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  Eagerly wanting to introduce “Osenbei”, a traditional confectionary representing Japan into all over the world, the overseas market development of KAMEDA SEIKA began in 1989 in the state of Illinois. 1. USA KAMEDA SEIKA started manufacturing rice crackers/snacks in the US, investing in then SESMARK FOODS, INC.(Illinois), presently TH FOODS, INC.(*). Currently in the US, rice crackers have come to attract American consumers due to its healthy attributes including low calories, low fats and lower allergen. Nowadays, “Usuyaki” type crackers have been quite popular, and appeared on store shelves of major retail chains. On top of the above mentioned developments, KAMEDA USA, INC., a 100% subsidiary of KAMEDA SEIKA, was established in 2008 in the state of California to launch KAMEDA’s “Kakinotane”, locally branded as “Kameda Crisps”. ( * TH FOODS, INC. is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and KAMEDA SEIKA, and one of our affiliated companies which “equity method” is applied to for KAMEDA SEIKA Group consolidation purposes.)
In 2003, QINGDAO KAMEDA FOODS CO., LTD. was set up in Shandong province, China. QINGDAO KAMEDA provide half-finished parts for rice cracker products to Japan, and also finished rice cracker products to major retail chains in China. In 2005, TIANJIN KAMEDA FOOD CO., LTD., a joint venture with one of the major local food manufacturers, was set up in Tianjin, China to start manufacturing and sales of rice crackers in Chinese market.
In 2009, KAMEDA SEIKA increased its stake holding in SMTC in Thailand to make it a subsidiary of KAMEDA SEIKA. SMTC is a joint venture with STC Group of Thailand. SMTC produce rice crackers from rice made in Thailand, and sell their products to Europe and US as well as Asian countries.
( Photos of TH FOODS, INC., QINGDAO KAMEDA FOODS CO., LTD., TIANJIN KAMEDA FOOD CO., LTD., KAMEDA USA, INC., and SMTC Co., Ltd.) |
