Nosan

What Nosan does

Nosan Corporation (日本農産工業株式会社) is a Japanese manufacturer of compound animal feeds and operator of branded egg and pet food businesses, founded in 1931 and operating today as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation following a 2009 tender offer and delisting. The company is organized into four business segments: Livestock Feed (cattle, swine, poultry, horse, laboratory animal, and insect feeds), Aqua Feed (formulated feeds for marine and freshwater fish, eel, shrimp, abalone, and other species), Egg Business (premium branded eggs), and Pet Food (via subsidiary Petline Co., Ltd.). Headquartered in Yokohama Landmark Tower, Nosan operates approximately 20 manufacturing, R&D, and sales bases across Japan.

Core technology centers on proprietary compound feed formulation developed through in-house R&D at three research facilities: the Livestock Technology Center in Ibaraki, the Aquaculture Technology Center in Shizuoka, and Nosan Farm in Hokkaido. Notable technical capabilities include the SUQNA layer feed (which reduces feed intake by approximately 5% and manure output by approximately 20% via high-digestibility ingredients), algae-derived DHA aquaculture feed that substitutes for fish oil, an artificial compound feed enabling bluefin tuna cultivation without live bait, and a dry feed formulation for complete Japanese eel larval cultivation. The company's Shiogama Factory became the first in Japan to obtain ASC Feed Standard certification (March 2025), and the company holds ISO9001, ISO22000, JGAP, and feed-sector GMP certifications across its manufacturing network.

The business model is primarily B2B direct sales to livestock farmers, aquaculture producers, and horse farms through a regional branch network, augmented by B2C distribution of branded consumer products. The flagship consumer brand, Yodan Tamago Hikari (ヨード卵・光), launched in 1976 as Japan's first branded egg, is sold through supermarkets and specialty stores with 50-year brand heritage; subsidiary Petline (established 1972 as Japan's first domestic cat dry food manufacturer) sells therapeutic, functional, and gourmet pet foods through veterinary hospitals, pet specialty stores, drugstores, and e-commerce. Other wholly-owned subsidiaries include Boso Farm Corporation (egg production). Revenue is generated through unit-pricing on physical feed and food products; pricing for B2B feeds is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Nosan

Legal name

日本農産工業株式会社

Website

https://nosan.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nosan is a Japanese manufacturer of compound animal feeds (livestock, aquaculture, equine, laboratory, insect) and operator of branded egg and pet food businesses, serving Japanese farmers, aquaculture producers, retailers, and pet owners as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed & Nutrition

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock & Poultry Nutrition (Feed & Premixes) (HLAMAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dry Pet Food (Kibble) (AFADAFAA), Small Animal Food (rabbit/guinea pig/hamster) (CRADAFAJ), Companion Animal Milk Replacers & Weaning Diets (AFADAFAG), Animal Nutrition & Feeding Support Services (On-Farm Feeding, Feed Management) (AFAEALAJ)

Keywords

• Animal feed manufacturing
• Livestock nutrition
• Aquaculture feed
• Pet food production
• Branded eggs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanagawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Livestock Feed Sales: Manufacture and sale of compound feeds for cattle, swine, poultry, horses, laboratory animals, and insects. Revenue is generated through direct sales to livestock producers and feed distributors across Japan.
2. Aquaculture Feed Sales: Manufacture and sale of specialized feeds for marine fish (yellowtail, sea bream, silver salmon), freshwater fish (trout, carp, eel, ayu), and crustaceans/mollusks (shrimp, abalone, sea cucumber, bivalves). Products include extruded pellets, standard pellets, crumbles, mash, granules, and paste formulations.
3. Egg Production and Sales: Production and sale of branded eggs including Yodan Tamago Hikari, Akanebijin (茜美人), Mitsuboshi Tamago (三ツ星たまご), and flat-range eggs. Eggs are sold through retail channels. Processed egg products (soups, mayonnaise, curries) are also sold under the Yodan brand.
4. Pet Food Sales (Petline): Subsidiary Petline manufactures and sells pet foods for dogs and cats. Product lines include therapeutic diets (Doctors), functional foods (Professional Balance, Medicoat, Mediafas), and gourmet foods (Kaiseki). Distribution through veterinary hospitals, pet specialty stores, drugstores, mass retailers, and e-commerce.
5. Horse Feed Sales: Manufacture and sale of compound feeds and supplements for riding horses, racehorses, breeding/raising horses, and senior horses. Flagship product 'Yushun' has been sold for over 40 years. Distribution through specialized horse feed distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Nosan Corporation manufactures and sells compound animal feeds for livestock (cattle, swine, poultry, horses, laboratory animals, insects) and aquaculture (marine and freshwater fish, shellfish, eels), produces branded consumer eggs under the Yodoran-hikari label, and operates a pet food business through its wholly-owned Petline subsidiary. The company sells directly to farmers, aquaculture producers, veterinary hospitals, pet specialty retailers, and through its own e-commerce sites.

Product overview

Nosan Corporation is a Japanese feed and food company organized under Mitsubishi Corporation, operating across four main business segments: Livestock Feed (畜産飼料事業), Aqua Feed (水産飼料事業), Egg Business (鶏卵事業), and Pet Food Business (ペットフード事業). The livestock feed division produces species-specific feeds for cattle, swine, poultry, horses, laboratory animals, and insects, including the innovative SUQNA feed that reduces environmental burden. The aquafeed business offers feeds for various fish species (yellowtail, sea bream, salmon, eel, shrimp, abalone) and holds ASC certification. The egg business features the flagship ヨード卵・光 brand (Japan's first branded egg, 50th anniversary in 2026), along with 茜美人 and 三ツ星たまご functional eggs. The pet food business operates through subsidiary Pet Line, offering therapeutic foods (ドッグス, ダイエティクス), functional foods (メディコート, プロフェッショナル・バランス), and gourmet products (懷石).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ヨード卵・光 (Yodoran-hikari): Japan's first branded egg launched in 1976, known for its rich flavor (3.5x richer than average eggs). Celebrating 50th anniversary in 2026.
• 茜美人 (Akanebijin)
• 三ツ星たまご (Mitsu-boshi Tamago)
• SUQNA (スクナ)
• ペットライン (Petline)

Products and services

• SUQNA (スクナ) Layer Feed A proprietary laying hen feed designed for poultry farmers that reduces feed intake by approximately 5% and manure output by approximately 20% while maintaining egg production performance.
• Yodoran Tamago Hikari (ヨード卵・光) Branded Eggs Japan's first branded egg, launched in 1976, with 3.5x richer flavor than average eggs, sold to retail consumers through supermarkets and specialty stores.
• Akanebijin (茜美人) Premium Eggs Premium egg brand with vivid reddish yolk color and rich flavor, marketed for rice dishes and sold through retail channels.
• Mitsuboshi Tamago (三ツ星たまご) Functional Eggs First eggs in Japan with three approved functional health claims containing DHA and EPA, supporting triglyceride reduction and cognitive function.
• Hiragai Tamago (平飼いたまご) Free-Range Eggs Eggs from free-range hens raised in welfare-conscious flat-flooring poultry houses fed specialized Yodoran egg feed.
• Yushun (優駿) Horse Feed Flagship compound horse feed sold for over 40 years, suitable for riding horses, racehorses, breeding horses, and senior horses, distributed through equine feed distributors and riding clubs.
• Broiler Feeds (Starter, Grower, Finisher) Stage-specific broiler poultry feed formulations for meat chicken producers, including Starter, Grower, and Finisher formulations matched to bird growth phases.
• Winny Series Piglet Milk Replacers Winny Series piglet milk replacer products including Winny Gamma-kun (colostrum replacer) and Winny Milk for supporting newborn and weak piglets.
• Low Fish Oil Aquaculture Feed (with Algae-Derived DHA) Aquaculture feed using algae-derived DHA as a substitute for fish oil, reducing dependence on wild marine resources while maintaining product quality.
• ASC Certified Aquaculture Feed Aquaculture feed certified under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Feed Standard, addressing social and environmental responsibility in feed production.
• Bluefin Tuna Initial Feed Specially designed initial compound feed for bluefin tuna larvae, enabling artificial cultivation of juvenile tuna without reliance on natural bait fish.
• Eel Aquaculture Feeds Eel aquaculture feed products including paste and dry formulations supplied since 1967 to Japanese eel farmers as an industry-standard product.
• Lab Series Laboratory Animal Feeds Standardized experimental animal feed series for research institutions, covering mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits with consistent nutritional composition.
• Silkmate Silkworm Artificial Feeds Silkmate silkworm artificial feed products for sericulture, including Silkmate 2S, Silkmate Original, and Silkmate AFS (antibiotic-free) variants in sausage and powder forms.
• Petline Doctors Therapeutic Pet Foods Veterinarian-recommended therapeutic pet food line for dogs and cats developed under veterinary supervision, holding No.1 domestic market share for therapeutic dry food.
• Petline Dietics Therapeutic Pet Foods Domestic therapeutic pet food line developed through long-term research and cooperation with animal medical institutions, targeting commonly occurring pet diseases.
• Petline Medicoat Functional Pet Foods Premium functional pet food for dogs and cats combining therapeutic food expertise with everyday health maintenance and functional nutrition needs.
• Petline Kaiseki Gourmet Pet Foods Gourmet pet food for cats and dogs focused on ingredient quality and nutritional balance for daily feeding routines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feed intake reduced by ~5%, manure output reduced by ~20% with SUQNA layer feed while maintaining egg production performance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Restorae AS (Norway)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2024Collaboration for restoration of European native oyster species. Announced April 2024. NOSAN will contribute to sustainable oyster aquaculture through feed solutions supporting eco-friendly oyster farming.
• Obihiro University of Animal Science (帯広畜産大学)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2024Cross-appointment system agreement enabling human resources to work across university and corporate organization boundaries, promoting collaboration in livestock science research.
• Quon Corporation (クオン株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Joint operation of 'Tamago Daisuki! Community by ヨード卵・光' online fan community platform. Quon provides platform expertise while NOSAN provides brand content and products.
• Japanese horse racing industry organizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond Partner sponsorship of JRA Horse Show (Japan Racing Association). Ongoing support for equestrian sports development.
• Interest Corporation (インタレスト株式会社)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for Rinattokitchen children's restaurant events in Tokyo and Okinawa. NOSAN donated liquid eggs for okonomiyaki cooking at children's dining events.
• General Incorporated Association (環境保全 activities)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEchoran eggs donated portion of sales revenue to association working on marine debris issues (discontinued August 2025).
• Hasshadai Social (ハッシャダイソーシャル)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation sector collaboration announced September 2025, working together on social contribution initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal Canin (Mars Petcare): Global therapeutic and breed-specific pet food leader. Comparable to Petline on veterinary-distributed therapeutic positioning and premium pet food specialization in Japan.
• Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): Global integrated feed and animal protein company with strong aquaculture feed presence across Asia. Comparable at the multi-species feed-and-protein platform level, providing scale benchmarking to NOSAN's integrated approach.
• Skretting (Nutreco): Global aquaculture feed leader under Nutreco; the most direct international peer to NOSAN's aquafeed business with substantially larger R&D and species portfolio, providing competitive benchmarking in Japan via import channels.
• Hill's Pet Nutrition (Colgate-Palmolive): Global therapeutic and premium pet food leader; comparable to Petline's veterinary-channel therapeutic diet franchise (Dogs/Dietics) at the product positioning and channel model level.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: Global animal nutrition leader with feed, premixes, and aquaculture capabilities. Comparable as a multinational competitor in compound feed formulation, sustainability/ASC programs, and aquaculture adjacencies.

Direct peers

• Chubu Shiryo Co., Ltd. Japanese compound feed producer focused on livestock feeds with a nationwide network. Directly comparable species, geography, and channel structure.
• Feed One Co., Ltd. Japan-based compound feed manufacturer with livestock and aquaculture feed portfolios. Highly comparable as a domestic competitor operating with similar sales-led model and species mix.
• Marubeni-Nisshin Feed Co., Ltd. Japanese feed manufacturer joint venture between Marubeni and Nisshin, producing compound feeds for livestock and aquaculture. Comparable as a domestic feed peer with broad species coverage.
• Nippon Formula Feed Manufacturing Co., Ltd. One of Japan's largest compound feed manufacturers producing livestock and aquaculture feeds domestically. Directly comparable as a Japanese feed peer with overlapping species coverage and B2B distribution model.

Regional players

• Maruha Nichiro Corporation: Japan-headquartered major seafood and aquaculture company that is both a customer of aquaculture feeds and increasingly vertically integrated in aquafeed-adjacent activities. Comparable as a Japan aquaculture ecosystem participant with overlapping species interests.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdPDo8hQWCgEM7NGhIKeCGg
• Instagraminstagram.com/petline_cats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nosan-corporation

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Nosan