Second In-House Business Contest 'ZERO ONE' Promotes Employee Innovation

Medipal Holdings Hosts the Second 'ZERO ONE' Business Contest

Recently, Medipal Holdings Co., Ltd., based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, announced the successful conclusion of its second in-house business contest, dubbed "ZERO ONE." This initiative is part of the company's broader strategy to create a healthier society while enhancing corporate value through innovative employee proposals and operational transformations.

Launched in 2024, this year's contest centered around the theme "Celebrating Challenges!" expanding the scope to include more participants from varied employment backgrounds. Before the contest, employees were given opportunities to develop their entrepreneurial and marketing skills through workshops, effectively enhancing their business planning abilities.

As a result of these efforts, a remarkable 134 proposals emerged, showcasing creativity and enthusiasm. After several rounds of scrutiny, eight pioneering ideas made it to the finals. These included initiatives like implementing a circular economy leveraging the company's logistics network, promoting nutritional education through a child-focused gut microbiome test, and developing a preconception care collaboration platform.

During the finals, a combination of evaluations from board members and audience votes from fellow employees provided an engaging atmosphere. Notably, the event utilized a next-generation online platform for live broadcasting, creating a sense of unity between the event venue and participating employees nationwide.

The selected ideas will receive support through collaboration with relevant internal departments and experts, inclusive of budget allocation and dedicated resources to ensure their development.

In addition, last year’s winners from the first edition of the ZERO ONE contest have made significant advancements. Three projects are now operational, showcasing the initiative's success:
1. MEDIPAL DI NAVI: A comprehensive drug information inquiry response system developed by Medisec, which has effectively reduced response time to under one minute.
2. ZEROっチョ: A low-calorie treat for dogs, developed by MP Agro Co., and scheduled for general release in April 2026, following a successful pre-sale on the Makuake platform.
3. Rich Ice Cream 'Tomoni': This protein-enriched ice cream, developed by MP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., is set for general release from June 15, 2026, after its initial sale on Makuake.

At Medipal Holdings, we strive to fulfill our management philosophy of contributing to health and societal advancement through the creation of distribution value. By fostering a cooperative environment between management and employees, we drive business reforms and cultivate future-oriented talent rich in creativity. Through this initiative, we aim for a sustainable enhancement of our corporate value, driving continual improvement and innovation at every level.

This initiative reflects our commitment not only to innovate but to create an engaging work environment where every idea matters, enhancing the cohesive culture within our organization.