Corporate Profile
Ajinomoto Co.Inc, is a global corporation in Food and Amino Acid Products. With headquarters in Japan, AJINOMOTO has operations over 23 countries and regions, including 108 manufacturing plants in 15 countries and regions. Now, the Ajinomoto Group consists of 129 companies and over 15,000 employees in worldwide.

The History of Ajinomoto
You can jump ahead by selecting a time period below:

The Story of AJINOMOTO
In 1908, Professor Ikeda's research that the most abundant of all the amino acids was isolated as one of the chemical pillars of 'umami'. He demonstrated that glutamate was a key to the robust taste of broth that led to this eventual coup. His investigations also showed that the same taste could be derived when glutamic acid was extracted from animal and vegetable protein hydrolysates and neutralized into sodium salt.

From this start, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. diversified its food business and expanded it internationally. Today, AJI-NO-MOTO (monosodium glutamate) is sold in more than 100 countries, and the Ajinomoto Group's 15 factories supply about one-third of the 1.5 million-ton global market for monosodium glutamate.

The Company's food business in Japan revolves around four main product segments - seasoning, edible oils, processed foods, and beverages and dairy products - which are marketed primarily to the retail sector. With a strong brand image and superior product development capabilities, Ajinomoto has created many products that have captured the number one or number two shares in their respective markets. While growth in the domestic food market has been stable in recent years, overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, have been expanding at a rapid pace.

The food business, which generates about 70 percent of Ajinomoto's total sales, is a steady source of earnings that provides resources for building the Company's other businesses.

Technology for Using Amino Acids
Amino acids are used in applications ranging from nutrition to physiology, flavorings and catalysts, in a broad array of products including intravenous solutions, enteral nutrition, functional foods, health foods, cosmetics, and toiletries.

Restructuring and Reorganizing Group Companies
In 1999, Ajinomoto celebrated its 90th anniversary. In commemoration, it introduced a new corporate logo together with the slogan “A taste of the future.”, both of which serve as a symbol for Ajinomoto Co., Inc. as well as important policy with regard to its brand strategy.

World-Class R&D Capabilities
An efficient R&D organization supports the business competitiveness. The laboratories consist of the Central Research Laboratories and four business specific research laboratories, which focus on contributing to particular businesses through applied research on amino science, pharmaceuticals, food and fermentation.

Environmental and Social Responsibility
Ajinomoto’s domestic plants have achieved a recycling rate exceeding 80% by turning waste into fertilizer or recovering the energy generated by incineration. For social responsibility, Ajinomoto tailored to meeting unique regional needs, offers support for each employee to voluntarily participate in social contribution activities.