Business　Basics

Our plant manufactures canned, PET bottled, and paper-packed beverages.
Canned beverages are only made in this plant within Kagome Co., Ltd. Some productions of our beverages are out-sourced, so not every products displayed in the market, but as Kagome ourselves, all canned products are produced in here.
When you look at a product at shops, "Factory unique code" is printed on each product. The print of "KGMT" indicates the production of this plant. "KGM" means Kagome and "T" means Tochigi.
PET beverages are manufactured in three different sizes, Large, Medium, and Small.

For the processing of raw materials, all domestic made tomatoes and carrots are processed in here and delivered as a raw material to other plants in Japan. 　
Carrots are harvested and processed in winter when it gains the best taste and the highest nutritional values. After the processing, they are frozen or aseptic filled to store for a whole year.
Tomatoes are processed also, fresh tomato juice are not stored, it's filled in containers as it is.

At the Yasai-Mix-Line, tomatoes, carrots, other leafy vegetables like as celery which processed at the Nagano plant, and imported fruit juice are mixed.
They are mixed in condensed liquid. Dozens of different vegetables are used for making vegetable juice, and to make a constant quality of taste of mixed juice, we mix them exclusively in here, and deliver the condensed liquid to all other plants.

Raw Materials Procurement

Tomatoes are procured from a total of seven prefectures, and carrots are from three prefectures in Japan. Because this plant is located in the middle of the wide main producing area of Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Fukushima prefectures, we can procure the raw materials for longer period within those main producing areas, this location is excellent for us.

A harvesting of tomatoes in an open field tends to have a higher peak in volume, by taking an averaged harvesting in corresponding to the capacity of the plant, we can keep a freshness of raw tomatoes for an effective production. In this plant location, we can receive tomatoes from a warmer area at earlier season and gradually switch to cooler areas. In this way, we can achieve relatively averaged receiving of raw materials.

From the stand point of freshness of raw materials, we are able to receive fresh produce in a short logistic time by using expressways from the Kitakanto or even Tohoku regions. It is advantage for us to have our plant in the land of Nasu for immediate processing of fresh tomatoes.
Because of the relatively warmer climate in Tochigi, we can get raw materials in Tochigi in earlier season. This is also a strength of this plant.

During our plant tour, we invite students to our contracted cultivation fields situated in 20 minutes by car.
From a scene of cultivation of agricultural produce to it's processing, a coordination between agriculture and industry can be seen at our plant tour. This is highly appreciated because only our plant can provide.

Nowadays, we are planning an expansion of contracted cultivations of tomatoes, if any one interested in, please contact us for our cooperations.

Tochigi Prefecture and its Business Environment

In both climate and logistics stand point, our location at the center of the main agricultural production area is the biggest our strength.

From the stand point of transportation access, when our finished products are delivers to customers, they are firstly shipped to our five distribution depots in Japan. We used to ship all products through those depots, however in recent 10 years, more number of customers are asking to deliver products directly to them. From such aspect also, a good access to the expressway is our strength.

As our company's production plant of beverages, we have Fujimi plant in Nagano, Shizuoka plant in Shizuoka, and other contracted production plants. Among those plants, we are responsible for the Kanto and Tohoku regions with locating in the Kanto region and not so far from the Tohoku region.
Even we have some beverage products this plant can not make, but this plan is built in a good location for shipping products to the Kanto and Tohoku regions.

Having a good quality of abundant underground water originated from Nasu mountains, no water-supply shortage was experienced in the past. Water supply is a life line for beverages production plant. It is used in every process of production in diluting the condensed raw materials to 100% pure juice, in washing for production lines, and in washing tomatoes. This plant uses underground water mostly, except in the cafeteria where some tap water is supplied.
We are saving water by utilizing recycled water and applying a cleaner water in the later process of manufacturing, but we consume a vast water of one million tons annually. We appreciated very much for a rich supply of natural water.

Made in Tochigi

At first, all domestic harvested tomatoes and carrots are processed in here and delivered all over Japan. 　
Also all beverage products, except out-sourced products, are manufactured in here.
In addition, all the mixing process of vegetables and fruit juice are performed in here. This means products made from Tochigi made raw materials, are lined up in shops everywhere in Japan.

This is not an officially introduced products yet but, "Dried tomatoes dipped in chili oil", which produced at one of our out-sourced company near the plant, is sold at 500 yen for visitors in this plant as a pre-introduction. This is to be available around in Summer this year in the market, but many visitors like it because it's only available in this plant. This product had been tasted at a booth in the industrial festival of Nasushiobara also. Many people liked it at there.

Contributing Local Community

We are actively participating to local events such as the industry festival in Nasushiobara.
Also we are supporting work place experiences for local junior high school students, so called My Challenges.

We are widely accepting plant tours. It may be closed at the time of influenza, but we do our best to accept as many as possible. In last year, about 7,000 people visited our plant.

As a whole company, Kagome Co., Ltd., are sponsoring "Kagome Theatre" "Liliko Waku-Waku shops" and "Kagome Kojyo Tanken Tai" as a part of Shokuiku (food education) for children.

Comments for the People in Tochigi

Since 50years after Nasu plant was established, we believe that we could only succeeded our operation in here without supports and cooperations from the local people.
"True to nature, the flavor of Kagome" should be. We appreciated very much for your supports.

You may join to our plant tour from one person. An advance reservation is required, please check our company website for your reservation. Please note that depends on our availability, your requested date may not be accepted.
We, all our plant employees, are looking forward to seeing more customers in our plant.