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Corporate Profile

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.