December 20, 2023

Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V. (KFE), headquartered in Hoogezand-Sappemeer, the Netherlands, completed its first production run and shipment in 1997 and is Kikkoman's soy sauce production base in Europe. In 2022, KFE commemorated its 25th anniversary, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebration event was postponed to the following year and held by hosting a gala dinner at Van Gogh Museum on November 8^th.

The event welcomed about 150 esteemed guests mainly from the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, including Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands and His Excellency Mr. Hiroshi Minami, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands, as well as the top management from several food distribution companies. Congratulatory speeches were given by both the Princess and the Ambassador, expressing how Kikkoman played an important role in building a friendship and partnership between Japan and the Netherlands and creating a sustainable world through social contributions.

KFE’s production started in 1997 with two products, soy sauce and teriyaki marinade which were initially exported to eight countries. In response to increasing demand for soy sauce in Europe and the opening of new markets during the 2000s, KFE diversified their product line up to meet the needs and changing preferences of local consumers by introducing new products such as “Less Salt Soy Sauce” for increasingly health consciousness consumers, and “Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce” as a wheat-free product. Also, in France, where it is popular to mix sugar into soy sauce and pour this onto white rice, “Sweet Soy Sauce” or “Sauce Soja Sucrée” was developed to suit local tastes. Today, KFE produces 47 different soy products in 123 varieties. Kikkoman Soy Sauce is distributed from the Netherlands to places as far away as the Middle East and Africa.

 

In addition to soy sauce production, KFE also places great importance on its connectivity to society, and the company aims to continue contributing to a sustainable world as “a good corporate citizen” through social initiatives focused on the environment, arts, and education.

Environment

Our social initiatives for the environment in the Netherlands include financial support for the water resource preservation project for the  Zuidlaardermeer in Groningen and the natural landscape preservation project in Hijkerveld in Drenthe. These activities aim to preserve and improve the natural landscape and its ecosystems.

Our social activities in the arts include financial support for the Rembrandthuis Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. This support has helped make it possible to restore artworks and expand museum facilities.

KFE helps to build sustainable connections between people with different cultural backgrounds through education. It is involved with the Center for Japanese Studies at Groningen University and with the study of Asia-Europe intercultural history at Leiden University, and an academic symposium on international relations that was organized by Leiden University and the University of Tokyo under the Owada Chair Program.

KFE is also supporting the Number 5 Foundation, a non-profit organization set up by His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn and Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien. Its main objective is to contribute to equality in society by facilitating dialogue among people who experience complex social issues in daily life. These issues include digital inclusion, language acquisition and development, and child poverty. Thanks to the Number 5 Foundation, Kikkoman is able to support youth who are unable to attend school.

“I’m delighted to be celebrating twenty-five years since Kikkoman opened its soy sauce plant here in the Netherlands.”, said Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman of the Board, in his speech at the event. “Our success over the past 25 years means we can move ahead and grow even further — so more consumers can enrich their lives with tasty, healthy food experiences.”