What Mutual Trading does

Mutual Trading Co., Inc. is a privately held California corporation founded in 1926 (firmographic) and headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional operations in El Monte, New York, and Hawaii. The company specializes in the import, export, distribution, and manufacturing of Japanese food products, alcoholic beverages, and restaurant supplies for US foodservice operators and retailers. Its product portfolio is organized across three core categories: alcoholic beverages (sake, shochu, Japanese craft beer/Ji-Beer, and Japanese wines), food products (seasonings, noodles, miso, seafood, nori, sushi wrappers, and specialty ingredients), and restaurant supplies (kitchen equipment, cookware, glassware, and disposables). Sub-brands include MTC Sake, MTC Wagyu (direct-sourced Miyazaki A5 wagyu), and ULTS Seafood.

The company operates specialized cold-chain logistics for its proprietary ULTS (Ultra-Low Temperature Seafood) technology, which preserves seafood at -60°F in partnership with Onsui Co., Ltd., using the CAS (Cell-Alive-System) to maintain K-Values of 3-6% upon thawing. Mutual Trading serves as the primary US distributor for over 62 Japanese sake breweries including Dassai, Hakkaisan, Kikusui, and Tengumai, alongside other suppliers such as Honda Shouten, Tsukiji Masamoto, Miyazaki beef producers, and Sun Noodle. Customers include Japanese restaurants, izakayas, ramen shops, sushi bars, supermarket chains (Whole Foods, Marukai, Tokyo Central), and Japanese grocery retailers.

Mutual Trading generates revenue through B2B wholesale markup on imported goods, with three primary revenue streams: B2B distribution of Japanese food products, B2B distribution of alcoholic beverages, and restaurant supplies distribution. The company maintains a 364-page product catalogue, an online customer portal for account management, and hosts the annual Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo in Los Angeles and New York, which is the longest-running Japanese foodservice trade show outside Japan and draws over 4,200 attendees with 130 exhibitors. Supporting services include the Sake School of America and MTC Kitchen culinary training facility. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and relationship-based, anchored by direct B2B sales and annual trade show programming rather than digital acquisition channels.

Name

Mutual Trading

Legal name

Mutual Trading Co., Inc.

Website

https://lamtc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mutual Trading Co., Inc. imports, distributes, and supplies Japanese food products, alcoholic beverages, and restaurant equipment to US foodservice operators and retailers, serving as the primary US distributor for 62+ sake breweries and operating the longest-running Japanese foodservice trade show outside Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Food & Beverage Distribution

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Import/Export Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ethnic & International Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAJ), Beverage Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale (AFAIAGAL), Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands (CRADAIAF)

Keywords

• Japanese food distribution
• Restaurant supply services
• Sake import wholesale
• Asian food distribution
• Foodservice wholesale supply

Headquarters

HQ city

El Monte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Distribution of Japanese Food Products: Mutual Trading imports, exports, distributes and manufactures Japanese food products and alcoholic beverages, selling to retailers and foodservice customers. Revenue is generated through markup on imported goods sold at wholesale to business customers.
2. B2B Distribution of Alcoholic Beverages: Distribution of sake, shochu, Japanese beer, and wine to foodservice establishments and retailers. The company serves as the primary US distributor for numerous Japanese breweries.
3. Restaurant Supplies Distribution: Distribution of restaurant equipment, kitchen supplies, tableware, and specialty items to Japanese restaurants and foodservice operators.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mutual Trading imports, exports, manufactures, and distributes authentic Japanese food products, alcoholic beverages (sake, shochu, Japanese craft beer/Ji-Beer, and wines), and restaurant supplies to US-based foodservice operators and retailers. The company sources directly from 130+ Japanese suppliers, including premium wagyu beef growers in Miyazaki and 60+ sake breweries, and distributes through its warehouse and cold-chain logistics network across the United States.

Product overview

Mutual Trading is a premier Japanese food, alcoholic beverage, and restaurant supply specialist. The company operates as a distribution and import business with a unified portfolio comprising three core product categories: Alcoholic Beverages (sake, shochu, Japanese craft beer/Ji-Beer, and Japanese wines), Food Products (seasonings, noodles, seafood, nori, and specialty items), and Restaurant Supplies (kitchen equipment, glassware, servingware, and disposables). Supporting products include MTC Sake (their branded sake collection), MTC Wagyu (premium beef), and ULTS Seafood (ultra-low temperature processed seafood). Services include an annual Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo, the Sake School of America, and MTC Kitchen culinary training. The company distributes to retailers and foodservice customers across the United States, maintaining warehouse locations in Los Angeles, New York, and Hawaii.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MTC Wagyu: MTC Wagyu refers to the company's wagyu beef product line, described as 'Redefining Wagyu for Professional Kitchens'.
• ULTS Seafood

Products and services

• MTC Sake Premium Japanese sake imported and distributed by Mutual Trading, featuring over 200 varieties sourced from various breweries across Japan. Targeted at foodservice operators and retailers seeking authentic premium sake offerings.
• ULTS (Ultra Low Temperature Seafood) Super-frozen Japanese seafood preserved at -60°F using proprietary ULTS and CAS (Cell-Alive-System) technology, delivering 'fresher than fresh' quality with K-Value of 3-6% upon thawing. Sourced from Japan and targeted at professional sushi restaurants and Japanese foodservice operators.
• MTC Wagyu Premium Japanese wagyu beef sourced directly from Miyazaki growers, maintaining consistent A5 grade marbling quality. Targeted at professional kitchens requiring high-grade wagyu beef with championship-tier pedigree (consecutive Beef Olympics wins).
• Alcoholic Beverages Full range of Japanese alcoholic beverages distributed by Mutual Trading, including sake, shochu, Japanese craft beer (Ji-Beer), and Japanese wines sourced from dozens of Japanese breweries. Sold wholesale to foodservice operators and retailers across the United States.
• Food Products Japanese food ingredients including seasonings, noodles, miso, nori, sushi wrappers, soup bases, tamago yaki, and specialty items imported and distributed wholesale to foodservice operators and retailers in the US.
• Restaurant Supplies Restaurant and kitchen equipment, cookware, servingware, glassware (including Kimoto Tokyo sake tasting glasses and Minoyaki ceramic cups), chopsticks, uniforms, cleaning supplies, and disposable containers distributed wholesale to Japanese restaurants and foodservice operators.
• Sake School of America Educational institution providing sake training and certification for industry professionals, foodservice staff, and sake enthusiasts in the United States.
• MTC Kitchen Restaurant and culinary training facility operated by Mutual Trading in Los Angeles, providing hands-on training for chefs and foodservice professionals in Japanese cuisine preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• ULTS seafood maintains K-Value of 3-6% upon thawing, equivalent to fish immediately after rigor-mortis, compared to 36-48 hours post-harvest for fresh flown alternatives

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Honda ShoutencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Mutual Trading serves as the primary US distributor for Honda Shouten, a renowned sake brewery. Chairman Takeyoshi Honda, founder and charter President of the Ginjo Association, is a regular presenter at Mutual Trading's annual Expo seminars. Honda Shouten is the foremost expert on Yamadanishiki sake rice cultivation.
• Tsukiji MasamotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTsukiji Masamoto is one of Japan's premier knife makers founded in 1845. Misao Hirano, 7th-generation owner, is a regular presenter at Mutual Trading Expo, offering knife sharpening lectures and demonstrating fine Japanese cutlery. The partnership features exclusive knife sales at the expo.
• Onsui Co., Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationOnsui developed the Cho-Rei-Kun Hamachi super-frozen technology that enables 'fresher than fresh' quality seafood. Their technology achieves 99% bleeding rate, super-frozen storage at -58F degrees, and maintains K-Value of 3-6% upon thawing equivalent to fish immediately after rigor-mortis.
• Miyazaki Beef ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual Trading sources Miyazaki beef direct from Miyazaki growers, ensuring consistent A5 grade marbling quality. Miyazaki beef won consecutive championships at the Beef Olympics in Japan. The partnership enables US restaurants to access premium Japanese wagyu beef.
• Saké breweries (62+ breweries)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual Trading serves as US distributor for over 62 Japanese sake breweries including Dassai, Hakkaisan, Kikusui, Tengumai, and many others. The company pours over 236 sake, shochu, ji-beer, and wines at their annual Expo.
• Sun NoodleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSun Noodle is a ramen noodle supplier featured at Mutual Trading's Expo. George Kao, Director of Sales for Sun Noodle, presents seminars on ramen noodles at the Expo. Sun Noodle is a family-owned third generation ramen noodle company founded in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Culinary Institute of America at GreystoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaster Sommelier Bob Bath, Professor of Wine & Beverage Studies at CIA Greystone, is a regular seminar presenter at the Mutual Trading Expo, providing education on sake sales and food pairing for American audiences.
• New York Mutual TradingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York Mutual Trading operates as an affiliated distribution operation in the Eastern United States. George Kao previously worked for New York Mutual Trading before joining Sun Noodle.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JFC International: JFC International is the largest North American distributor of Japanese and Asian food products, offering the most directly comparable product portfolio, supplier relationships, and foodservice customer base to Mutual Trading.
• Nishimoto Trading Co. (Wismettac Asian Foods): Wismettac/Nishimoto is a major Japanese food import and distribution group with extensive US foodservice operations, offering a near-identical mix of imported Japanese ingredients, sake, and restaurant supplies.
• True World Foods: True World Foods specializes in Japanese and sushi-grade seafood distribution to US restaurants and retailers, directly overlapping with Mutual Trading's ULTS seafood and Japanese foodservice offering.
• Fortune Fish & Gourmet: Fortune Fish & Gourmet is a specialty seafood and gourmet/ethnic foods distributor serving US foodservice, with overlapping customers in Japanese and premium-Asian restaurant segments.

Regional players

• Mutual Fish Company: Mutual Fish is a Pacific Northwest-based Japanese and Asian seafood distributor with comparable product mix but a regional geographic focus rather than Mutual Trading's broader Western-US distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco Corporation: Sysco is the largest US broadline foodservice distributor and has been steadily expanding its Asian/Japanese SKU portfolio, positioning it as a credible incumbent competitor for mid-market Japanese restaurant accounts.
• US Foods: US Foods is a top-tier US broadline foodservice distributor with growing ethnic and Asian categories, competing for the same restaurant accounts as Mutual Trading via scale and one-stop-shop convenience.
• Suntory Holdings: Suntory is a major Japanese alcoholic beverage producer (whisky, beer, RTD) with its own US distribution arm, overlapping with Mutual Trading's sake and Japanese beer business at the supplier and brand level.

Others

• Yamasa Corporation: Yamasa is a Japanese soy sauce, miso, and seasoning manufacturer supplying US foodservice and retail; it is comparable as a Japanese-branded supplier feeding into the same downstream restaurant customers.

Emerging players

• Sun Noodle: Sun Noodle is a US-based Japanese ramen noodle manufacturer and Expo participant; it is comparable as a specialized supplier within the Japanese foodservice ecosystem that Mutual Trading distributes to and partners with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Mutual-Trading-Co-Inc/109624000842
• Instagraminstagram.com/mutualtrading
• Xx.com/MutualTrading

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Mutual Trading