Mizkan

The Mizkan Group Corporation

Native name	Mitsukan (ミツカン)
Type	Corporation
Industry	Foods
Founded	1804, Handa
Headquarters	Handa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Key people	Matazaemon Kazuhide Nakano VIII, President
Products	Vinegars, sauces, condiments
Website	www.mizkan.co.jp

Mizkan Head Office (Handa, Aichi)

Mizkan Museum

Mizkan (ミツカン, Mitsukan) is a Japanese company that produces vinegars (including seasoned rice vinegars, balsamic vinegars, and wine vinegars), mustards, salad dressings, authentic Asian sauces, nattō, and other food products. It is based in Handa, Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya. Its corporate motto is "Bringing Flavor to Life".

History

The company was founded in Handa in 1804 by Matazaemon Nakano, who began producing rice vinegar using byproducts from the production of sake (rice alcohol). Nakano named his company the Mitsukan Group. In the late 1970s Mitsukan expanded from Japan into the United States and began acquiring regional condiment companies. The group was officially registered as a corporate entity in July 1977. In 1995, in honour of its founder, the U.S. arm of the business changed its name to Nakano Foods, Inc. In 2004, the Mitsukan Group became The Mizkan Group Corporation, and Nakano Foods, Inc became Mizkan Americas, Inc.^[1]

Present

Mizkan produce range includes: vinegars, seasoned rice vinegars, balsamic vinegars, wine vinegars, mustards, jellies, salad dressings, and authentic Asian sauces. The company's president is Matazaemon Kazuhide Nakano VIII.

In July 2012 Premier Foods sold its Sarson's vinegar, Haywards pickled onion and Dufrais vinegar brands to Mizkan for £41m as part of a streamlining programme. Also in late 2012 the Branston pickle brand was sold to Mizkan.

In May 2014, it bought the US Ragú and Bertolli pasta and sauce brands from Unilever for $2.15 billion.^[2]

References

External links

• Mizkan official site
• Mizkan Group official site
• Mizkan History (Mizkan UK)
• Mizkan Americas official website