Ajinomoto Co. Builds New Umami Seasonings Factory in Thailand Full-Scale Operation from July to Expand Overseas Consumer Foods Business

TOKYO, July 16, 2013 - Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. (Ajinomoto Thailand), a consolidated subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto Co.), has built a new factory for umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® in Ayutthaya Province, Thailand (Ayutthaya Factory) with an investment of approximately JPY 17.0 billion (THB 5.39 billion).1 Full-scale operation began in July 2013, and a completion ceremony was held on July 15.

The newly built Ayutthaya Factory is an integrated production facility handling umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® for consumers from manufacturing to packaging. This new construction is leading Ajinomoto Thailand to the future expansion of AJI-NO-MOTO®, which continues to grow by double digits annually, umami-based flavor seasoning Ros Dee® and menu seasoning Ros Dee®Menu. The start-up of the new factory is expected to increase annual production capacity by 64,000 tons, enabling stable supply to the consumer market for umami seasoning, including in neighboring countries, which continue to grow. In addition, the factory will introduce original new technologies of Ajinomoto Co. for energy savings and reduction of CO2 emissions as well as improved production efficiency in stages to achieve production with minimal environmental load and thoroughgoing quality control.

Ajinomoto Thailand has been expanding its seasonings business in the growing Thai seasonings market for over 50 years. Currently, Ajinomoto Thailand has the highest sales in the Ajinomoto Group’s consumer foods business. Fiscal 2012 net sales of Ajinomoto Thailand’s consumer foods business were approximately THB 30.1 billion, a 9 percent increase year-on-year (approximately JPY 95.0 billion, a 33 percent increase year-on-year).2

In the countries of Asia, where economic development is continuing, the Ajinomoto Thailand Group has achieved double-digit growth in its three mainstays of umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO®, seasonings (flavor seasonings, menu seasonings, etc.) and canned coffee products. It will drive future business expansion as a core component of the Ajinomoto Group by increasing presence in the growing seasonings market and expanding into new regions and fields.

Umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® accounts for approximately 40 percent of the approximately JPY 200 billion in sales of the Ajinomoto Group’s overseas consumer foods business, and sales are steadily growing. With its FY2011-2013 Medium-Term Management Plan, Ajinomoto Co. is working for further business expansion under a basic policy of strengthening and growing the overseas consumer foods business to become a genuine global company.

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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