Ajinomoto Co., Inc. to Strengthen Its Frozen Foods Business in North America Frozen Japanese-Style Ramen Noodles to Launch in October 2016

TOKYO, September 15, 2016 – Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (“Ajinomoto Co.”) is strengthening its frozen noodles business with the launch of Japanese-style ramen to expand its frozen foods business in North America. The new Japanese-style ramen will be manufactured at Ajinomoto Toyo Frozen Noodles Inc., a frozen noodle production company established in April 2015 as a joint venture between the Ajinomoto Group and Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., and sold through the sales network of Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc. (“AWI”) from October.

The frozen foods market^* in North America is approximately USD 14.25 billion (approximately JPY 1.5 trillion), and the Asian/Ethnic food category in particular is a growth market. The market for frozen noodles in the Asian/Ethnic food category continues to grow by double digits each year, with a market size of approximately USD 110 million (approximately JPY 11.3 billion; Ajinomoto Co. estimate for fiscal 2015) and steadily expanding.

This launch brings together the high-level noodle manufacturing technology of Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., the production technology of Ajinomoto Frozen Foods Co., Inc. and the product development technology of AWI for the rollout of high-quality frozen noodles with specialty backed by technology through AWI’s powerful sales network, which covers all of North America. In doing so, Ajinomoto Co. is nurturing frozen noodles as a core product line on a par with frozen rice to accelerate the expansion of its frozen foods business in North America. Due to booming demand for Japanese-style ramen in the food service market in recent years, Ajinomoto Co. will launch a frozen noodle kit that includes frozen noodles and separately packaged soup for food service customers in addition to products for warehouse clubs and supermarkets. Ajinomoto Co. will further strengthen the Asian/Ethnic food category with the rollout of Japanese dishes centered on Japanese-style ramen.

In the Ajinomoto Group’s FY2014-2016 Medium-Term Management Plan, North America is positioned as a priority area where it aims to accelerate the expansion of its business scale centered on the frozen foods business. In the North American frozen foods market, Ajinomoto Co. will open up the frozen noodle market in the Asian/Ethnic food category, where there are no strong competing products, ahead of other companies to establish the clear No. 1 position and promote the penetration of the “Ajinomoto Brand.”

USD 1 = JPY 103.18 (Exchange rate as of August 31, 2016)

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 27 countries and regions, Ajinomoto Co. had net sales of JPY 1,185.9 billion (USD 9.87 billion) in fiscal 2015. For more about Ajinomoto Co. (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department; pr_info@ajinomoto.com