Ajinomoto Co. Announces Full-Scale Operation of
New Umami Seasonings Repacking Plant
in Côte D’Ivoire from April 2013 to
Expand Its Business in 11 Countries in West Africa1
Note 1. Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana

TOKYO, May 15, 2013 - Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto Co.) announced today that overseas sales company AJINOMOTO AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST S.A. has built and began full-scale operation in April 2013 of a repacking plant for umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® for consumers in the Yopougon industrial area of Abidjan, the largest city in Côte d’Ivoire (Yopougon Plant).

In January 2012, Ajinomoto Co. established AJINOMOTO AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST S.A. in Côte d’Ivoire and began sales of AJI-NO-MOTO® in the domestic market. Initially, the company sold AJI-NO-MOTO® as an imported finished product from West African Seasoning Co. Limited (WASCO) of Nigeria. However, the establishment of the repacking plant has enabled the company to locally package bulk AJI-NO-MOTO® imported from Ajinomoto Co. do Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda. to fit the needs of local consumers. With this capability, the company is considering 11 countries in West Africa as a single area that includes the countries surrounding Côte d’Ivoire, among which trade is increasing, and will work to expand its operations in the area. The company plans to extend its product lineup to flavor seasonings and processed food products in the future. It is targeting sales of approximately JPY 2.5 billion in 2016.

Strengthening and growing the overseas consumer foods business is one of the key principles of the FY2011-2013 Medium-Term Management Plan aimed at making Ajinomoto Co. a genuine global company.

Strengthening African operations is a priority for the Ajinomoto Group, which has been enhancing its business base there. Measures have included capacity expansion of WASCO’s packaging plant in Nigeria (completed in March 2013), construction of a distribution warehouse for WASCO in Northern Nigeria (completed in April 2013) and expansion of its sales network in Nigeria. With the addition of the new repacking plant in Côte d’Ivoire, the Ajinomoto Group intends to further expand its business in the Sub-Saharan region,2 centered on West Africa, by providing an increasing number of products and services that meet the needs of its African customers.

Note 2. The Sub-Saharan region (Sub-Saharan Africa) consists of the 49 countries south of the Sahara Desert.

Overview of Yopougon Plant of AJINOMOTO AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST S.A.
(1)Location:Yopougon Industrial Area,


Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
(2)Start of

operation:April 2013
(3)Product line:Packaging of umami seasoning


AJI-NO-MOTO®
(4)Site area:Land - approx. 2 hectares


Building - approx. 2,765m²

Reference Data

● Overview of AJINOMOTO AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST S.A.

(1) Location:Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

(2) Established:January 2012

(3) Representative:Hiroo Yokota, President

(4) Number of employees:Approx. 60

(5) Main business:Import, repacking and sale of umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO®

● Sales Area of AJINOMOTO AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST S.A. - 11 Countries in West Africa:

Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana


About Ajinomoto Co.
Ajinomoto Co. is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. For many decades Ajinomoto Co. has contributed to food culture and human health through wide-ranging application of amino acid technologies. Today, the company is becoming increasingly involved with solutions for improved food resources, human health and global sustainability. Founded in 1909 and now operating in 26 countries, Ajinomoto Co. had net sales of JPY 1,172.4 billion (USD 14.1 billion) in fiscal 2012. For more about Ajinomoto Co. (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com.
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