Japan

Big in Japan? Hotel Chocolat boss Angus Thirlwell has announced a new venture with a Tokyo company. Pic: Hotel Chocolat

Investment

Can Hotel Chocolat be big in Japan on second attempt?

By Anthony Myers

Hotel Chocolat has unveiled another push into the Japanese market by signing a new deal with Tokyo-based Eat Creator Corporation to include 21 Hotel Chocolat-branded shops across the country.

Beau & Bon Ltd managing director Maeda Mitsuhiro visits Uncle Joe's factory and meets MD John Winnard.  Pic: Uncle Joe's

In brief

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls in demand in Japan

By Anthony Myers

Premium British sweet brand Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls has seen sales surge in Japan and is busy supplying an urgent order for 1,200 packets and 672 tins of traditional mint balls and 720 packets of sugar free mint balls after consumers fell in love with...

©iStock

Chaucer sold to Japanese food firm in €122m deal

By Louis Gore-Langton

British food firm Chaucer has been sold to Japanese manufacturer Nagatanien in a £102.8m (€122.8m) deal which the freeze-dried food manufacturer says will help it expand into the US and Asia.

Japanese railway first to use KitKat bars as tickets

Japan

Japanese railway to use KitKat bars as tickets

By RJ Whitehead

Japan has a reputation for food innovation, and a new initiative by Nestlé will transform one of its iconic chocolate bars into currency for train travel while at the same time promoting a crisis-hit part of the country.

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

Company update

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

By RJ Whitehead

A great deal has changed in Japanese society since Nestlé opened the doors to its Far East division for the first time 100 years ago. And as the company moves into its second century, Japan now faces a raft of issue brought about by a chronically ageing...

Meiji takes 113% hit to confectionery operating income

Meiji takes 113% hit to confectionery operating income

By Oliver Nieburg

Japan’s second biggest confectioner Meiji Holdings has reported a steep decline in its first quarter (Q1) confectionery profits as its chocolate sales fall and it suffers from a “shrinking” gum market.