Taiyo International
Taiyo International is the North American subsidiary of Taiyo Kagaku (Japan, founded 1946), a B2B manufacturer of branded functional ingredients — including Sunfiber, Suntheanine, Sunphenon, SunActive delivery systems, Sunsoft emulsifiers, and matcha — serving food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturers worldwide through direct sales offices and authorized distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Taiyo International does
Taiyo International is the North American subsidiary of Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., a Japanese functional ingredients manufacturer founded in 1946, headquartered in Minneapolis with owned regional sales operations in Germany, China, India, South Korea, and Thailand. The company develops, manufactures, and sells branded B2B ingredients — including Sunfiber (partially hydrolyzed guar gum soluble fiber), Suntheanine (pure L-theanine), Sunphenon (green tea polyphenols including Teavigo), SunActive delivery systems (SunActive Fe, Zn, IsoQ, HES, Q10), SunAmla (Indian gooseberry extract), Sunsoft emulsifiers (food/beverage and cosmetics), MorActive (water-soluble moringa extract), Matcha, Raw Coffee Powder, and supporting lines (stabilizers, processed egg products, bakery materials) — to food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturers. Its core technology is a set of patented micronization and microencapsulation processes (SunActive) plus solvent-free enzymatic conversion processes that solve bioavailability challenges in nutraceutical formulations: documented outcomes include 25x higher bioavailability versus free quercetin (SunActive IsoQ), 50–100x smaller particle size and 2–4x better absorption via M-cell endocytosis for SunActive Fe, and 100x+ bioavailability for SunActive HES versus standard hesperidin.
The business model is B2B ingredient supply with a quote-based pricing structure (not publicly disclosed) sold via direct enterprise sales through regional offices and through authorized distributors for mid-market reach — including NutriScience Innovations (exclusive US Suntheanine rep), Connell Caldic (Australia/NZ), Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients (Canada), Univar (Mexico), and BLUMOS (Brazil). A secondary revenue stream is technology licensing of proprietary delivery technologies to formulators. Taiyo produces more than 2,000 formulations at manufacturing facilities globally, including the world's largest green tea extract plant (Taiyo Green Power, Wuxi, 2,500+ tons/year) acquired in 2004, plus production in India (Aurangabad) and Tianjin, China. The portfolio is supported by regulatory breadth (FDA GRAS, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, Organic, Low FODMAP, Informed Ingredient, ISO 19657:2017 natural certifications) and 100+ clinical studies on Sunfiber alone, used by downstream customers such as Healthy Heights (children's nutrition, in partnership with Walmart), Sports Research, ChildLife Essentials, and Premier Research Labs.
Taiyo International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Taiyo International
- Legal name
- Taiyo International, Inc. Corporation
- Website
- https://taiyointernational.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Taiyo International is the North American subsidiary of Taiyo Kagaku (Japan, founded 1946), a B2B manufacturer of branded functional ingredients — including Sunfiber, Suntheanine, Sunphenon, SunActive delivery systems, Sunsoft emulsifiers, and matcha — serving food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturers worldwide through direct sales offices and authorized distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Taiyo International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Food Ingredients (Nutraceutical Specialties)
- NAICS
- Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193), Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423)
- SIC
- Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Botanical/Herbal & Adaptogen Functional Beverage Production (AFAFAFAF), Sports & Performance Nutrition Foods Manufacturing (Protein Foods, Energy Gels/Bars) (AFAKAJAE)
Keywords
Where Taiyo International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Taiyo International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Functional Ingredients B2B Sales: Taiyo manufactures and sells functional ingredients (fiber, amino acids, green tea extracts, minerals, emulsifiers) to food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and supplement manufacturers worldwide. Products are sold directly to enterprise customers and through distributor networks.
- Technology Licensing: The company licenses its proprietary technologies (SunActive delivery system, Suntheanine process) to manufacturers seeking enhanced bioavailability solutions for their formulations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Taiyo International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Taiyo International manufactures and sells branded, science-backed specialty ingredients — soluble fibers, amino acids, green tea polyphenols, encapsulated minerals, and other nutraceutical actives — to food, beverage, dietary supplement, personal care, and pharmaceutical formulators. Offerings are sold as bulk ingredients under trademarks such as Sunfiber, Suntheanine, Sunphenon, SunActive, SunAmla, Sunsoft, MorActive, Raw Coffee Powder, and Matcha for use in finished consumer products.
Product overview
Taiyo International is a pioneer in functional ingredients for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, offering a portfolio of branded ingredients derived from natural sources. The company's core product lines include Sunfiber (prebiotic soluble fiber), Suntheanine (L-theanine amino acid for focus and relaxation), Sunphenon (green tea polyphenols/catechins including Teavigo), SunActive nutrition delivery systems (Fe, Zn, IsoQ, HES for enhanced bioavailability), SunAmla (Indian gooseberry extract), Sunsoft emulsifiers (for food/beverage and cosmetics), MorActive (moringa seed extract for back discomfort), and Raw Coffee Powder. Supporting ingredients include stabilizers, processed egg products, confectionery/bakery materials, Matcha, Quercetin, SunCran, and Benexia chia products. The company operates through three divisions: Nutrition Division, Interface Solution Division, and Natural Ingredient Division, manufacturing over 2,000 formulations at facilities worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sunfiber: Prebiotic and low-FODMAP soluble fiber (Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum/PHGG).
- Suntheanine
- Sunphenon
- SunActive
- SunAmla
- Sunsoft
- MorActive
- SunCran
- Teavigo
- SunActive IsoQ
- SunActive HES
Products and services
- Sunfiber Partially hydrolyzed guar gum, a prebiotic soluble dietary fiber used by food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers for digestive-health claims.
- Suntheanine Pure L-theanine produced via a proprietary synthetic process, used in supplements, beverages, and foods for calm/focus, sleep, and cognitive-support claims.
- Sunphenon Decaffeinated, standardized green tea extract with high EGCg content, used in supplements, beverages, and personal care for antioxidant and metabolic claims.
- SunActive Encapsulated iron and mineral nutrient-delivery system that masks metallic taste and improves bioavailability, used in fortified foods and beverages.
- SunAmla Standardized Indian gooseberry (amla) extract rich in vitamin C and tannins, supplied for supplement and functional-food applications.
- Sunsoft Sunflower-based lecithin and emulsifier system supplied for food, beverage, and personal care formulations.
- MorActive Morus alba (mulberry) leaf extract standardized for functional-food and supplement applications targeting blood-sugar management.
- Matcha Premium Japanese matcha green tea powder sold in bulk for beverage, food, and supplement manufacturers.
- Raw Coffee Powder Raw (green, unroasted) coffee bean powder standardized for chlorogenic acid content, supplied to supplement and functional-beverage manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- SunActive IsoQ is 25 times more bioavailable than free quercetin, allowing 100mg dose to deliver equivalent of 275mg quercetin
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Taiyo International
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Taiyo International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Taiyo International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ITO ENcoreStrategic partnership between two world leaders to bring premium, authentic, ceremonial Japanese green tea and matcha products to North America. Combines ITO EN's expertise in authentic Japanese green tea with Taiyo's ingredient capabilities and market access.
- NutriScience InnovationscoreExclusive North American representative for Taiyo's Suntheanine. Distributes Taiyo ingredients to dietary supplement manufacturers across the USA.
- Healthy HeightscoreChildren's functional food company using Sunfiber in their products. Partnership includes collaboration with Walmart on product development. Healthy Heights selected Sunfiber for its science backing and superior gastrointestinal tolerance.
- WalmartcoreRetail collaboration with Healthy Heights on children's probiotic product (Happy Tummies) using Taiyo's Sunfiber. Product launched at Walmart with higher quality fiber and twice the probiotic count at competitive price point.
- Sports ResearchminorSports nutrition brand using Suntheanine in their products for focus and concentration, selected for clinical studies backing.
- ChildLife EssentialsminorChildren's supplement brand using Suntheanine in Sleep Essentials product based on clinical research supporting sleep benefits in children.
- Connell CaldicminorRegional distributor for Australia and New Zealand markets handling Taiyo ingredients.
- Mitsubishi International Food IngredientsminorRegional distributor for Canada handling dietary supplement applications of Taiyo ingredients.
- UnivarminorRegional distributor for Mexico handling Taiyo ingredient distribution.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves17 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Taiyo International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sabinsa: Sabinsa is a global supplier of standardized botanical extracts (curcumin, ashwagandha, boswellia) serving dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers. Highly comparable to Taiyo on the herbal/botanical supplement ingredient side, competing for similar B2B accounts with clinically supported branded extracts.
- Indena: Indena is an Italian developer and producer of high-quality botanical extracts for the pharmaceutical, supplement and food industries. Highly comparable to Taiyo's SunAmla, Sunphenon and MorActive lines; both focus on standardized plant-derived actives with substantial clinical dossiers targeting B2B formulators.
- Kerry Group: Kerry Group is an Irish-based taste and nutrition company supplying functional food and beverage ingredients to global manufacturers. Comparable to Taiyo on the functional ingredient B2B model serving food, beverage and supplement customers, though with significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Tate & Lyle: Tate & Lyle supplies specialty food ingredients including fibers, stabilizers and texturants to food and beverage manufacturers globally. Comparable to Taiyo on soluble fibers (Sunfiber), stabilizers and clean-label food ingredients serving overlapping B2B customers.
- Glanbia Nutritionals: Glanbia Nutritionals is a global supplier of protein, prebiotic fiber and bioactive ingredients to sports nutrition, performance and functional food manufacturers. Comparable to Taiyo on prebiotic fibers (Sunfiber) and bioavailability-driven active ingredients serving similar supplement and functional food brands.
Broad incumbents
- DSM-firmenich: DSM-firmenich is the world's largest nutrition, health and ingredients company with vitamins, omega-3, polyphenol extracts and delivery-system technologies. Comparable because it sells similar functional ingredients (vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts) into the same food, beverage and supplement customers, but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
- Lonza: Lonza's Nutrition Ingredients segment supplies vitamins, premixes and specialty health ingredients to food, beverage and supplement manufacturers. Comparable to Taiyo in the vitamins/minerals and nutraceutical ingredient space, though Lonza is far larger with broader pharmaceutical and personal care exposure.
- ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): ADM is a global agribusiness and one of the world's largest food and beverage ingredient suppliers, including flavors, colors, fibers and nutrition ingredients. Comparable as an ingredients supplier to food/beverage manufacturers, though dramatically larger and more diversified than Taiyo's specialty focus.
- IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances): IFF's Taste, Scent & Functional Ingredients segment supplies flavors, food ingredients and nutraceutical actives to global manufacturers. Comparable to Taiyo on the flavor/functional ingredient B2B model, with Sunsoft emulsifiers and Natural Ingredient Division overlapping with IFF's portfolio.
- Givaudan: Givaudan is the world's largest flavors and fragrances company, with a growing natural ingredients and functional food business targeting similar B2B customers as Taiyo. Comparable on flavorings and natural ingredient supply into food and beverage manufacturers, though primarily flavor-led rather than nutraceutical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Taiyo International social profiles
Digital presenceTaiyo International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance13 records
Taiyo International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Taiyo International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Taiyo International subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Taiyo International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Taiyo International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Taiyo International
What does Taiyo International do?
Taiyo International manufactures and sells branded, science-backed specialty ingredients — soluble fibers, amino acids, green tea polyphenols, encapsulated minerals, and other nutraceutical actives — to food, beverage, dietary supplement, personal care, and pharmaceutical formulators. Offerings are sold as bulk ingredients under trademarks such as Sunfiber, Suntheanine, Sunphenon, SunActive, SunAmla, Sunsoft, MorActive, Raw Coffee Powder, and Matcha for use in finished consumer products.
Is Taiyo International a public or private company?
Taiyo International is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Taiyo International founded?
Taiyo International was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Taiyo International based?
Taiyo International is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Taiyo International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Functional Ingredients B2B Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing.
Who are Taiyo International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sabinsa, Indena, Kerry Group, Tate & Lyle and Glanbia Nutritionals. Broad incumbents are DSM-firmenich, Lonza, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances) and Givaudan.
Does Taiyo International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Taiyo International.
What industry is Taiyo International in?
Taiyo International's product category is Functional Food Ingredients (Nutraceutical Specialties). Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAGAD, Herbal & Botanical Supplements, with a secondary code of AFAFAFAF, Botanical/Herbal & Adaptogen Functional Beverage Production. Its NAICS code is 31193 and its SIC code is 2833.