Ajinomoto Co. Expands Food Products Business in Russia,
Starting with Frozen Gyoza
Sales to Restaurant-use Market to Begin at End of March 2014
TOKYO, March 17, 2014 - Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto Co.) will further expand its Food Products business in Russia with the start of sales of frozen gyoza for the restaurant-use market, mainly Japanese restaurants, in Russia’s two largest cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, at the end of March. Ajinomoto Co. is aiming for Food Products sales of JPY 600 million in Russia by 2016.

Frozen Vegetable Gyoza, the product to be sold in Russia, will be manufactured in Thailand by Ajinomoto Frozen Foods (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Ajinomoto Group company and imported and sold by OOO Ajinomoto.1

Russia currently has a population of 140 million and the highest GDP of the BRICs countries, with economic growth forecast to continue. Japanese food is very popular in Russia, where a Japanese food menu2 is offered in cafes, bars and other outlets in addition to Japanese restaurants. Approximately 4,000 outlets offer these Japanese food menus, of which about 75%, or 3,000 outlets, are located in Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Ajinomoto Co. survey). Russia’s restaurant-use market, which is expected to grow, holds great appeal for the Food Products business of Ajinomoto Co. Moreover, a traditional dish similar to gyoza called pelmeni is widely consumed in Russia, creating expectations for the market acceptance of Vegetable Gyoza.
Pelmeni, a Russian dish
similar to gyoza

The Ajinomoto Group aims to become a "Genuine Global Specialty Company" under its FY2014-2016 Medium-Term Management Plan. Under the plan, Europe including Russia will follow ASEAN and Latin America as a growth area for the overseas Consumer Foods business.

Ajinomoto Co. established OOO Ajinomoto in Moscow in 2004, and the company sells food products and amino acid-related products in Russia. Ajinomoto Co. will further sell frozen Gyoza as a steppingstone, and expand its Food Products business through increasing product variety of frozen foods, seasonings, and processed foods etc. which have a high affinity with Japanese foods In Russia, where interest in Japanese food is increasing.

The Ajinomoto Group aims to be a global food company that contributes to well-being through providing more delicious, higher-quality products adapted to local food cultures and customs.

Notes:
1. OOO means Limited Liability Company in Russian.
2. An assortment of Japanese dishes arranged to suit regional tastes.

Product to Be Launched
(1) Product name:Vegetable Gyoza (for commercial use)
(2) Purchasers:Restaurants that sell Japanese food
(3) Weight (quantity):600g (30 pieces/package)

Reference

Overview of OOO Ajinomoto
(1) Location:Moscow, Russian Federation
(2) Established:2004
(3) Representative:Daisuke Sugimoto, President
(4) Number of employees:Approximately 20 (as of July 1, 2013)
(5) Business description:Sales of food products and amino acid-related products in Russia

Overview of Ajinomoto Frozen Foods (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(1) Location:Hi-Tech Industrial Estate, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand
(2) Established:1990
(3) Representative:Kazuaki Takagi, President
(4) Number of employees:Approximately 420 (as of January 31, 2014)
(5) Products manufactured:Frozen processed chicken, frozen gyoza
(6) Site area:Land: approximately 18,500m2; Buildings: approximately 11,300m2

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 and regions, 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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