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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.
2008 June Kikkoman enters a capital and business alliance with Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.
2008 July Kikkoman establishes joint venture President Kikkoman Zhenji Foods Co., Ltd in Shijiazhuang in China.
2008 October Del Monte Foods (Xiamen) Co., Ltd holds its grand opening.
2009 March Tone Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd removed from scope of consolidation as a result of a partial transfer of shares.
2009 June President Kikkoman Zhenji Foods Co., Ltd holds its grand opening.
2009 October Kikkoman shifts to a holding company structure.
2010 May Kikkoman Exhibits at Japan Industry Pavillion, Expo 2010 Shanghai China.