#Japan #Fukushima #House Foods #Tohoku Factory #Ready-to-eat Foods

House Foods Group Tohoku Factory Launching New Facility in 2026

House Foods Group Tohoku Factory Co., Ltd., located in Fukushima City, Japan, is excited to announce that its new factory will officially begin operations on June 1, 2026. This facility, under the leadership of President Hiroki Hashizume, has been under construction to address the increasing demand for ready-to-eat meals in the food service sector. Notably, it will be the first factory of its kind in the Tohoku region.

The vision of House Foods Group revolves around its slogan, “Transforming into a ‘Quality Firm for Health through Food’ – Chapter Two: Aiming for Growth through Global Value Chain Construction.” The organization is committed to developing a robust value chain management system to continue creating new value while leveraging its strengths.

A key focus area for the company is the “spice value chain,” which aims to enhance competitive advantages through advanced processing technologies. In this context, the Tohoku factory positions itself as a crucial hub to respond swiftly to changes in the food service environment and to boost business expansions and profit capabilities.

Collaboration for Greater Synergy

The factory will actively collaborate with House Gaban Co., Ltd., the group’s subsidiary responsible for the planning and sale of commercial products. This partnership is expected to enhance production capabilities, allowing the Tohoku Factory to provide speed and flexibility in meeting diverse customer needs—from large restaurant chains to small eateries—and sectors such as prepared foods, institutional catering, and care food services. Moreover, the advanced research and development, alongside the technical expertise of House Foods Group, will enable a variety of product offerings, even including those for household use.

Examples of Products to Be Manufactured

• - Large volume and portion-sized pouch products
• - Products in molded containers

Background of the New Factory

The demand for ready-to-eat meals has surged due to the diversification of food needs in the restaurant industry and a shortage of labor. This trend is expected to continue growing, particularly with the increasing elderly population driving a rise in care food requirements. However, the commercial food sector is characterized by a wide variety of customer channels and a need to respond to unique demands to enhance competitiveness. The newly installed production line utilizing innovative methods for varied production will enable a flexible and efficient solution to meet individual customer requests.

Key Features of the New Factory

• - Introduction of a New Production Method: The new facility will adopt a flexible production method capable of multiple small-batch variations, aiming to increase productivity and expand market reach. This will facilitate efficient responses to specific customer needs, overcoming previous inefficiencies.
• - Sustainability Initiatives: The House Foods Group is implementing a comprehensive energy network service across nine companies and eighteen locations, including the new factory, which will benefit from low CO2 electricity generated by a gas cogeneration system installed in the Shizuoka factory.

Commitment to Community and Quality

President Hiroki Hashizume expressed, “The House Foods Group Tohoku Factory will serve as a manufacturing base for ready-to-eat foods that can rapidly respond to diverse food needs. We are embarking on operations in June 2025, leading to full-scale operations in June 2026.” The company aims to deliver safe, high-quality products that meet professional standards—from Fukushima to all of Japan and globally.

In furthering its good partnership ethos, the company will engage with the local community in Fukushima, collaborating with local governments and companies to contribute to societal development.

Factory Overview

• - Location: 1-1 Ichibansugi, Sakura-Shimo, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture
• - Construction Start Date: July 2024
• - Official Start Date: June 1, 2026
• - Products Manufactured: Ready-to-eat foods, molded container foods, paste seasonings
• - Facility Size: 30,996 square meters, with a manufacturing area of 5,994 square meters
• - Investment Amount: 6.8 billion yen

Company Overview

• - Name: House Foods Group Tohoku Factory Co., Ltd.
• - Established: July 1, 2024
• - Capital: 400 million yen
• - Employees: 150 (as of May 1, 2026)
• - Business Activities: Manufacturing and sales of processed foods (ready-to-eat foods, molded container foods, paste seasonings)
• - Representative: Hiroki Hashizume