Hori Dairy's A2 Milk Wins Prestigious Ministerial Award for Innovation

Hori Dairy's A2 Milk Achieves National Recognition

Hori Dairy, based in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa, has made a significant mark in the dairy industry by winning the prestigious Agricultural Minister's Award for innovation at the 38th Excellence in Hometown Foods National Competition. This accolade was granted for their product, Kahokudani A2 Farm Milk, which has been acknowledged for its exceptional qualities in the area of new technology development. The award ceremony took place on March 2, 2026, at the Josuikai Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo, where Horiguchi Hajime, the company’s representative director, accepted the award.

This competition, organized by the Japan Food Industry Center, celebrates products recognized for their high standards in several areas, including the development of new technology, use of domestic ingredients, regional characteristics, and overall quality and safety. Over the years, it has built a reputation for discerning excellent products from local food producers across the nation.

What Sets Kahokudani A2 Farm Milk Apart?

The award-winning Kahokudani A2 Farm Milk is unique as it is exclusively produced from cows that possess only A2 beta-casein, differentiating it from conventional milk that typically contains both A1 and A2 variants. Due to its distinct A2-only composition, it has garnered attention as a milk variant that is easier to digest, aligning with the increasing health consciousness and demand in the market. As more consumers seek health-oriented choices, the appeal of A2 milk continues to expand.

Hori Dairy collaborates closely with the Kahokudani Dairy Group farm, a JGAP-certified facility, ensuring that they maintain a sustainable and quality-focused production system from farming to manufacturing. The company prides itself on its rigorous quality control measures and safety standards, certified by the FSSC22000 system, securing the safety and quality of its products.

The comprehensive approach to ingredient selection, technology implementation, and quality monitoring has drawn notable praise and ultimately led to this prestigious award in the new technology category.

Insights from the Award Ceremony

The award ceremony brought together distinguished winners from across Japan. In attendance, Horiguchi Hajime articulated the pride and commitment of Hori Dairy in continuing to provide healthful dairy options while promoting sustainable practices in the dairy industry. His speech detailed the company’s longstanding mission to create enjoyable and tasty life experiences through their dairy products.

Aiming for Sustainable Dairy Practices

Hori Dairy is dedicated to providing nutritional value through its dairy offerings by adhering to the principle of fun, enjoyable, and healthy life creation. The A2 milk project is not merely a product development initiative, but part of the broader goal to enhance the value of local dairy farming and establish sustainable production frameworks.

In the future, Hori Dairy aims to further harness regional resources and innovations for product development, with a commitment to contribute positively to the Japanese food industry and local economies.

Product Overview

- Product Name: Kahokudani A2 Farm Milk
- Category: New Technology Development at the 38th National Competition for Excellent Hometown Foods
- Award: Agricultural Minister's Award
- Key Features: 100% exclusively from A2 beta-casein milk, collaboration with JGAP-certified farms, produced in FSSC22000-certified facilities.

About the National Competition for Excellent Hometown Foods

The National Competition for Excellent Hometown Foods is organized by the Japan Food Industry Center and aims to award distinctive products that excel in new technology, product development, use of domestic ingredients, regional specialties, quality, and safety. Established in 1988, this competition fosters the enhancement of local food industries and the creation of added value. The Agricultural Minister's Award, in particular, is awarded to those initiatives recognized for their technological significance and societal impact.

Hori Dairy Company Profile

Founded in February 1967, Hori Dairy specializes in the production and sale of milk and dairy products. With its innovative approach, the company focuses on creating products that promote health and embody sustainable local practices.