Company Profile

MESSAGE
Since our establishment in 1958, we have built “trust” by providing value to our customers as aspecialized trading company, and leveraging the comprehensive strengths of the Mitsui & Co.
group and its global procurement capabilities. In July 2022, our Marine Products Division was spunoﬀ into Mitsui & Co. Seafoods, Ltd., and we have been reborn as a trading company specializing inagricultural products, such as rice, soybeans, peanuts, and other beans and nuts. As a Mitsui & Co.
group company specializing in agricultural products, we will pursue a deeper sense of unity with
Mitsui & Co. and aim for speedy business development.
The situation surrounding the world has become increasingly uncertain, such as the occurrence ofenvironmental problems on a global scale, the impact of industrial responses to such problems invarious industries, and the global epidemics and geopolitical risks that have occurred and emergedin recent years. Even in Japan, the environment surrounding food is becoming more and more
severe due to the declining birthrate and aging population, the accelerating trend toward thenuclear family as the norm, and a decrease in the number of agricultural workers. Under thesecircumstances, the need for a safe, secure, and stable supply of sustainable food is growing everstronger, and we are working as a group of product professionals to meet the true needs of all
stakeholders, including our business partners, local
communities, and employees, by leveraging thecomprehensive strengths and networks of the Mitsui &Co. group.
We will also contribute to the stability and developmentof society by fostering proactive human resources
capable of engaging in these activities with sincerity,integrity, and passion. We look forward to yourcontinued understanding of, and support for, ouractivities.

M IS S ION
We will contribute to people’s fulﬁlling lives bystably providing safe, trustworthy, and sustainable
food products and materials.

VIS ION
We will strive to improve customer satisfaction
and create value as a group of specialty productprofessionals by leveraging the comprehensive
strengths and networks of the Mitsui & Co. group.

VA L U E S
We will always act with integrity and approachbusiness with the spirit of “Challenge & Innovation”.
Through our continual pursuit of transformationand growth, open communication, and proactive
actions, we will work to enhance our organizational
capabilities.

President and CEO Keiichi Tsukahara
Mitsui & Co.Agri Foods Ltd.
©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods Ltd.
Organization Chart
CEOCAOCOO
Food Materials
Division・Peanuts
・Nuts(Cashew Nuts,Almonds,Walnuts,etc)
・Dry beans(Azuki Beans,Kidney Beans,Peas,Broad Beans,etc)

Rice Divison
・White Rice・Brown Rice・Rice for Processing(Rice for brewing andcooked products)
・Rice by-products

役 員

Soybeans & Food ProductDevelopment Division
Soybeans
TeamResearch &Development
Quality Control
CenterAdministrativeDivision

CFO

Accounting &Risk Management
Division

President andChief Executive Officer

Keiichi Tsukahara

Director andExecutive Managing Officer(Chief Financial Officer)

Shin Kawachi

Director (part-time)

Osamu Kanetake

Director (part-time)

Keiichi Sakuma

Corporate Auditor (part-time)

Masamitsu Tanaka

・Imported Soybeans
・Domestic Soybeans
・Processed Soybean
Products

Food ProductDevelopment
Department©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

2Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods Ltd.
A food-specialized trading company withMitsui & Co. DNA
Since the original Toho Bussan was founded mainly by members of the former Mitsui & Co. in 1947, wehave inherited the DNA of the Mitsui & Co. group. We have been strengthening our business platform asa food-specialized trading company engaged in the stable supply of safe, trustworthy agriculturalproducts, by making eﬀective use of Mitsui & Co. group’s global information gathering capabilities andnetworks.

CH AN G E TO C H A N C E

Linking foods from throughout the world through sound styles and new ideas.

What we can do in the Mitsui & Co. group supply chains
The Mitsui & Co. group has built a global business foundation that extends from food production,harvesting, and production to processing. As its business model is shifting greatly toward investment inproduction areas and commercialization of food business, the group is also actively moving forward withboth the introduction of digital technology and AI at processing plants and a review of the supply chains
extending to product sales for the purpose of improving eﬃciency. Amid this trend, we have been actively
building a business ﬂow that makes use of the Mitsui & Co. group’s supply chains. We will work to create
new business that is not limited to supplying materials.

©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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Business

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There are growing concerns about the decline in Japan s domestic demand as its population shrinks and consumer needs diversify,
and food trading companies must adapt to those changes. In order to transform that trend into business opportunities, we are taking
on the challenge of implementing strategic efforts that go beyond those of trading companies at both local production sites andlogistics/sales locations.

STABLE

Protecting the food you eat now.

We provide a stable supply of safe products while responding
to the risk of poor weather and various changes, includingchanges in exchange rates and world aﬀairs. Our mission is tostrictly adhere to the foundation of traceability. We ascertain
demand and supply throughout the world and securecompetitive products. Consumers are very concerned aboutfood safety, and we work with local producers and haveestablished the in-house Product Development and Quality
Management Center to ensure the safety of our food. It is only
natural that realizing food security, safety, and stability arecontributions to society that only a food trading company canmake.

©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

2C H AL LE N G E

Anticipating change andcreating the future.

What consumers demand of food is growing more diverse as
both the times and lifestyles changes. Toho Bussan has taken
various steps in its upstream and downstream operations inorder to meet more fragmented consumer needs that go
beyond simply ﬁlling one’s belly and being good tasting. There
are demands related to safety, environmental friendliness,and ease of preparation. For example, we visit local farms
directly and work with producers to examine measures toimprove productivity and ways to manage the environment,such as reducing the use of agricultural chemicals. These new
eﬀorts have borne fruit,rice cultivation management that
employs drones. We have developed creative stratagems
related to food processing and other issues in order toimprove logistics, sales, and added value for consumers. We
also plan to actively work to conduct various activities
including proposing ways to eat foods we supply, andintroducing recipes.

3SA F E & SECUR E
Unique quality management
system that ensures safety

Safety is the responsibility of trading companies that oﬀer adiverse range of agricultural products. That is precisely why
Toho Bussan has introduced a thorough quality assurance(QA) system. Around 300 suppliers in more than 20 countries
that meet our strict standards are recorded in our
independently-developed Supplier Registration System andmanaged in an integrated manner. Specialty teams visit local
production sites and conduct regular audits of whether theirproducts meet the requirements of Japanese laws andregulations. Toho Bussan is also unique in that it has its own
Product Development and Quality Management Center. Staﬀ
possessing specialized knowledge conduct thorough audits
and inspections. Safety First Because Food Supports a HealthLife. We have never faltered in adhering to this ideal since thefounding of the company in 1958.

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S TA B L E

Protecting the food you eat now.

RELIABLE PRODUCTS

We carefully select reliable products from throughout the world.

Peanuts

Dry BeansNuts

SoybeanWhite Rice, brown rice

Rice for processing

Rice for feed

Imported Rice

Domestic rice

Rice by-products

Agricultural products other than rice©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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2CHA L L ENG E

Anticipating change and creating the future.

CHALLENGING TOPICS

Stork Natural Rice
Mitsui & Co.Agri Foods Ltd. and “Stork Natural Rice”
As a pillar of stork wild return activities, JA Tajima (Toyooka-city , Hyogo) andlocal rice producers have been engaged in initiatives to grow rice in a mannerthat harmonizes with nature. Rice ﬁelds serve as important feeding areas fororiental storks. In order to maintain the ecosystem, which includes water
paddies and satoyama (areas between mountain foothills and arable ﬂatland), and feeding areas for oriental storks, we sell Stork Natural Rice, whichis grown without the use of agricultural chemicals or chemical fertilizers.

Summary of activities bylocal communities

In Toyooka-shi, located in northeast Hyogo
Prefecture, eﬀorts are underway to return
oriental storks (konotori) to the wild. The
Oriental White Stork, which had not been seen in
the wild in Japan since September 2005, has once
again begun to grace the skies of Toyooka after
having been artiﬁcially bred for more than forty
years. Having established harmony between manand nature, we introduced the konotori ricebrand rooted in Toyooka, “Stork Natural Rice”.

©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

How is it grown ？
By managing water in a unique way that keeps
the paddies wet even during winter, andinstalling ﬁshways in paddies, an environmenthas been created in which various creatures canlive in the paddies during all seasons. The rice isgrown in these paddies that are full of living
creatures in the soil. Avoiding the use ofagricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizers,
farmers have been implementing “thinkingagriculture,” gaining a true understanding of therice paddies and fostering an environment ofdiverse living creatures while growing theircrops.

Acquisition of exclusive rights to sell
US Wilco Peanut s peanuts in Japan

Containing various minerals, including polyphenol, oleic acid, and vitaminE, peanuts are rich in nutrients and are also oﬀered at aﬀordable prices.
Their nutritional beneﬁts have drawn people’s attention in recent years,
and there is growing demand for peanuts as a healthy food. Demand forshelled peanuts in Japan is approximately 46,000 tons, of which 37,000
tons are imported, with about 15,000 tons coming from the US.
There are several US companies that supply peanuts to Japan. Wilco Peanut Co. is one of those companies,
and in 2019, Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods Ltd.,Mitsui & Co. (Canada) Ltd .,Vancouver Oﬃce and Wilco Peanut
Co. have concluded a contract in relation to exclusive distribution rights in Japan.
This contract has further strengthened the relationship between the three companies, making it possible
for us to provide even more consumers with safe and reliable peanuts that are traceable back to theproduction area.

Strengths of Wilco Peanut Company
Wilco Peanut is a mid-sized, family-operated
peanut supplier based in the US. Compared withlarge US suppliers that export peanuts to Japan,
Wilco Peanut has advantages that are unique to
mid-sized companies. As a large percentage of
their exports are to Japan, Wilco Peanut has agood understanding of Japanese tastes anddemands. In general, in any industry, US-based
major suppliers struggle to meet the extremelydetailed (sometimes excessive) demands ofJapanese companies. However, Wilco Peanut
strives to meet Japanese demands in earnest
and supplies quality, safe peanuts.

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SAFE & SECURE

Unique quality management system that ensures safety

Quality Management

Quality managementthat earns the trust ofconsumers using skills
that are equivalent tofood manufacturers
Because we are a food trading company that
handles a wide range of agricultural
products, we do not want to leave themeasures to ensure safety and reliability upsolely to local producers and suppliers.
Resarch & Development, Quality Control
Center is the driving force behind our quality
assurance (QA) eﬀorts. Aiming to implement
quality management that surpasses that oftypical trading companies, we havethoroughly adopted a method of customer
satisfaction management that is in line with

©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

Frontline focused
quality management
Taking on the new challengeof product development

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point(HACCP) and ISO9001 (quality managementsystem). Our staﬀ members participate inregular HACCP training to improve their skills
and to obtain HACCP Inspector qualiﬁcation.
Quality management equivalent to that offood manufacturers is indispensable for not
only observing compliance as a company, butalso earning the trust of consumers as we
aim to enter the processed food domain.

When internally registering a new product, aspecialty team ﬁrst inspects the local
production site and plant. We conductbusiness with more than 300 suppliers inover 20 countries, and our stance is always
the same. In the case of processing plants, we
conduct production checks and veriﬁcationsof standard products, manage hygiene, andprovide guidance. A new initiative taken on
by the Research & Development, Quality
Control Center is product development froma consumer perspective.

We analyze dozens of types of rice annuallyand create data in collaboration with the Rice
Divisions. By providing guidance to both
Japanese and overseas suppliers based onsuch data, it became possible to propose ricethat meets the needs of consumers anddevelop new blended rice.

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Organization

While demonstrating their individual specializations, the Rice Divisions, Food Materials Division, and Soybeans& Food Product Development Division are also seamlessly integrated. We will ensure the safety of the food you
eat now and create the future by combining our strengths with Mitsui & Co. group s capabilities.

Demonstrating expertise whilevaluing the trust we have built up.
Our Company is composed of the Rice Divisions, whichhandles rice, Food Materials Division, which handles
peanuts and various types of beans and nuts; theSoybeans & Food Product Development Division(consisting of Soybeans Team and Food ProductDevelopment Dept.), which handles soybeans, the main
ingredient in tofu, deep-fried tofu, miso, soy sauce, natto,
soy milk, plant based food,etc.,as well as new protein
products . While strengthening the trust it has built up
with domestic and overseas customers over many years,
we assume a role of securing the stable supply of quality
products to Japanese customers through various
activities, including contract cultivation with overseas
producers and conclusion of exclusive contracts with top
suppliers. By visiting local production sites overseas, wework together with producers and suppliers to manage
quality and improve productivity. Furthermore, thecompany’s strength also lies in its staﬀ members who
possess specialized knowledge. They have a discerningeye for grouping products by usage based on diverse
production regions and characteristics by product andvariety, and they have the ability to make proposals thattake into account ingredients and nutritional value,demonstrating true professionalism.

Team of specialists that hasestablished an integrated systemcovering everything from riceproduction areas to consumption.
The Rice Division oﬀers total coordination for rice distribution from providing
advice on rice cultivation to conducting quality management and sales of brown
rice, as well as handling quality management, planning, proposals, and sales ofpolished rice.
The Rice Division makes proposals in relation to materials for bento boxes and riceballs sold at convenience stores and exerts its MD function for volume sellers likesupermarkets, drug stores, and home centers, while handling rice products for
manufacturers of processed foods and brewers, as well as exports andgovernment-controlled rice for animal feed. We are taking on the challenges ofimproving production yields and quality in collaboration with local rice producers,
proposing menus to respond to diversifying consumer needs, and developing ourown brands by utilizing agricultural ICT.
This division has four strengths.
1. Capability to make proposals related to rice produced in Japan and imported rice,depending on the need.
2. Capability to meet a broad range of demand, such as for high-priced andlowpriced products.
3. Capability to propose optimal logistics schemes based on collaboration with ricemills in the various areas, rather than owning rice mills.
4. Capability to manage quality in cooperation with the Research & Development,Quality Control Center.
In recent years, overseas demand for Japanese rice has grown because of its safety
and superior taste, and we are currently promoting exports to overseas countries
and regions, including Hong Kong.

©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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HISTORY
May 1947

July 1958

The original Toho Bussan Kaisha (750 thousand yen in capital) was established, mainly by
like-minded aspiring people who worked for the pre-war former Mitsui & Co. In July of thesame year, the former Mitsui & Co. was dissolved as part of GHQ’s policy to break up
zaibatsu, and 80 employees from the company joined the originalr Toho Bussan Kaisha.
A new Toho Bussan Kaisha, Ltd. was established.
A new Toho Bussan (100 million yen in capital) was established after taking over some sales
operations (business in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and import quotas) from theoriginal Toho Bussan Kaisha upon its merger with Daiichi Trading, prior to the mass mergerof Mitsui & Co., which was scheduled the following year.

April 2004

Merged with Toho Suisan Co., Ltd. and Hokkai Seafoods Co., Ltd.

April 2005

Took over the salmon business from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

May 2005

Took over the fruits and vegetable business from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

April 2007

Merged with Bussan Rice & Products Inc.

July 2007

Took over the meat business from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

April 2011

Took over the full marine products business from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

March 1960

Took over Soviet Union- and Eastern Europe-related business from Daiichi Trading Co., Ltd.

July 2022

Spun oﬀ the Marine Products Division from Toho Bussan Co., Ltd. as
Mitsui & Co. Seafoods Ltd.

December 1960

Relocated head oﬃce from Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku to Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku.

Feburary 2023

Changed company name to Mitsui & Co.Agri Foods Ltd.

June 1965

Took over Soviet Union- and Eastern Europe-related business from Kinoshita Sansho Co., Ltd.

November 1965

Transferred part of Soviet Union- and Eastern Europe-related business to Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

March 1968

Established the subsidiary Toho Suisan Co., Ltd.

August 1970

Increased capital to 400 million yen.

January 1972

Relocated head oﬃce from Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku to Shimbashi, Minato-ku.

November 1993

Relocated head oﬃce from Shimbashi, Minato-ku to Mita, Minato-ku.

May 1996

Relocated head oﬃce from Mita, Minato-ku to Shiba Koen, Minato-ku.

* The former Mitsui & Co., Ltd. was dissolved in 1947 by the order of GHQ. Legally speaking,there has been no continuation between the former Mitsui & Co. and current Mitsui & Co.
©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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OUTLINE

Company name

Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

Established

July 31, 1958(Toho Bussan Kaisha, Ltd.)

Capital

400 million yen

Business description

Import, export, offshore trading, and domestic sales ofagricultural products (rice, soybeans, peanuts/nuts, dry beans, etc.)

Head office

Shiba Park Building A (8F), Shiba Koen 2-4-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL: +81-3-3438-2200
FAX: +81-3-3438-5834
E-mail: gyomu@mitsui-agrifoods.com

Number of employees

47 (as of July 1, 2024)

Shareholders

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. 100%

Our bankers

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

10©2023 Mitsui & Co. Agri Foods, Ltd.

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