| Ajinomoto Announces Opening of Two New Food R & D Centers |
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Aug 7, 2002, Tokyo, Japan- Ajinomoto Company, Inc. today announced the opening of two new food research and development centers in China and the United States. The centers, positioned as branches of the company's existing Food Research and Development Laboratories, will assist with global promotion of Ajinomoto's growing food business.
The U.S. center, called the "Food Development Center of North America," is located in Portland, OR at the current Ajinomoto Frozen Foods U.S.A., Inc. facility. Opened in July, 2002, the center's primary function is to provide a variety of technical assistance functions to other food product manufacturers. In addition, the center will collaborate with universities and national research organizations to develop food processing technology and quality control procedures to benefit the food industry as a whole. Under the leadership of Mr. Shin-ichi Kamiya, General Manager, the center currently employs three people, and plans for staff expansion are underway.
In China, the center will operate as an independent company, Shanghai Ajinomoto Food Research and Development Center Co., Ltd. The company will open in January, 2003 in the Songjiang Industrial Zone. This center will also provide customers with technical assistance in the areas of product development, ingredient acquisition and supplier audits. It's is expected that thirty people will be employed at the Shanghai facility when it opens.
Dr. Tomoaki Hisatsuka, who is the general manager of Ajinomoto Company's Food Research and Development Laboratories in Kawasaki, Japan, will serve as the Chairman of the new company.
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. is researching the possibility of building additional food research and development centers in other countries in order to increase the R & D emphasis within the organization, while at the same time contributing to the development and success of our customers world wide.
Ajinomoto Co., Inc., one of Japan's largest food and beverage companies with consolidated sales of $8 billion, is a world leader in food ingredient manufacturing and food processing. Ajinomoto Company also globally manufacturers and markets a diverse line of amino acids for the food, pharmaceutical and animal feed business, as well as a variety of cosmetic and specialty chemical products.
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Outline of R&D Center in the United States
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| Organization |
Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc.
Food Development Center of North America |
| Location |
Portland, Oregon |
| General Manager |
Shin-ichi Kamiya |
| Starts from |
July, 2002 |
| # of Employees |
4 |
| Mission |
Reserch Collaboration with Universities, Collecting Information on Food Safety, Exploring Raw Materials,Reserch onFood Processing |
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Outline of R&D Center in China
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| Company |
SHANGHAI AJINOMOTO FOOD RESEARCHAND DEVELOPMENT CENTER CO., LTD. |
| Location |
Songjiang Industrial Zone, Shanghai |
| Representative |
Dr. Tomoaki Hisatsuka as Chairman |
| Capital |
2 million US$ (240 million yen as 120 yen/US$) |
| Investor |
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. 80%
Ajinomoto (China) Co., Ltd. 20% |
| Starts from |
January, 2003 |
| # of Employees |
30 |
| Floor Space |
3,360m2 |
| Mission |
Exploring Raw Materials, Analyses, Research on Food Processing, Auditing Raw Material Suppliers and Contract Manufacturers, Product Development |
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