Astra Food Plan

What Astra Food Plan does

ASTRA FOOD PLAN is a Saitama, Japan-based food technology company founded on August 3, 2020 by CEO Chihiro Kano that develops and commercializes a proprietary superheated steam drying system called JOSEN together with a portfolio of upcycled food powders marketed under the registered Gulurico brand. The JOSEN system is a boiler-less generator that dries and sterilizes food remnants in 5-10 seconds at 300-500°C, with disclosed drying costs of 10-15 yen per kilogram; third-party GC-MS analysis indicates the resulting powders retain approximately 135 times the aroma concentration of conventionally heat-dried equivalents and preserve heat-sensitive nutrients such as vitamin C. The company's commercial proposition targets Japan's 'hidden food loss' (kakure food loss), estimated at 20 million tons annually, by converting processing remnants and out-of-spec produce into value-added ingredients.

The company operates a hybrid B2B and B2C revenue model. On the industrial side it sells or leases JOSEN machines and bulk Gulurico ingredients to food manufacturers, processors, and restaurants, with named customers including YOSHINOYA (approximately 250 tons of onion trimmings upcycled annually), Kenshoku (approximately 3 tons of vegetable remnants processed daily), Sunflesse, Biryani Ozawa, Nippon Kodo (using Gulurico in the Katari series), and craft brand ONE POT WONDER. On the consumer side it sells branded craft seasonings and Gulurico powder SKUs through its own e-commerce site (shop.gulurico.com), the Rakuten marketplace, and Co-op Hokkaido retail. Capital structure includes 100 million yen of initial capital, a 220 million yen Series A in September 2023 led by PE & HR with participation from IDATEN Ventures, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and Agribusiness Investment Development, and approximately $5.9 million from the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council in October 2024.

ASTRA FOOD PLAN maintains a small headcount of 1-10 employees and is in active growth posture: it was named Impact Startup Pitch Grand Prize winner at IMPACT STARTUP SUMMIT 2025, won the ICC KYOTO 2025 Startup Katapult competition, and received the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 8th EcoPro Awards. The company is currently pursuing its first U.S. market entry via the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program in partnership with KitchenTown (San Mateo), UnlocX, Livness, and THE SPOON (Seattle), and continues to expand its domestic consumer product line with consecutive craft seasoning launches in 2025-2026.

Name

Astra Food Plan

Legal name

ASTRA FOOD PLAN株式会社

Website

https://astra-fp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASTRA FOOD PLAN is a Japanese food-tech company that commercializes JOSEN superheated steam drying equipment and Gulurico upcycled food powders, serving food manufacturers, restaurants, and consumer brands seeking to convert processing remnants into high-value ingredients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Processing Equipment and Upcycled Ingredients

NAICS

Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Dried & Dehydrated Fruit & Vegetables (Freeze-Dried, Air-Dried, Powders) (AFAKAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dried & Dehydrated Foods Manufacturing (AFAKACAK), Wet Seasonings & Pastes (Curry Pastes, Harissa, Gochujang, Spice Pastes) (AFAJANAI)

Keywords

• Food drying equipment
• Upcycled food ingredients
• Superheated steam technology
• Food waste reduction
• Industrial food processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saitama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. JOSEN Machine Sales and Leasing: Sale and potentially leasing of industrial JOSEN superheated steam drying machines to food manufacturers for on-site food upcycling
2. Gulurico B2B Ingredient Sales: Sale of Gulurico upcycled powder ingredients (onion, carrot, burdock, hop, beer lees) to food manufacturers, restaurants, and brands for use as flavoring and seasoning ingredients
3. Gulurico Consumer Products E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer sales through own brand site and marketplace platforms including craft seasonings, ready-to-use products

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASTRA FOOD PLAN manufactures and sells the JOSEN superheated steam drying and sterilization machine for industrial food processors, and produces Gulurico® upcycled food powders made from vegetable trimmings and food remnants. The company sells both B2B (machinery and bulk ingredient sales) and B2C (consumer craft seasonings and branded powders via e-commerce and retail). Its purpose is to convert Japan's hidden food loss into high-value food ingredients.

Product overview

ASTRA FOOD PLAN offers a two-product portfolio: (1) JOSEN - a proprietary superheated steam food drying and sterilization machine that processes food remnants into high-value powders in 5-10 seconds, and (2) Gulurico® - upcycled food powder products made using JOSEN technology from vegetable processing remnants. The company sells both B2B (machinery and industrial Gulurico ingredients) and B2C (consumer craft seasonings and Gulurico brand products).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JOSEN: Superheated steam drying and sterilization machine (formerly called 過熱蒸煎機/Kanetsu Sosenki) that processes food remnants into upcycled powder.
• ぐるりこ® (Gulurico®)

Products and services

• JOSEN Superheated Steam Drying Machine (過熱蒸煎機) Industrial food drying and sterilization equipment using proprietary boiler-less superheated steam technology at 300–500°C. Achieves 5–10 second drying time with integrated sterilization and antioxidant effects at approximately 10–15 yen per kg. Sold to food manufacturers for on-site conversion of food remnants into powder ingredients.
• Gulurico® Upcycled Food Powder (ぐるりこ®) High-value upcycled food powder produced using JOSEN technology from vegetable trimmings, out-of-spec produce, and food processing remnants. Available varieties include Onion, Carrot, Burdock, and Hop. Retains 135x concentrated aroma versus heat-dried products and preserves heat-sensitive Vitamin C. Sold B2B as a flavoring and seasoning ingredient to food manufacturers, restaurants, and consumer brands.
• Onion Gulurico (タマネギぐるりこ) Onion-based upcycled powder made via JOSEN technology from onion trimmings such as the ~250 tons generated annually by YOSHINOYA. Contains 135x more concentrated aroma components than conventional heat-dried onions. Used as a B2B ingredient by food manufacturers and restaurants and as a B2C retail product.
• Gulurico "Umami Shoyu" Eating Sauce (タマネギぐるりこ 新シリーズ "食べるソース"「旨味しょうゆ」) New craft seasoning product in the Onion Gulurico brand line, positioned as a ready-to-use 'eating sauce' for consumers. Targeted at sustainability-minded home cooks and distributed via the Gulurico brand site and Rakuten marketplace.
• Gulurico "Umami Spicy Spice" (旨辛エスニックスパイス) New consumer craft seasoning in the Onion Gulurico line with a spicy ethnic flavor profile. Sold D2C through the Gulurico online store and Rakuten marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces food waste by upcycling approximately 250 tons per year from single customer (YOSHINOYA)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and minor.

• UnlocXsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTokyo-based company operating the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program, a U.S. market entry support program for food startups. Provides strategic framework and local network connections.
• KitchenTownsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSan Mateo, California-based food tech accelerator and incubator. Operates Foodtech Cross Bridge Program concentrated sessions in July 2026. Provides consumer testing support for U.S. market entry.
• LivnesssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTokyo-based food tech ecosystem company participating in Foodtech Cross Bridge Program for U.S. market entry support.
• THE SPOONsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSeattle, Washington-based food tech media and ecosystem company participating in Foodtech Cross Bridge Program.
• Dassai Co., Ltd.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSake brewery providing upcycled sake spirits as raw material for Ethical Spirits Co. product (not direct partnership with ASTRA FOOD PLAN - mentioned in related industry news)
• 川越プリンスホテル (Kawagoe Prince Hotel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration providing special Gulurico menu items during Saitama Prefecture Fair events at the hotel.
• 稻とアガベ (Ine to Agave)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for Hop Gulurico craft sake product '交酒 花風ぐるりこ 2026'

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hosokawa Micron Corporation: Japanese-headquartered global manufacturer of powder and particle processing equipment including spray dryers, flash dryers, and other thermal drying technologies for food applications. Directly comparable as a supplier of industrial food drying equipment to manufacturers, though its portfolio spans many technologies beyond ASTRA's superheated steam focus.
• Bühler Group: Swiss global leader in food processing equipment, including drying and powder handling technologies for grain, cocoa, nuts, and processed foods. Comparable as an established incumbent serving food manufacturers with industrial drying solutions, though Bühler operates at significantly larger scale across many technology categories.
• GEA Group: German multinational supplying food processing equipment including spray drying and powder production systems to global food and dairy manufacturers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial food drying equipment with overlap on equipment sales to B2B customers.
• Coperion (Hillenbrand): Global manufacturer of compounding, extrusion, and food processing equipment including drying and material handling systems. Comparable as a supplier of industrial food-grade drying and powder processing equipment, though serving a broader industrial portfolio.
• SPX FLOW: Global industrial equipment supplier with food and beverage drying technology offerings for ingredient manufacturers. Comparable as an incumbent supplier of drying technology to food processors, though operating across a much broader portfolio of industrial fluid and processing technologies.

Regional players

• DAIZ株式会社: Japanese food tech startup developing plant-based meat alternatives using proprietary processing of domestic soybeans. Comparable as a Japanese food tech venture developing novel ingredient processing technology and commercializing branded food products, though focused on a different end application (plant protein vs. upcycled powders).
• Spiber株式会社: Japanese biotech/materials company developing Brewed Protein™ from fermentation. Comparable as a Japan-headquartered food/bio tech venture commercializing novel proprietary ingredient technology with B2B ingredient sales, though serving protein rather than flavor/upcycled ingredient markets.

Emerging players

• ReGrained: US-based upcycled food company that recovers nutrients from brewing grain into snack and ingredient products. Comparable as an upcycled food brand turning processing by-products into consumer ingredients and packaged products, though focused on grain-based ingredients rather than vegetable drying.
• Renewal Mill: US-based upcycled food company producing baking ingredients and oils from food manufacturing by-products (e.g., soy pulp from soymilk production). Comparable as an upcycled food ingredient company turning processing remnants into branded B2B ingredients and consumer products.
• Outcast Foods: Canadian upcycled food company dehydrating surplus and misshapen produce into shelf-stable vegetable powders and ingredients. Closely comparable business model — converting produce/vegetable surplus into dried powders for B2B ingredient and D2C use — making it a direct functional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/astra_fp
• Instagraminstagram.com/astra_fp_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Astra Food Plan