Yamamotoyama U.S.A.
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. manufactures and distributes Japanese green teas, nori seaweed, and soy wrappers through D2C e-commerce, supermarket retail, and B2B wholesale to Japanese restaurants worldwide, operating from a SQF-accredited Pomona, California production facility as part of a 330-year-old family-owned Japanese tea company.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPomona, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Yamamotoyama U.S.A. does
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. is the American operating subsidiary of Japan's oldest tea company, established in 1975 in Los Angeles and now headquartered at an SQF-accredited production facility in Pomona, California. The company manufactures and distributes a diversified portfolio of Japanese green teas, nori seaweed products, soy wrappers, and complementary teaware under a family-owned structure with continuous Yamamoto family ownership since the parent company's founding in 1690. Core technology centers on proprietary tea processing methods, including the steaming technique for sencha invented by the Yamamoto family and the gyokuro shading cultivation developed in 1835, alongside a proprietary nori roasting process that produces distinct flavor profiles across seaweed product tiers.
The business operates a multi-channel revenue model spanning direct-to-consumer e-commerce through a Shopify-powered storefront at yamamotoyama.com, retail distribution to supermarkets for consumer packaged goods, and B2B wholesale supply of nori seaweed to Japanese restaurants worldwide. Products are also distributed through Amazon marketplace and Well.ca for Canadian customers. The product catalog spans core teas (sencha, genmaicha, hojicha, gyokuro, oolong, jasmine) in bag and loose leaf formats, organic and decaffeinated variants, specialty flavored pyramid teas, ready-to-drink iced matcha, seasonal shincha first flush, and a complete seaweed line including sushi nori in multiple quality tiers, specialty wraps, and teriyaki snack products. The company holds SQF, KOF-K Kosher, QAI Organic, HACCP, and GMP certifications, and maintains vertical integration through family-owned tea gardens. The 1993 acquisition of Stash Tea Company expanded the North American tea portfolio and distribution footprint.
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yamamotoyama U.S.A.
- Legal name
- Yamamotoyama of America
- Website
- https://yamamotoyama.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Yamamotoyama U.S.A. manufactures and distributes Japanese green teas, nori seaweed, and soy wrappers through D2C e-commerce, supermarket retail, and B2B wholesale to Japanese restaurants worldwide, operating from a SQF-accredited Pomona, California production facility as part of a 330-year-old family-owned Japanese tea company.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Japanese Green Tea and Nori Seaweed
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Beverages (2080), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Seaweed & Dried Vegetable Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAI)
Keywords
Where Yamamotoyama U.S.A. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pomona
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through yamamotoyama.com website. Consumer purchases tea bags, loose leaf teas, seaweed snacks, and accessories directly.
- Retail Distribution: Distribution to supermarkets for consumer packaged goods sales.
- Restaurant/Wholesale B2B: Yamamotoyama is the major provider of nori seaweed to Japanese restaurants worldwide. B2B wholesale supply of tea and seaweed products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Tea Bags (18 count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Value Packs (90 count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Iced Matcha Tea |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Seaweed Snacks |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. manufactures and distributes premium Japanese green teas (Sencha, Gyokuro, Genmaicha, Hojicha, Oolong, Jasmine, Matcha, Shincha), roasted nori seaweed products for sushi and snacking, and soy-based sushi wrappers. The company sells directly to consumers through its Shopify e-commerce site and marketplaces (Amazon, Well.ca), and supplies restaurants and supermarkets via wholesale B2B channels. Production is anchored by a vertically integrated, family-owned tea garden operation and an SQF-accredited facility in Pomona, California.
Product overview
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. is a traditional Japanese food company offering a diversified portfolio of green teas and seaweed products. The product lineup centers on core tea offerings (Sencha, Genmaicha, Hojicha, Gyokuro, Oolong, Jasmine) available in both bagged and loose leaf formats, with organic and decaffeinated variants. The portfolio extends to specialty pyramid bag teas with flavors like Matcha Apple and Matcha Genmai, plus flavored teas combining green tea with mint, strawberry, ginger yuzu, and peach ginger. The company also produces ready-to-drink iced matcha, seasonal Shincha first flush teas, and a complete seaweed line including sushi nori in multiple quality tiers (Special Reserve, Gold, Silver, Original), specialty rice ball wraps, and teriyaki seaweed snacks. Supporting products include soy wraps and teaware like the Kinto stainless steel tea canister. Founded in 1690, Yamamotoyama is the oldest tea company in Japan, remaining family-owned and operating from its Nihonbashi, Tokyo store for over 330 years, with U.S. operations based in Los Angeles, California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sencha Green Tea (Bag and Loose Leaf)
Companies that use Yamamotoyama U.S.A.
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Stash Tea CompanyminorThrough a long-term working relationship, Yamamotoyama U.S.A. acquired Portland, Oregon-based Stash Tea Company in 1993. This acquisition expanded Yamamotoyama's tea portfolio and distribution capabilities in the North American market.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bigelow Tea: Family-owned American tea company and one of the largest specialty tea manufacturers in the U.S., offering green, black, herbal, and flavored teas across supermarket and foodservice channels.
- Mizkan Holdings: Japanese food company producing soy sauce, vinegar, and seaweed products. Adjacent peer in the Japanese pantry category, including nori and sushi-related supplies competing for similar retail and restaurant channels.
- Hain Celestial Group: Large natural and organic CPG company that owns Celestial Seasonings and other tea/specialty food brands. Competes broadly across organic tea, packaged foods, and natural supermarket channels.
Direct peers
- Numi Organic Tea: Premium organic tea brand offering green, black, herbal, and matcha teas with strong natural and organic positioning. Competes with Yamamotoyama in organic, premium tea SKUs across grocery and DTC.
- The Republic of Tea: Specialty tea brand offering premium loose-leaf and bagged teas including green, oolong, and herbal varieties. Competes with Yamamotoyama in the premium and specialty tea segment with similar DTC and supermarket distribution.
- ITO EN: Japan's largest tea beverage company, producing bottled and packaged green teas, matcha, and oolong. Direct competitor in Japanese-style green tea sold through retail and foodservice in North America.
- gimMe Health Foods: U.S.-based seaweed snack brand offering roasted nori chips and snacks through retail and DTC. Direct competitor in the growing premium seaweed snack category.
- Harney & Sons: Premium tea company with a broad portfolio including Japanese greens, oolong, and matcha. Competes with Yamamotoyama in premium loose-leaf and bagged tea, with strong DTC and hospitality channel presence.
- Stash Tea Company: Wholly-owned subsidiary of Yamamotoyama U.S.A. (acquired 1993), offering premium bagged and loose-leaf teas across grocery and foodservice channels in North America.
Emerging players
- Mara Seaweed: Emerging Scottish seaweed snack and ingredient brand in the premium seaweed category. Comparable to Yamamotoyama's seaweed snack line as a smaller, story-driven entrant in the same space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. social profiles
Digital presenceYamamotoyama U.S.A. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. 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 Yamamotoyama U.S.A.
What does Yamamotoyama U.S.A. do?
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. manufactures and distributes premium Japanese green teas (Sencha, Gyokuro, Genmaicha, Hojicha, Oolong, Jasmine, Matcha, Shincha), roasted nori seaweed products for sushi and snacking, and soy-based sushi wrappers. The company sells directly to consumers through its Shopify e-commerce site and marketplaces (Amazon, Well.ca), and supplies restaurants and supermarkets via wholesale B2B channels. Production is anchored by a vertically integrated, family-owned tea garden operation and an SQF-accredited facility in Pomona, California.
Is Yamamotoyama U.S.A. a public or private company?
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Yamamotoyama U.S.A. founded?
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Yamamotoyama U.S.A. based?
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. is headquartered in Pomona, United States, in the North America region.
How does Yamamotoyama U.S.A. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution and restaurant/Wholesale B2B.
Who are Yamamotoyama U.S.A.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bigelow Tea, Mizkan Holdings and Hain Celestial Group. Direct peers are Numi Organic Tea, The Republic of Tea, ITO EN, gimMe Health Foods, Harney & Sons and Stash Tea Company. Mara Seaweed is listed as an emerging player.
Does Yamamotoyama U.S.A. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yamamotoyama U.S.A..
What industry is Yamamotoyama U.S.A. in?
Yamamotoyama U.S.A.'s product category is Japanese Green Tea and Nori Seaweed. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAKAD, Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale, with a secondary code of AFAKAIAI, Seaweed & Dried Vegetable Snacks Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2000.