Rokko Butter

Basic Information

Stock Code
2266
Industry
Food Products
Category Detail
Food Manufacturing
Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
Establishment Year
December 1948
Listing Year
May 1963
Official Website
https://www.qbb.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Fujiya, Morinaga Milk Industry, Yakult Honsha, Meiji Holdings, Megmilk Snow Brand, Aohata, Fujicco, Kibun Foods, JFLA Holdings

Overview

Rokko Butter is a long-established food industry company founded in 1948 as a specialized cheese and dairy products manufacturer, holding top-class domestic market share and offering a wide range of products under the Q・B・B brand.

Current Situation

Rokko Butter recorded standalone net sales of 42.9 billion yen and operating profit of 1.8 billion yen for the fiscal year ending December 2024, maintaining a stable profit structure. It holds the No. 2 share in the domestic cheese products market and leads the industry in product development such as stick cheese and sliced cheese. The highly branded Q・B・B products are widely popular in school lunches, households, and retail markets, and it also manufactures business-use margarine. In recent years, it has consolidated manufacturing bases and strengthened production systems to establish an efficient production framework. It also operates as the domestic agent for Lindt chocolate. In terms of sustainability, it promotes reduction of environmental impact in manufacturing processes and collaboration with Hyogo Prefecture. Toward 2030, it aims to expand domestic market share, develop new products, build diverse sales channels, strengthen competitive advantages, and enhance brand value. It is actively investing in digital and production technologies to respond to market fluctuations.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Developed the world's first individually wrapped stick cheese.
  • Unique business model that has never produced butter in-house.
  • Q・B・B brand name derives from 'quality's best and beautiful'.
  • Growth started with raw cheese imports from Australia in 1958.
  • Widely used in school lunches and familiar in local communities.
  • Mascot 'Q-chan' character since 1968.
  • Serves as the general agent for Lindt chocolate in Japan.
  • Sales network expansion realized from 1959 transaction start with Mitsubishi Corporation.
  • Baby cheese, launched in 1972, remains a long-seller.
  • Supports regional tourism through cooperation with Kobe's Rokko Pasture Cheese Hall.
  • Pioneer in individual packaging technology, establishing industry standards.
  • Manufacturing bases concentrated in Hyogo Prefecture, contributing to local employment.
  • Dessert business suspended in 2008 to specialize operations.
  • Rare setup continuing business margarine handling.
  • Originally a margarine manufacturing-focused company at founding.

Hidden Connections

  • Deep ties with Mitsubishi Corporation are key to raw material procurement and capital strategy.
  • Plays a major role in cheese supply for Japan's school lunch market.
  • Deploys premium chocolate products through exclusive contract with Lindt & Sprüngli.
  • Rare survivor in the highly competitive business margarine manufacturing sector.
  • Q・B・B brand name symbolizes high quality and beauty.
  • Contributes to regional economy as a food manufacturer originating from Kobe.
  • Individual packaging technology for mainstay products influenced other industry players.
  • Innovative company that launched the world's first stick cheese product in 1960.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Growing health-conscious demand in domestic cheese market
  • Differentiation through high-value-added product development
  • Further adoption expansion in school lunch market
  • Corporate value enhancement via eco-friendly packaging technology
  • Continued stable demand in business margarine market
  • Expansion of imported chocolate business
  • Sales channel expansion to new customer segments
  • Brand strengthening leveraging regionally focused CSR
  • Promotion of efficient production through digital technology utilization
  • Improved cost competitiveness via globalization of raw material procurement
  • Strengthened R&D on health-oriented materials
  • Increased investments in sustainable manufacturing processes

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve over 30% share in domestic cheese market
  • Achieve 40% reduction in plastic packaging
  • Maintain and expand top share in school lunch market
  • Maintain 5% sales growth rate through new product development
  • Expand share in domestic premium market with Lindt chocolate business
  • Maintain ISO14001 through continued environmental management strengthening
  • Secure cost competitiveness with 20% production efficiency improvement
  • Acquire new customers in business margarine
  • Enhance brand value through co-creation with regional communities
  • Build sustainable supply chain

Business Segments

Business Dairy Products Supply

Overview
Provides stable dairy products for business use to school lunches and restaurants.
Competitiveness
Long years of quality control and stable supply system
Customers
  • School Lunch Providers
  • Restaurant Chains
  • Food Factories
  • Hotels
  • Hospitals and Nursing Facilities
Products
  • Business Processed Cheese
  • Stick Cheese
  • Business Margarine

Imported Nuts Sales

Overview
Imports and sells nuts from Australia and other countries domestically.
Competitiveness
Strong ties with Mitsubishi Corporation provide high procurement power
Customers
  • Retailers
  • Confectionery Manufacturers
  • Health Food Manufacturers
Products
  • Mixed Nuts
  • Cashew Nuts
  • Almonds

Chocolate Import Sales

Overview
Exclusively imports and sells Swiss Lindt products domestically.
Competitiveness
Exclusive agency rights for premium chocolate
Customers
  • Retailers
  • Department Stores
  • Specialty Stores
Products
  • Lindt Chocolate Products

OEM/PB Product Manufacturing

Overview
Undertakes manufacturing for other companies' brands, accommodating diverse needs.
Competitiveness
Flexible production system and multi-variety対応 capability
Customers
  • Supermarkets
  • Retailers
  • Food Manufacturers
Products
  • Private Brand Cheese
  • Private Brand Dairy Products

Packaging Materials Sales

Overview
Promotes stable supply and technological development of packaging materials.
Competitiveness
High product compatibility packaging technology
Customers
  • Food Manufacturers
  • Packaging Companies
Products
  • Individual Cheese Wrapping Film
  • Margarine Packaging Materials

Logistics and Delivery Services

Overview
Builds freshness-preserving delivery system using own and partnered logistics.
Competitiveness
Regionally focused rapid delivery network
Customers
  • Own Product Sales Channels
  • External Contractors
Products
  • Refrigerated/Frozen Logistics
  • Nationwide Delivery Network

Overseas Raw Material Procurement

Overview
Manages raw material imports mainly from Australia.
Competitiveness
Stable overseas procurement network
Customers
  • Own Manufacturing Plants
Products
  • Processed Cheese Raw Materials
  • Nuts

Quality Control and R&D

Overview
Promotes quality inspection and product development using latest technologies.
Competitiveness
High technological capability backed by long track record
Customers
  • Own Manufacturing Divisions
Products
  • Product Quality Inspection
  • New Product Development

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Top-class domestic cheese manufacturing technology
  • Long-standing brand trust and recognition
  • Stable overseas raw material procurement network
  • Diversified sales channel expansion
  • Excellent product packaging technology
  • Solid financial base and profit structure
  • Broad customer base in business market
  • High share in school lunch market
  • Strong relationship with Mitsubishi Corporation
  • Lindt chocolate as exclusive agent
  • Efficient production equipment and multiple factories
  • Long-term market experience and know-how
  • Diverse product lineup
  • Stable asset composition
  • Transparency as a company with board of auditors

Competitive Advantages

  • Reliability of long-established brand since 1959
  • Technological prowess in developing world's first stick cheese
  • Strong market recognition of Q・B・B brand
  • Collaboration with Mitsubishi Corporation supporting raw material procurement
  • Differentiation through high-quality individual packaging technology
  • Dual market strategy for business and consumer
  • Scale advantages based on No. 2 domestic cheese share
  • Exclusive sales agreement with Swiss Lindt
  • Product development capability for diverse customer segments
  • Regional base in Hyogo Prefecture with nationwide sales network
  • Financial stability enabling medium- to long-term investments
  • Efficient integration and adjustment of manufacturing bases
  • Established food safety and quality management systems
  • High evaluation in public sectors including school lunches
  • Strengthened collaboration with industry groups and affiliates

Threats

  • Market share erosion from competitors' large-scale investments
  • Risk of international fluctuations in raw material prices
  • Cost increases from strengthened food safety regulations
  • Demand fluctuations from changes in consumer health trends
  • Domestic market shrinkage due to population decline

Innovations

2024: Investment in Production Plant Efficiency

Overview
Implemented investment in latest production line equipment at Inami Factory to improve production efficiency.
Impact
15% increase in production capacity, cost reduction effects

2023: Eco-Friendly Packaging Improvements

Overview
Developed new packaging that reduces plastic usage in individual wraps.
Impact
20% reduction in packaging material usage

2022: Expansion of New Flavor Development

Overview
Introduced numerous new flavor cheese products for business and household use.
Impact
Improved customer satisfaction, new market development

2021: IT Integration for Production Management Strengthening

Overview
Achieved efficiency from production to delivery through IT management.
Impact
Reduced errors, 10% productivity increase

2020: Lindt Chocolate Business Expansion

Overview
Strengthened premium chocolate import sales system and expanded sales channels.
Impact
Sales growth and brand value enhancement

Sustainability

  • CO2 emission reduction activities in manufacturing processes
  • Lightweight plastic packaging and recycling promotion
  • Collaborative environmental conservation projects with local communities
  • Food education support activities in collaboration with Hyogo Prefecture
  • Strengthened environmental management through ISO14001 certification
  • Promotion of waste reduction and resource recycling
  • Ongoing efforts for safe and secure food supply
  • Promotion of social contribution activities and employee volunteering
  • Building sustainable supply chains
  • Support for employee health and work-life balance
  • Promotion of environmentally friendly product development
  • Reduction of environmental impact through promotion of public transportation