Japan

Ancor Capital Partners and Merit Capital Partners have sold the Macedon, New York-based Bakewise Brands to Japan’s largest bread-baking corporation Yamazaki Baking Co, headquartered in Tokyo. Yamazaki also distributes its baked products in a number of Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia.

Japan's Aeon Mall is embarking on an aggressive 2020 growth plan. The core of its strategy is to increase its revenue contributed by overseas business from 2-3% to 10% by 2020.

The 41st Foodex Japan 2016, to be held from March 8-11 this year in Makuhari, Messe, Tokyo, Japan, is expected to draw 80,000 trade visitors (77,361 trade visitors visited the show last year). Some 3,000 exhibitors, of which 60% are international exhibitors, will be present at the show.

Oishii Japan presented the largest showcase of authentic Japanese food and beverages in its 2014 edition, with the participation of 266 exhibitors from 32 Japanese prefectures. The organiser said the show’s growth is a testament to the robust demand for quality Japanese F&B products in the region.

Rakuten Group was built from a desire to empower Japanese merchants and consumers in a new marketplace in the early days of the Internet age. Today, the philosophy of empowerment remains at the core of Rakuten’s business and operations. Masatada Kobayashi, co-founder of Rakuten Inc. and CEO of Rakuten Asia, shares more with Sharon Tian.