc., obtains ISO 14001 certification.
- 2002 August
- Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V., obtains ISO 14001 certification.
- 2002 October
- Kikkoman Singapore Pte. Ltd., obtains ISO 14001 certification.
- 2003 March
- The California Plant of Kikkoman of Kikkoman Foods, Inc. obtains ISO 14001 certification.
- 2003 May
- Kikkoman Foods, Inc., holds its 30th anniversary ceremony.
- 2007 June
- Kikkoman celebrates its 50th anniversary in the US.
- 2008 June
- Kikkoman Introduces New Corporate Brand Logo and Slogan.
