A new food factory operated by Saitama Kikkoman Corporation began production in December 2012 in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture. The new factory is the production center for Kikkoman's Uchi-no-Gohan series of quick and easy seasonings for Japanese dishes. These are the core products in the company's "quick and easy seasonings" category, which has seen growing demand. The new facility has an annual production capacity of some 30 million items, and will also enhance production capabilities and enable the manufacture of high value-added products.