Focusing on global expansion and cost awareness, アンドエスティHD President Fukuda Taisei (福田泰生) discussed strategy, including the launch of an AI-powered brand and an acceleration of overseas expansion, while looking back on his first six months in office.
Fukuda Taisei (福田泰生) became president of アンドエスティHD effective 1 March 2026. Drawing on his background as a member of the founding family, he indicated a policy of maintaining organizational cohesion by emphasizing communication inside and outside the company and communicating its corporate philosophy.
During the first half after taking office, the company pursued a policy of continuing necessary investment while enforcing cost awareness. The selling, general and administrative expense ratio was reduced by 0.3 percentage points year on year, while both revenue and operating profit reached record highs.
The company launched the new AI-powered brand “Elmira” and is promoting expansion in Southeast Asia as part of its overseas operations. It aims to achieve local production for local consumption by launching a new brand in Vietnam next summer, while accelerating the rollout of multiple stores in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
In its platform business, which is strengthening coordination between online and offline operations, the company is expanding store openings for external brands. It is considering opening a cross-border e-commerce storefront in collaboration with 60% next spring, while local expansion through and ST TAIWAN is also under way.