#Japan #Greenhouse #Kanagawa #ToyMedical #BAK2025

Innovative Joint Project in Kanagawa's BAK 2025

In an exciting development within the world of food innovation, Greenhouse Inc. and ToyMedical Corporation have been selected for Kanagawa's open innovation program, known as Business Accelerator Kanagawa (BAK) 2025. This collaboration aims to enhance healthier eating habits through innovative food solutions, specifically focusing on the control of salt absorption without compromising flavor.

Project Overview

Greenhouse, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and ToyMedical, located in Kumamoto City, are embarking on a pioneering project to co-create a new category of food products termed "Salt Offset Menu." By harnessing ToyMedical's unique technology, which effectively controls salt absorption in the body, the partnership aims to develop menus that enable individuals to reduce their salt intake without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.

The overarching goal of this initiative is to foster a new eating environment that promotes healthier lifestyles among consumers, encourages health awareness, and contributes to extending life expectancy and preventing lifestyle-related diseases. Furthermore, it aims to create social value by curbing medical costs associated with preventable health issues.

Objectives, Roles, and Metrics of the Collaboration

1. Development of Salt Offset Menu
The project will focus on creating practical menus that facilitate seamless salt reduction in everyday meals through validation in school cafeteria settings. A critical evaluation will take place to determine whether these menus can be utilized continuously without compromising flavor and satisfaction, alongside addressing the challenges that may arise during implementation.

2. Development of Salt Offset Jelly
Aimed at being an easy and enjoyable way to manage salt intake, new jelly products will be developed. User feedback will guide the identification of potential improvements based on consumer preferences and intake patterns, in addition to verifying the product’s efficacy.

At the heart of these efforts is the verification that salt intake can be controlled without diminishing taste. Success will be evaluated based on survey results measuring taste satisfaction and intent to continue utilizing the salt offset solutions, achieving a target threshold of 80%. Additionally, physical outcomes will be assessed by monitoring trends in sodium levels in urine samples over the course of the trials.

About BAK 2025

The Business Accelerator Kanagawa (BAK) is a program initiated by Kanagawa Prefecture to foster collaborative projects between large enterprises and startups. The initiative emphasizes the formation of communities geared toward open innovation, engaging large companies, startups, research institutions, and supporting organizations in fruitful collaborations. The Greenhouse Group, having participated since 2023, continues to be a pivotal player in this initiative.

About ToyMedical Corporation

ToyMedical is a health and medical food manufacturer focused on developing, producing, and marketing products aimed at healthcare, particularly for dialysis patients. Leveraging salt offset technology, the company is committed to contributing to global wellness from Kumamoto by pursuing innovative approaches to salt reduction that preserve taste, thereby balancing enjoyment and health through the use of seaweed-derived ingredients.

About Greenhouse Group

The Greenhouse Group operates a diverse range of services tied to food and hospitality, including contract food services for various sectors such as government offices, factories, schools, hospitals, and senior facilities, in addition to restaurant and hotel management ventures. By the end of March 2025, the group's projected annual revenue is estimated at 183.7 billion yen, with 2,953 establishments in operation.

Through their joint efforts in the BAK program, Greenhouse and ToyMedical exemplify the synergistic potential of innovation in redefining health-conscious eating, making significant strides toward achieving not just personal health benefits, but also valuable societal impact.