Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Constructing New Indonesia Food Products Factory (Karawang Factory) to Further Strengthen the Overseas Food Products Business by Increasing Masako® Flavor Seasoning Production Capacity
Total Investment of Approximately JPY 3.5 Billion (IDR 382.3 billion)
Operations to Start in September 2012
 
Tokyo, September 18, 2012 - Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto Co.) announced today that wholly owned subsidiary P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia has invested approximately JPY 3.5 billion (IDR 382.3 billion) to construct a new factory for Masako® flavor seasoning1 in the Karawang Industrial Estate, West Java, Indonesia. The factory will begin operating in September 2012 to address the continuing rapid growth of the Indonesian flavor seasoning market.  
1.  Flavor seasonings are blends of spices, salt, sugar, umami seasonings and other ingredients with extracts of meat, fish or vegetables. They are used in a wide range of dishes and applications, including soups, stir-fried dishes and pre-seasoning. Brands such as Masako® in Indonesia, RosDee® in Thailand and Aji-ngon® in Vietnam are equivalent to HON-DASHI® in Japan, and can be used easily in preparing various home-cooked dishes in each country.

Currently, P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia produces Masako® at the Mojokerto Factory in East Java. It is constructing the new factory to meet expected future growth in demand. With the new factory, the company will have a production system capable of efficient supply in which the Karawang Factory and the Mojokerto Factory together enable stable product provision and serve as a supply base for Western Indonesia, which accounts for 50 percent of sales.
 

Indonesia's economy is expanding steadily because of its growing population (approximately 230 million in 2010 according to UN estimates) and expanding domestic demand. Further growth is expected. P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia has been doing business in Indonesia for more than 40 years since it began producing and selling seasonings and other products in 1969. Today, Indonesian operations play a core role in Asia, which is a crucial region for the Ajinomoto Group.

The Indonesian flavor seasoning market continues to grow rapidly, supported by improved living standards as a result of economic development, and has expanded steadily to 71,000 tons annually (Ajinomoto Co. estimate for fiscal 2011; year-on-year growth of 12 percent). Since the launch of Masako® flavor seasoning in 1989, a large number of Indonesian households have come to use this seasoning, which enhances dishes with the flavor of meats such as chicken and beef. Masako® has sustained annual growth in sales of around 15 percent and holds the leading share of a little more than 60 percent of its market.

Ajinomoto Co.'s overseas flavor seasonings business accounts for 35 percent of overseas consumer foods sales of JPY 183.5 billion, and sales in Indonesia and Thailand are growing at double-digit rates. Strengthening and growing the overseas consumer foods business is one of the key principles of the 2011-2013 Medium-Term Management Plan aimed at making Ajinomoto Co. a genuine global company. The Karawang Factory will support further growth of Ajinomoto Co.'s business in Indonesia and is positioned as a base for supplying Islamic countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Overview of P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia
(1) Location: Republic of Indonesia
(2) Year established: 1969
(3) Representative: President Yoshimasa Yoshimiya
(4) Employees: Approximately 920
(5) Businesses: Production and sale of seasonings and other products

Overview of P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia Karawang Factory
(1)   Location: Jl. Harapan Raya lot JJ -1, Karawang Kawasan Karawan, International Industrial City
(2)   Factory Manager: Akio Nishi
(3)   Start of operations: September 2012
(4)   Investment: Approx. JPY 3.5 billion2 (IDR 382.3 billion)
(5)   Production capacity: Together with the Mojokerto Factory, a 50 percent increase over current production capacity
(6)   Main products: Masako® flavor seasoning, Sajiku® menu-specific seasonings3, SAORI® liquid seasonings4
(7)   Factory positioning:
   
1)   Supply base for Western Indonesia, which accounts for 50 percent of annual sales
2)   Supply base for Islamic countries in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere
(8)   Employees: Approximately 187 (Fiscal 2012)
(9)   Site area: 167,000 square meters

2. 1 IDR = JPY 0.0091 (as of March 31, 2012)
3. Menu-specific flavor seasonings are specialized seasonings for specific menus.
4. Liquid seasonings are seasonings with the properties of a liquid.


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 1,197.3 billion (USD 15.1 billion) in fiscal 2011. For more about Ajinomoto Co., (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com.

For further information, please contact:
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department; pr_info@ajinomoto.com

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