History | Company Information | ITOHAM YONEKYU HOLDINGS

Company History Timeline

2016 – Present: ITOHAM YONEKYU HOLDINGS established
1928 – 2015

2016	Established ITOHAM YONEKYU HOLDINGS
2017	Acquired additional shares of ANZCO Foods Ltd. and made it a wholly owned subsidiary. Became a global company operating at 11 locations across nine countries and regions.
2019	Acquired shares of Meiji Kenko Ham Co., Ltd. and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
2020	Launched the “Marude Oniku!” series, entering the plant-based meat market. Introduced soy-based products delivering meat-like texture, taste, and aroma.
2021	Started initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions and plastic use by switching to biomass plastics and adopting thinner packaging films.
2021	Launched the “Onikuya-san Soy MEAT” series of uncooked plant-based products. Introduced high-protein soy meat as a third source of protein, delivering meat-like texture. Uncooked format allows flexible seasoning and cooking for various dishes.
2022	Expanded exports of “ITO WAGYU” our original premium wagyu brand raised at partner farms and processed by group subsidiaries. Now capable of exporting to 48 countries and regions worldwide.
2022	Started transitioning pouch-style packaging to eco-friendly materials to contribute to global environmental conservation
2024	Completed the Towada Beef Plant of IH Meatpacker in January 2024. Started operations to ensure stable supply of safe, high-quality products for domestic customers and to expand sales of “ITO WAGYU” our export-only premium brand. Obtained initial export certification in May 2025.
2025	Participated in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Delivered an inspiring food experience to visitors at the ORA Food Pavilion “UTAGE” Showcased cultured meat and meat-making technology at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion as part of the Cultured Meat Future Creation Consortium.

1928	[ITOHAM ] Founded ITOHAM. Founder Denzo Ito started Ito Food Processing as a sole proprietorship in Osaka.
1934	[ITOHAM ] Developed “Cellophane Wiener” (now known as “Pole Wiener”.) Reused cellophane trimmings as casing and created an unprecedented product using pork as the main ingredient.
1946	[ITOHAM ] Reestablished Ito Food Industry Partnership in Bingocho, Nada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo.
1948	[ITOHAM ] Established Ito Nutrition Food Industry Co., Ltd.
1958	[ITOHAM ] Developed technology to use mutton as raw material for ham and sausages.
1959	[ITOHAM ] Opened the Meguro Plant in Meguro, Tokyo, marking the start of our expansion into the Tokyo market.
1965	[YONEKYU ] Founded YONEKYU. Founder Kiyokazu Shoji started Yonekyu Foods as a sole proprietorship in Shizuoka.
1967	[ITOHAM ] Listed ITOHAM Foods Inc. on the First Section of the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
1972	[YONEKYU ] Released “Smoke Ham” and “Daruma Smoke Ham.” Developed “Smoke Ham” using smoked pork ham. “Daruma Smoke Ham,” with its daruma-inspired shape, became one of YONEKYU’s popular products.
1981	[YONEKYU ] Built the industry’s first plant dedicated to raw ham, the Gotemba Plant (now Fujiyama Plant).
1985	[ITOHAM ] Released “Handmade Wiener Bayern,” focusing on authentic food trends. Continued improvements have made it one of ITOHAM’s signature products, now known as “The GRAND Alt Bayern.”
1988	[ITOHAM ] Released “Pork Bits,” the world’s smallest wiener at the time. Developed a small wiener that cooks quickly and fits any dish in response to consumer demand for convenience.
1990	[YONEKYU ] Released “Gotenba Kogen Arabiki Pork,” a coarse-ground sausage with a premium name evoking Mt. Fuji. Nicknamed “Gote Ara Po,” it became one of YONEKYU’s flagship products.
1996	[YONEKYU ] Listed Yonekyu Corp. Inc. on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1997	[ITOHAM ] Constructed the Alt Ito Building in Meguro, Tokyo (now the headquarters of ITOHAM YONEKYU HOLDINGS).
2000	[YONEKYU ] Constructed a new R&D building at the headquarters.
2009	ITOHAM, YONEKYU, and Mitsubishi Corporation entered into a comprehensive business alliance agreement.
2011	[YONEKYU ] Launched an e-commerce site and entered the online retail market in earnest.
2013	[ITOHAM ] Constructed the Toride Plant in Toride, Ibaraki.