Expansion of Sales of Natural Food Ingredients and Development of New Products and Related Materials

「Amid an increasingly unpredictable business environment, compounded by soaring resource prices and the impact of rising prices, total sales for the business were ¥640 million, down 0.2% year on year, and operating profit was ¥25 million, down 38.8%.」

「In the dried vegetables field, demand for commercial processed foods remained firm, while measures such as expanding the product range and increasing sales of new products progressively contributed to results. As a result, total sales for the business were ¥2,589 million, up 3.1% year on year.」

「The Food Materials business focuses on natural food ingredients that offer health benefits and distinctive characteristics, and has worked diligently to expand sales to the food industry and other sectors through targeted initiatives. In addition, it is actively pursuing new themes, including identifying new products, developing markets, and developing original new compound food ingredients, by leveraging the diverse food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities.」

「During the interim consolidated accounting period, the business steadily expanded its market share in thickeners and stabilizers by continuing to secure a stable supply of gum arabic. However, market prices for locust bean gum fluctuated sharply as supply conditions deteriorated due to poor harvests in prior years. Amid a sharp contraction in demand and the market, including reduced usage and switching to substitutes, orders from customers declined, causing sales volumes and prices to fall substantially below the same period of the previous year.」

「Although transaction volumes for thickeners and stabilizers declined as uncertainty over demand increased despite efforts to ensure a stable supply, sales of dried vegetables increased on stable demand and new transactions, resulting in sales exceeding those of the same period of the previous year.」

「During the first six months of the fiscal year, demand for household processed foods remained firm. Although sales of dried vegetables increased on stable demand and new transactions, transaction volumes for thickeners and stabilizers declined as uncertainty over demand increased amid a substantial rise in market prices attributable to poor weather in source countries, higher logistics costs, and other factors. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables therefore fell below the same period of the previous year. As a result, segment sales were ¥1,358 million, down 0.8% year on year, and operating profit was ¥85 million, down 19.1%.」

「During the first three months of the fiscal year, demand for household processed foods remained firm, while demand from commercial processed-food manufacturers declined as uncertainty over demand increased amid a substantial rise in market prices attributable to poor weather in source countries, higher logistics costs, and other factors. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables therefore fell below the same period of the previous year. As a result, segment sales were ¥719 million, down 6.8% year on year, and operating profit was ¥48 million, down 29.5%.」

「The Food Materials business focuses on natural food ingredients that offer health benefits and distinctive characteristics, and has worked diligently to expand sales to the food industry and other sectors through targeted initiatives. In addition, the business is actively pursuing new themes, including identifying new products, developing markets, and developing new compound food ingredients that can demonstrate originality, by leveraging the diverse food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the first nine months of the fiscal year, demand for household processed foods remained firm, while demand from commercial processed-food manufacturers was recovering from the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables exceeded the same period of the previous year, as transaction prices rose due to poor weather in source countries, higher logistics costs, and other factors. As a result, segment sales were ¥1,866 million, up 34.0% year on year, while operating profit was ¥123 million, down 1.4%.」

「The Food Materials business focuses on natural food ingredients that offer health benefits and distinctive characteristics, and has worked diligently to expand sales to the food industry and other sectors through targeted initiatives. In addition, the business is actively pursuing new themes, including identifying new products, developing markets, and developing new compound food ingredients that can demonstrate originality, by leveraging the diverse food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the first six months of the fiscal year, demand for household processed foods remained firm, while demand from commercial processed-food manufacturers was recovering from the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables substantially exceeded the same period of the previous year, reflecting the significant impact of the rapid depreciation of the yen and soaring import costs. As a result, segment sales were ¥1,369 million, up 69.8% year on year, and operating profit was ¥106 million, up 27.8%.」

「During the first three months of the fiscal year, demand for household processed foods remained firm, while demand from commercial processed-food manufacturers was recovering from the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables substantially exceeded the same quarter of the previous year, despite the significant impact of soaring import costs and the rapid depreciation of the yen. As a result, segment sales were ¥771 million, up 70.4% year on year, and operating profit was ¥68 million, up 64.4%.」

「The Food Materials business focuses on natural food ingredients that offer health benefits and distinctive characteristics, and has worked diligently to expand sales to the food industry and other sectors through targeted initiatives. In addition, the business is actively pursuing new themes, including identifying new products, developing markets, and developing new compound food ingredients that can demonstrate originality, by leveraging the diverse food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the first nine months of the fiscal year, sales to commercial processed-food manufacturers declined due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand for household processed foods remained firm. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables substantially exceeded the same period of the previous year, as transaction prices rose significantly due to soaring grain prices and higher logistics costs. As a result, segment sales were ¥1,393 million, up 33.7% year on year, while operating profit was ¥125 million, down 1.7%, as priority was given to securing a stable supply.」

「During the first six months of the fiscal year, sales to commercial processed-food manufacturers declined due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand for household processed foods remained firm. Sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dried vegetables exceeded the same period of the previous year. As a result, segment sales were ¥806 million, up 6.9% year on year, and operating profit was ¥83 million, up 1.3%.」

「In sales during the first-quarter consolidated cumulative period, sales to manufacturers of commercial processed foods declined due to the continued impact of the spread of COVID-19 from the previous fiscal year. However, demand from manufacturers of household processed foods grew as demand for food stockpiling increased, resulting in sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dehydrated vegetables exceeding those in the same quarter of the previous year. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥452 million (up 4.5% year on year), while operating profit was ¥41 million (up 3.0%).」

「In sales during the third-quarter consolidated cumulative period, sales to manufacturers of commercial processed foods declined as the business environment for the food-service industry deteriorated due to the spread of COVID-19. However, sales of dehydrated vegetables exceeded those in the same quarter of the previous year as demand from manufacturers of household processed foods grew. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥1,042 million (up 1.5% year on year), while operating profit was ¥127 million (up 49.9%).」

「During the second-quarter consolidated cumulative period, handling volumes of natural thickeners and stabilizers and dehydrated vegetables increased as the company deepened existing applications and actively developed demand for new applications. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥718 million (up 13.9% year on year), while operating profit was ¥54 million (up 18.9%).」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health and has continued to focus actively on expanding sales to the food industry and other customers under a targeted strategy. It is also actively pursuing new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the first-quarter consolidated cumulative period, sales to manufacturers of commercial processed foods declined due to the impact of the spread of COVID-19, but demand from manufacturers of household processed foods grew as demand for food stockpiling increased, resulting in sales of thickeners and stabilizers and dehydrated vegetables exceeding those in the same quarter of the previous year. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥433 million (up 28.8% year on year), while operating profit was ¥40 million (up 94.9%).」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles natural food ingredients and has continued to focus actively on expanding sales to the food industry and other customers under a targeted strategy. It is also actively pursuing new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the third-quarter consolidated cumulative period, shipments of dehydrated vegetables did not increase due partly to the impact of the mild winter, but the company actively promoted the handling of new products and development of demand for new applications. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥1,026 million (up 1.9% year on year), while operating profit was ¥84 million (up 8.4%).」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health and has continued to focus actively on expanding sales to the food industry and other customers using a targeted strategy. It is also actively pursuing new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the second-quarter consolidated cumulative period, handling volumes of natural thickeners and stabilizers and dehydrated vegetables increased as the company deepened existing applications and actively developed demand for new applications. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥718 million (up 13.9% year on year), while operating profit was ¥54 million (up 18.9%).」

「In sales during the first-quarter consolidated cumulative period, import contract volumes of dehydrated vegetables increased as the company worked to expand sales. Sales of natural thickeners and stabilizers, however, declined because transaction prices rose as local prices for imported products surged, while sales to some major customers were expected to take place in the following quarter or later.」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health and continues to actively market these products to the food industry and other customers under a focused strategy. It is also working diligently on new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the third quarter, procurement prices for major imported products surged due to adverse weather conditions and other factors in the producing areas, substantially increasing import costs and pushing up transaction prices. Although this resulted in higher net sales, earnings remained under pressure because the increase had still not been sufficiently passed through to domestic selling prices. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥1,007 million (up 36.0% year on year), while operating profit was ¥78 million (down 12.6%).」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health and continues to actively market these products to the food industry and other customers under a focused strategy. It is also working diligently on new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities.」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health and continues to actively expand sales of these products to the relevant food industries and other customers under a focused strategy. It is also working diligently on new initiatives, including identifying new products, developing markets and developing distinctive new composite food ingredients, by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the first quarter, local procurement prices for major imported products surged due to adverse weather conditions and other factors, substantially increasing import costs and pushing up transaction prices. As a result, net sales increased, but earnings remained under pressure because the increase had not been passed through to domestic selling prices as expected. Total net sales for the business were ¥341 million (up 37.1% year on year), while operating profit was ¥27 million (down 22.9%).」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health, and actively sells these products to the relevant food industries under a focused sales strategy. It is also working diligently to identify new products, develop markets and develop original related ingredients by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities. During the third-quarter consolidated cumulative period, sales of natural thickeners and stabilizers increased, helped by marketing that leveraged the characteristics of the ingredients and proactive sales initiatives. Sales of dehydrated vegetables were maintained at approximately the previous year's level despite difficult market conditions through diligent efforts to expand sales. As a result, total net sales for the business were ¥740 million (up 0.7% year on year), while operating profit was ¥89 million (down 23.5% year on year), as higher procurement costs due to the weaker yen and adverse weather conditions in production areas were not sufficiently reflected in selling prices.」

「The Food Materials business primarily handles distinctive natural food ingredients that are beneficial to health, and actively sells these products to the relevant food industries under a focused sales strategy. It is also working diligently to identify new products, develop markets and develop original related ingredients by leveraging the extensive food-related information and technologies accumulated through its sales activities.」