Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values (2026) of Kagome Co., Ltd.

As Japan's pioneering tomato processor turned global vegetable leader, 2811.T Kagome Co., Ltd., founded in 1899, leverages an integrated value chain-from agriculture and production to processing and sales-to deliver juices, seasonings, frozen foods, supplements and fresh vegetables that aim to improve diets and tackle social challenges; guided by a mission to use food to resolve societal issues and a vision to shift "from a tomato company to a vegetable company" by 2025, the company combines rigorous quality standards, substantial R&D and sustainability initiatives (including an AI-driven farming joint venture with NEC in Portugal) under the leadership of CEO Jason Fritsch (Jan 2025), while committing to diversity targets such as achieving 50% of its workforce as women by 2040 and prioritizing core values of integrity, innovation, quality, sustainability and community engagement.

Kagome Co., Ltd. (2811.T) - Intro

• Founding year: 1899 - more than 125 years of continuous operation (126 years in 2025).
• Core product categories: fresh vegetables, vegetable juices, seasonings (ketchup, sauces), frozen foods, and nutritional supplements.
• Global reach: domestic leadership in Japan with targeted international expansion, including R&D and joint ventures in Europe and Asia.

• Mission: Promote health through vegetables - deliver safe, nutritious and convenient vegetable-based foods that raise dietary intake of vegetables worldwide.
• Vision: Establish a resilient, sustainable global vegetable ecosystem that leverages agri-tech, processing excellence and consumer-centric products to make vegetables a daily staple.
• Core values:
  • Quality & Safety - rigorous control across the integrated value chain.
  • Innovation - continuous product and process improvement, including agri-tech and nutraceutical development.
  • Sustainability - environmental stewardship, circular resource use and community engagement.
  • Integrity & Transparency - ethical sourcing and clear stakeholder communication.

• CEO: Jason Fritsch (assumed office January 2025) - leading global strategy with emphasis on digital agriculture and international partnership growth.
• Board and executive team priorities: expand overseas joint ventures, deepen R&D in functional foods, and accelerate decarbonization across production sites.

• Agriculture: contract farming footprint across Japan, Europe and Asia with cultivar development targeted at yield, flavor and nutrient density.
• Processing & production: multi-site production network designed for vertical integration - raw intake, processing, packaging and distribution under strict quality regimes.
• Technology: adoption of AI and IoT for yield optimization and traceability - exemplified by the joint venture with NEC in Portugal to provide AI-driven farming support for processed tomatoes.

• Environmental targets: phased CO2 reduction across manufacturing and logistics, water-use efficiency improvements in processing plants, and circular packaging initiatives.
• Social initiatives: nutrition education programs in schools, farmer support & capacity building, and workplace safety & diversity goals.
• Governance: strengthened supply chain traceability, supplier audits and alignment with global sustainability frameworks.

• NEC joint venture in Portugal: AI-driven farming support aimed at processed tomato yield optimization, quality control and reduced input use.
• Product innovation: expansion of low-sodium, high-vegetable beverages and functional supplements targeting aging populations and health-conscious consumers.
• Market strategy: deepen domestic market share while increasing regional exports and localized production in target markets through partnerships and JV structures.

• Equity ticker: 2811.T - traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
• Investor focus areas: resilient revenue from staple products, margins improvement via processing efficiency, and long-term value from agri-tech and internationalization.

Kagome Co., Ltd. (2811.T) - Overview

• Core mission emphasis: sustainable growth through food-driven social solutions - health, agriculture, environment.
• Strategic shift: diversify from tomato-centric portfolio to a comprehensive vegetable offering, supporting nutritional access and dietary improvement.
• Operational approach: leverage an integrated value chain (seed-to-product) to ensure traceability, quality, and social impact.

• Agricultural integration: in-house seed breeding, contract farming, and greenhouse operations reduce input variability and increase supply resilience.
• Product innovation: expansion into vegetable-based beverages, sauces, and ready-to-eat lines designed to raise vegetable intake per capita.
• Sustainability targets: initiatives to lower CO2 emissions across production and logistics, increase circular packaging use, and reduce food loss.
• Health & social programs: nutrition education, community partnerships, and product formulations targeting reduced sugar/salt and enhanced vegetable-derived nutrients.

• Portfolio diversification - scale non-tomato vegetable product launches and fortified functional foods to capture broader dietary trends.
• Value-chain control - invest in seed science and precision agriculture to improve yields, resilience to climate variability, and product quality.
• Market development - grow away-from-home and international channels to increase the reach of vegetable-based consumption patterns.
• Metrics & governance - embed sustainability KPIs (GHG intensity, water use, food loss, vegetable-equivalent servings delivered) into management targets and reporting.

Kagome Co., Ltd. (2811.T) - Mission Statement

• Mission core: Increase vegetable consumption and improve public health by delivering diverse, convenient, nutritious vegetable-based products across retail, foodservice, and institutional channels.
• Strategic pivot: Move beyond tomato-derived products to a broad portfolio of vegetables (fresh, processed, beverages, ingredients, and B2B formulations) to meet varied consumer needs.
• Sustainability & responsibility: Integrate sustainable sourcing, reduced environmental footprint, and farmer-partnership models across the supply chain.
• People & inclusion: Build a diverse workforce with clear targets for gender equity and professional development.

• By 2025: Complete core transformation from a "tomato company" to a "vegetable company" through product diversification, new category entries, and marketing to broaden per-capita vegetable intake.
• By 2040: Achieve a workforce composition of 50% women across the company to strengthen diversity, inclusion, and leadership pipelines.
• Public health ambition: Contribute to closing the gap between current average vegetable intake and public health guidelines by creating products and programs that make daily vegetable intake easier and more accessible.
• Sustainable growth: Couple portfolio expansion with targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased sustainable farmland area under partnership, and circular packaging initiatives.

• Portfolio expansion: Launch of multi-vegetable beverage lines, vegetable-based meal kits, and ingredient systems for food manufacturers and restaurants to increase application breadth.
• Supply-chain transformation: Direct farmer partnerships, contract cultivation for non-tomato crops, and investment in precision agriculture to secure year-round diverse vegetable supply.
• Marketing & public programs: Campaigns and partnerships aimed at raising household vegetable intake, including school programs, public health collaborations, and recipe-driven promotions.
• Organizational change: Talent pipelines, leadership development, flexible work policies, and recruitment targets to reach 50% female representation by 2040.
• ESG integration: Targets for emissions reduction, sustainable packaging rollout, and measurable targets for farmland biodiversity and water-use efficiency.

Kagome Co., Ltd. (2811.T) - Vision Statement

• Integrity - fostering trust and transparency across governance, supplier relations, and consumer communication.
• Innovation - continuous enhancement of product offerings and operational efficiency through focused R&D and new product development.
• Quality - rigorous testing, traceable sourcing, and manufacturing standards to ensure safety and consistency.
• Sustainability - reducing environmental impacts across the value chain and promoting circular resource use.
• Community engagement - active support for local agriculture, farmer partnerships, and nutrition education programs.

• R&D and product pipeline: sustained investment in juice nutrition research, functional beverages, and vegetable-based ingredient technologies to expand health-focused SKUs and private-label solutions.
• Quality assurance: multi-stage HACCP and traceability systems from seed to shelf, third-party audits, and routine product testing to maintain high safety standards.
• Sustainability programs: energy-efficiency upgrades at production plants, packaging lightweighting, and collaborative regenerative agriculture pilots to improve soil health and reduce inputs.
• Community engagement: educational outreach on vegetable nutrition in schools, technical assistance programs for smallholder farmers, and local procurement policies that support regional economies.