Aohata

Basic Information

Stock Code
2830
Industry
Food Products
Category Detail
Food Manufacturing
Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
Establishment Year
December 1948
Listing Year
July 1998
Official Website
https://www.aohata.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Morinaga Milk Industry, Rokko Butter, Yakult Honsha, Meiji Holdings, Megmilk Snow Brand, Yutaka Foods, Nitto Best, JFLA Holdings

Overview

Aohata is a food manufacturer headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture, established in 1948, specializing in jams and canned goods as its main products. It holds a high market share in low-sugar jams and maintains stable performance as a key regional industry player rooted in the community.

Current Situation

Aohata recorded consolidated sales of approximately 20.5 billion yen and operating profit of about 386 million yen for the fiscal year ending November 2024, maintaining a stable revenue base. Its core jam and canned products command a high share in the domestic market, with strengths in developing low-sugar jams. It also operates in the business-use ingredients sector, establishing a diverse customer base. The primary shareholder is its parent company Kewpie, leveraging group synergies for product development and sales promotion. Since 2018, it has strengthened its brand through absorption mergers of affiliates and acquisition of trademarks. It focuses on developing environmental hygiene products and packaging materials to enhance product value. Moving forward, it aims for medium- to long-term growth by strengthening its region-focused sales structure, expanding health-oriented products, and utilizing experiential facilities to boost brand penetration. It is also actively engaged in community contribution activities as part of its social responsibility.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • The Aohata brand name originates from inspiration drawn from the blue flag of a British boat race
  • Holds top-class share in the domestic low-sugar jam market
  • The adjacent 'Aohata Jam Deck' experiential facility contributes to regional tourism
  • Has maintained community-rooted management for many years, headquartered in Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
  • Strengthened product development and sales through capital alliance with parent Kewpie
  • Founder established as Kabushiki Kaisha Hatazono in 1932, with about 90 years of history
  • Trademarks were long held by Nakajima To Shoten, transferred to Aohata in 2018
  • Experiential facility contributes to local food culture education
  • Also handles sales of environmental hygiene products, expanding beyond food manufacturing
  • Offers seasonal flavors using traditional jam production methods
  • Major clients include Nakajima To Shoten and Kewpie group companies
  • Meets diverse customer needs with rich product variations
  • Strong production bases in Hiroshima Prefecture
  • Promotes utilization of local agricultural products
  • Highly evaluated for brand image and quality since founding

Hidden Connections

  • Closely collaborates with parent Kewpie on product development through capital alliance
  • Strategic capital and business ties with Nakajima To Shoten, long-term trademark holder
  • Diversifying into hygiene products beyond jam market
  • Strengthens direct consumer connections through experiential facility operations
  • Major regional company significantly impacting Takehara City's local economy
  • Strong presence in Hokkaido and Kanto via parent Kewpie's distribution channels
  • Unified brand management through historical trademark transfer from Nakajima To Shoten
  • Food hygiene product technology and know-how utilized across the group

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expanding demand for health-oriented and low-sugar foods
  • Growth and diversification of business-use food market
  • Rising consumer interest in eco-friendly products
  • New customer acquisition via digital marketing
  • Sales expansion through strengthened Kewpie collaboration
  • Deeper product development using regional specialties
  • Expansion of e-commerce and mail-order channels
  • Brand fan acquisition via experiential facilities
  • Increasing demand for food safety and hygiene products
  • Strengthened product rollout in domestic and international health food markets
  • Development of customized products for new markets
  • Promotion of sustainable raw material procurement

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve over 50% share in low-sugar jams for both business and consumer markets
  • Full transition to eco-friendly packaging materials
  • Reach sales exceeding 30 billion yen
  • Nationwide expansion of region-rooted brand
  • New development products to account for over 30% of annual sales
  • Expansion and diversification of hygiene products and packaging materials business
  • Enhanced customer touchpoints via digital channels
  • Obtain international certifications for sustainable procurement and development
  • Continued strengthening of community contributions
  • Deepen collaboration within Kewpie Group

Business Segments

Restaurants and Food Service

Overview
Supports operational efficiency in the food service industry with high-quality, stable supply.
Competitiveness
Product development capabilities for diverse menus and stable supply system
Customers
  • Cafe chains
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels
  • Catering companies
  • School lunches
Products
  • Business-use low-sugar jam
  • Frozen fruit jam
  • Original sauces
  • Packaging materials

Food Processing Industry

Overview
Provides raw materials and supplies to food processors like confectionery and beverages, meeting diverse needs.
Competitiveness
Reliable raw material supply and technical support
Customers
  • Confectionery manufacturers
  • Bakery manufacturers
  • Beverage manufacturers
  • Frozen food manufacturers
Products
  • Jam ingredients
  • Fruit sauces
  • Seasonings
  • Processing packaging materials

Retail and Distribution

Overview
Supports retail diversification with a rich product lineup for distributors.
Competitiveness
Product planning aligned with consumer needs and sales promotion support
Customers
  • Supermarkets
  • Specialty food stores
  • Online retailers
  • Wholesalers
Products
  • Own-brand jams
  • Gift assortment products
  • Packaged foods

OEM Supply

Overview
Plans and manufactures products for customers' private labels to meet diverse needs.
Competitiveness
Flexible production system and quality control
Customers
  • Other food manufacturers
  • Local specialty producers
  • Corporate gifts
  • Business suppliers
Products
  • Custom jams
  • Original sauce production
  • Custom packaging materials

Hygiene Products and Equipment Sales

Overview
Provides hygiene products and services to support food safety.
Competitiveness
Specialized technical support and eco-friendly products
Customers
  • Food manufacturers
  • Food service businesses
  • Distributors
Products
  • Insect and rodent control products
  • Sanitization equipment
  • Equipment cleaning services

Overseas Business Support

Overview
Expands products for overseas markets and supports local needs.
Competitiveness
Utilization of local factories and sales networks
Customers
  • Overseas food manufacturers
  • Import sales agents
Products
  • Export jam products
  • Business-use processed foods

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • High market share in low-sugar jams
  • Strong collaboration with parent company
  • Diverse brand portfolio
  • Solid regional management
  • Secured diverse sales channels
  • Advanced manufacturing technology and quality control
  • Stable business-use ingredients supply system
  • Long history and trusted brand
  • Local-focused operations centered in Hiroshima Prefecture
  • Excellent provision of packaging materials and hygiene products
  • Diversified product lineup
  • Continuous equipment investment and quality improvement
  • Flexible product development responding to customer needs
  • High employee expertise
  • Reliability backed by brand's historical background

Competitive Advantages

  • Achieves stable sales growth by leveraging synergies within the Kewpie group
  • Strength in pioneering low-sugar jam products and maintaining differentiated lineup
  • Overwhelming recognition and support in the Hiroshima-centered market through deep regional roots
  • Able to meet wide-ranging market needs from business to consumer use via product diversification
  • Balances quality and efficiency through highly automated production lines and proprietary technology
  • Creates added value beyond products with hygiene and packaging materials
  • Advances management efficiency and scale expansion through mergers and reorganizations
  • Successfully deepens consumer relationships by strengthening experiential facilities for brand promotion
  • Flexible response to both consumer and business sectors via diverse sales channels
  • Strong linkage between product development and marketing to quickly reflect customer needs
  • Utilizes brand value and trust backed by long history in product rollout
  • Benefits from Kewpie's technical support and financial stability
  • Achieves diversified supply through cooperation with affiliates
  • Enhances social credibility through environmental and health initiatives
  • Maintains customer satisfaction with flexible OEM and customization

Threats

  • Cost risks from fruit price fluctuations as main raw material
  • Challenges in adapting to diversifying health trends and market needs
  • Risk of intensified price competition with major rivals
  • Profit pressure from rising logistics costs
  • Product obsolescence due to changing consumer preferences
  • Potential additional costs from stricter environmental packaging regulations
  • Risks to raw material supply and production from natural disasters
  • Production efficiency decline from labor shortages
  • Market share dilution from new entrants
  • Potential cost increases in overseas raw material procurement from exchange rate fluctuations
  • Product supply delays from supply chain disruptions
  • Adaptation challenges to shifting channels from rising online sales

Innovations

2024: Absorption Merger of Rainbow Foods

Overview
Absorbed and merged Rainbow Foods to strengthen business-use processed food operations.
Impact
Expanded product lineup and improved industry competitiveness

2021: Techno-Aid Merger Strengthens Technology

Overview
Absorbed and merged Techno-Aid, which handles safety hygiene products and services, to bolster business foundation.
Impact
Expanded hygiene products business and strengthened sales network

2023: New Low-Sugar Jam Product Development

Overview
Launched new low-sugar jam products catering to consumer health trends.
Impact
Successfully captured younger and health-conscious customers

2022: Enhanced Utilization of Aohata Jam Deck Experiential Facility

Overview
Promoted fan base expansion using the experiential facility adjacent to the jam factory.
Impact
Improved brand awareness and expanded customer touchpoints

Sustainability

  • Efforts to improve recycling rates of packaging materials and reduce environmental impact
  • Introduction of energy-saving equipment in production processes and CO2 reduction activities
  • Participation and support for local environmental conservation activities
  • Optimization of production planning to reduce food loss
  • Formulation and promotion of sustainable raw material procurement policies