Company Visit

August 15th 2016 | Me, Tamura sensei, and some of intern student from various country in front of nihon shokken factory building. 

Japan is one of the country that also popular with its cuisine. Everybody knows that Japanese cuisine has own special taste, especially its sauce and seasoning. As information that I got during the company visit, one of the reputable food company in Japan which has a good management production and marketing is Nihon Shokken Group. It is one of the surprising factory also corporation among another company that I’ve ever visited. It is my pleasure can be the part of this program and feel this amazing chance to visit the beautiful company’s building.  

Nihon Shokken Group is engaged in the field of sauce and seasoning manufacturing company aiming to offer high quality, moderately priced, and unique products. Nihon Shokken Group have accomplished steady growth since its founding in 1971. For the pas 43 years, this company have been aiming to contribute to society through food culture, and also the employees have been working with the dedication to the research, manufacturing, and sales of blended seasoning. Along with the change in food cultures, this business began expanded not only domestically but also internationally. This company group has build partner with the community to provide career opportunities. As information that I got, US is one of the country that aware and interested in Japanese food culture, and finally they build its branch company as aim to become the flagship of Japanese sauces and seasoning, hereinafter we called Nihon Shokken USA Inc.

Nihon Shokken Group began American operations in 1988 with opening its Los Angeles Sales Office in Torrance, California. As a subsidiary of Nihon Shokken Holding Co. Ltd., the company initially imported and distributed sauces and seasonings made in Japan throughout the US. Great reception of it products allowed the company to open other branches nationwide which encouraged the foundation of Nippon Shokken USA in 2006. In April 2013, the newly named company established roots locally through building a new manufacturing facility in West Sacramento and started domestic production of products in June 2013. From this 70.000 square foot head office and plant, this company produce fresh, high quality products for valued customers as their embark on furthering and delivering new innovations to food culture in the US.

As a one of food corporation which holds the number one position in Japan’s shipment volume for sauce, I think this company could be a good role model for another food company. It quality has been proven under thorough hygiene control, this plant covers all processes from composition, production, and shipment of raw materials. Beside that, I also get more message, knowledge and information from this tour that Japan is good at technology and management but of course they also need more support from another country to develop its company. Proudly, Indonesia is one of the country which has a rich natural resource that also contribute to import some of spice ingredient that needed for this process making. This company using a various thousand secret ingredient inside and Indonesia become one of the importir country for its spice. 

After that, we also get the chance to feel the brewery tours in one of the popular drink brand in Japan, Asahi Company. This company tour give me more knowledge about the brewing making process. Asahi group not only produce beer, they also have softdrink product such ac Calpis, Barelys, and many more. Actually I don’t like to drink wine, beer, alcohol, and everything like that. But I’m just surprise and grateful for the science working in providing human life. Malt, hops, and water are three main raw materials of beer. Generally, the step making is start from malting process, after that mashing process, fermentation and maturation process, filtration process, packaging process, and the last is shipment. This company also has a good mission in natural developing and sustainability. Tought us not only how to make some beer, but also how to preserving nature’s gift. Asahi group will help to realize a sustainable society through environtmental activities conducted with the four key themes they are, building a low carbon society, building a recycling based society, conserving biodiversity, and spreading awareness of the gift of nature.

From this both company visit, I get more information, experience and knowledge about science, technology and social working in developed countries, Japan. Especially in food safety and food company management. I am very grateful could feel it when I was young. So it can be a good message for me to improve it in the future.