Marusan-AI

What Marusan-AI does

Marusan-AI Co., Ltd. (マルサンアイ株式会社, ticker 2551 on the Nagoya Stock Exchange Main Market) is a 74-year-old Japanese food manufacturer specializing in soy-based and plant-based food and beverage products, headquartered in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture. The company's core operations center on soy milk manufacturing — offering 30+ product varieties including unadjusted, adjusted, organic, premium, calorie-off, flavored, and functional beverages — complemented by fermented soy milk (Tonyugurt using proprietary plant-derived Lactobacillus delbrueckii TUA4408L), cheese-like soy products, plant-based milks (almond, oat), and miso products manufactured by subsidiary Takumi Corp. The technology foundation rests on the proprietary 大豆まろやか製法 (Soybean Smooth Processing Method), which uses enzyme inactivation and dual-stage homogenization to suppress beany odor and astringency, supported by aseptic filling capabilities (~7,000 packs/hour) and exclusive use of the りりさやか® premium domestic soybean variety developed in collaboration with Toyota Motor's HAPPY AGRI project.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (own shop.marusanai.co.jp, Amazon Japan, Rakuten, LOHACO), nationwide retail distribution managed through 10 branch offices, B2B/food service sales, and international subsidiaries in Shanghai (China), Bangkok (Thailand), and Ontario (Canada, established May 2024). Pricing ranges from approximately 80-430 JPY per retail unit, with subscription delivery options offering up to 40% discount, alongside individually negotiated B2B/OEM contracts. Customer segments span health-conscious Japanese consumers, cholesterol-conscious buyers (targeted via Tokuho FOSHU certification), seniors, women seeking beauty/functional benefits, children, fitness enthusiasts, and domestic-ingredient advocates. FY2025 consolidated revenue was ¥32.8 billion (approximately USD 220M) with 439 consolidated employees, supported by certifications including FSSC22000, JAS Organic, ISO9001, and Tokuho (Foods for Specified Health Uses) for cholesterol-reduction claims. The company announced a strategic pivot toward AI/Digital Transformation in 2026 after receiving DX Certified Operator status.

Name

Marusan-AI

Legal name

マルサンアイ株式会社 (MARUSAN-AI CO., LTD.)

Website

https://marusanai.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Marusan-AI is a publicly traded Japanese food manufacturer (Nagoya SE: 2551) producing 30+ varieties of soy milk, miso, and plant-based beverages using proprietary processing technology, serving health-conscious consumers across Japan with international expansion into China, Thailand, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-based Beverages & Fermented Soy Foods

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based Milk & Creamer Processing (Oat, Soy, Almond, Coconut, Blends) (AFAHAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant-Based Beverage Production (Oat/Soy/Almond, etc.) (AFAFABAI), Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives Manufacturing (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Ice Cream) (AFAKAGAB), Plant-Based & Dairy Alternative Beverages (Oat, Almond, Soy, etc.) (CRADAHAM)

Keywords

• Soy milk products
• Plant-based beverages
• Fermented soy foods
• Miso manufacturing
• Functional health foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Okazaki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

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

1. Soy Milk and Plant-based Beverage Sales: Manufacture and sale of soy milk (豆乳), adjusted soy milk (調製豆乳), soy milk beverages (豆乳飲料), and plant-based milk alternatives including almond milk and oat milk. Products sold through retail, e-commerce, and food service channels. Revenue from B2C product sales as primary revenue driver.
2. Miso and Seasoning Sales: Miso products manufactured by subsidiary companies (匠美, 玉井味噌) and sold through the same distribution channels. Includes premium miso, cooking miso, instant miso soup, and other fermented food products.
3. Functional/Health-oriented Food Products: Sales of Foods for Specified Health Uses (特定保健用食品), nutritional functional food beverages (calcium-fortified, iron-fortified, vitamin D-enriched products), and beauty-functional soy milk beverages targeting health-conscious consumer segments.
4. Overseas Sales: Export of miso and soy milk products to China and Southeast Asia through subsidiaries and local distributors, including branded products sold in Shanghai and Thailand markets.
5. Business-to-Business / Industrial Ingredients: Sale of soy milk and food products for business/food service use (業務用・原料用商品), including bulk packaging for commercial food preparation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Marusan-AI manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of soy-based and plant-based food and beverage products, with soy milk (30+ varieties) as its flagship offering, complemented by miso, fermented soy milk (豆乳グルト), soy-based cheese alternatives, almond milk, and oat milk. The company operates multi-factory production in Japan (Okazaki HQ, Kanto, Tottori) and international subsidiaries in China, Thailand, and Canada, distributing through retail, own-brand e-commerce, third-party marketplaces, food service, and export channels.

Product overview

Marusan-AI is a Japanese food manufacturer specializing in soy-based and plant-based food and beverage products. The core product portfolio centers on a diverse soy milk lineup (30+ varieties including unadjusted, adjusted, organic, premium, calorie-off, flavored, and functional beverages), complemented by fermented soy milk (豆乳グルト/Tonyugurt using plant-derived lactic acid bacteria), cheese-like soy products (豆乳シュレッド, 豆乳スライス, 豆乳ソフト), plant-based milks (アーモンドミルク, オーツ牛奶raft), and miso products (わせみそ, 米みそ, こうじみそ, and the premium 蔵之名匠 export brand). The company operates across multiple brands (マルサン豆乳, ひとつ上の豆乳, カロリーオフ, 豆乳グルト, Soyana owned media) and distributes through e-commerce, retail, and business-to-business channels. Group companies handle tofu production, miso, and soy powder manufacturing in Japan, China, Thailand, and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soyana (マルサンジャーナル): Owned media platform publishing content about soy and soybeans
• ひとつ上の豆乳 (Hitotsuue)
• 豆乳グルト (Tonyugurt)
• 豆乳シュレッド (Tonyu Shred)
• 豆乳スライス (Tonyu Slice)
• 豆乳ソフト (Tonyu Soft)
• マルサン豆乳
• カロリーオフ豆乳
• 調製豆乳
• マルサンアイ 無調整豆乳
• アーモンドミルク
• オーツミルク クラフト
• マルサンのおみそ

Products and services

• 調製豆乳 (Adjusted Soy Milk) Sweetened, ready-to-drink soy milk with soybean solids 7%, made with honey, salt, calcium lactate, and trehalose; sold to general consumers in Japan.
• 高オレイン酸 国産大豆の無調整豆乳 (High Oleic Acid Domestic Soybean Unadjusted Soy Milk) Unadjusted soy milk made with 10% high-oleic acid domestic soybean solids, developed through Toyota Motor collaboration; features reduced grassy/off-flavor and creamy taste; targeted at health-conscious consumers.
• 濃厚おいしい無調整豆乳 (Rich & Delicious Unadjusted Soy Milk) Premium unadjusted soy milk with 14% soybean solids, made with 100% domestic soybeans for a smooth, concentrated texture; positioned as a rich premium small-format SKU at 128 JPY per 125ml.
• ひとつ上の豆乳 (Hitotsuue Soy Milk) Premium unadjusted soy milk with 11% soybean solids made with Marusan's proprietary domestic るりさやか® soybean blend, featuring silky smooth texture and clear taste; positioned as the upscale Hitotsuue brand.
• 国産大豆の調製豆乳 (Domestic Soybean Adjusted Soy Milk) Adjusted soy milk made with 100% domestic soybeans (9% soybean solids), carrying the Tokuho (Food for Specified Health Use) government designation for cholesterol reduction; positioned for cholesterol-conscious consumers.
• 豆乳グルト (Tonyugurt — Fermented Soy Milk) Fermented soy milk made with proprietary plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L) that converts isoflavones into more bioavailable aglycone form; positioned as a digestive health product.
• 調製豆乳 カロリー45%オフ (Adjusted Soy Milk 45% Calorie Off) Low-calorie adjusted soy milk with 45% fewer calories (34 kcal/100ml) and low-sugar claim, targeting diet-conscious and weight-management consumers.
• 有機豆乳無調整 (Organic Soy Milk Unadjusted) JAS-certified organic unadjusted soy milk made from organic soybeans sourced from the USA and China, with full organic certification across product design and factory lines.
• Almond Milk (アーモンドミルク) Plant-based almond milk beverage positioned as a non-soy alternative for consumers seeking variety in plant-based milks.
• Oat Milk Craft (オーツミルク クラフト) Plant-based oat milk product developed independently by Marusan-AI, positioned for consumers seeking oat-based dairy alternatives.
• 豆乳シュレッド / 豆乳スライス (Soy Milk Shred / Soy Milk Slice) Soy-based shredded and sliced cheese alternatives, expanding the soy milk category into solid 'eating soy milk' formats for culinary use.
• 豆乳ソフト (Soy Milk Soft) Soy-based soft-serve style product positioned in the 'eating soy milk' category for consumers seeking soy formats beyond beverages.
• マルサンアイのみそ製品 (Marusan Miso Products) Miso products including mixed miso, rice miso, koji miso, three-koji blended miso, and fresh-keeping bottled miso, manufactured by Takumi Co. and Tamai Miso subsidiaries.
• 蔵之名誉 (Zou no Meisyou) Premium Miso for Export Premium export miso brand featuring Kyoto-style white miso, dashi-added miso, Shinshu rice miso, red miso, salt koji, and amazake, sold in China through Marusan-AI Shanghai with bulk 20kg options for food service.
• Functional soy milk beverages (Calcium, Iron, Vitamin E, Dietary Fiber) Functional soy milk beverages fortified with single nutrient targets: calcium (with vitamin D), iron, vitamin E (6.5mg/day dose), or dietary fiber (7.5g per serving, 1/3 daily target), labeled as Nutritional Functional Foods for Japanese consumers with nutritional gaps.
• 定期お届けコース (Subscription Delivery Service) Subscription delivery service for recurring purchase of soy milk and plant-based milk products, available through official e-commerce and major marketplaces with up to 40% discount and free shipping.
• 業務用・原料用商品 (Business/Industrial Use Products) B2B and food service product line of soy milk and miso in bulk packaging (including overseas bulk 20kg formats), with individually negotiated pricing for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and commercial food preparation customers.
• まめぴよ (Mamepiyo) Children's Soy Milk Beverages Small-format (125ml) children's soy milk beverages fortified with calcium and iron, in strawberry, cocoa, and apple flavors, lactose-free and suitable for children aged 1 and older.
• しみ込む豆乳飲料 (Shimikomu Soy Milk Beverage) Beauty-focused functional soy milk beverage containing isoflavones, astaxanthin, collagen, hesperidin, and oligosaccharides, made with organic soybeans, targeting women seeking aesthetic and hormonal balance benefits.
• 豆乳飲料 (Soy Milk Beverages — Flavored Line) Flavored soy milk beverages (white peach, black tea, matcha, setok, banana, malt coffee) under the Hitotsuue premium brand, using domestic soybeans including the proprietary るりさやか® blend.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of 100 surveyed physicians recommended the 浓厚10% product to others (AskDoctors survey, March 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車) — HAPPY AGRI ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-development partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation's HAPPY AGRI domestic soybean support project. Toyota developed high-oleic acid soybean varieties; Marusan-AI developed and commercialized soy milk products using these domestically grown soybeans. Resulted in the '高オレイン酸 国産大豆の無調整豆乳' product line. Both companies are headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, facilitating regional collaboration.
• Blue Diamond Growers (USA)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2013Licensing agreement signed in July 2013 for manufacturing and sales of almond beverage 'Almond Breeze' (アーモンドブリーズ) in Japan. License was terminated in November 2017 and product discontinued in February 2018. Demonstrates company's experience in plant-based milk licensing and manufacturing.
• Sahachol (タイ・サハチョール社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Technology guidance and licensing agreement signed in October 2013 for soy milk manufacturing in Thailand. Transfer of Marusan-AI's proprietary soy milk processing technology to enable quality soy milk production in the Thai market.
• Tokyo University of Agriculture (東京農業大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing academic research partnership for fermentation technology and lactic acid bacteria research. Marusan-AI received the TUA4408L lactobacillus strain from Professor Sanae Okada for exclusive use in fermented soy milk products. Joint research on多糖産生制御 (exopolysaccharide production control) and microbial analysis published in 2024 academic conferences.
• Tohoku University (東北大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical and immunological research partnership on fermented soy milk health benefits. Joint study published in 'Beneficial Microbes' (2022) demonstrating immune health benefits of Lactobacillus TUA4408L fermented soy milk in pigs. Also collaborated on anti-viral immunogenic properties research.
• National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (国立医療長寿研究センター)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on soy protein intake effects in pre-frail and frail elderly. Study published in BMC Geriatrics (2025) showing high-soy protein soymilk intake improves walking speed in elderly subjects.
• Shizuoka University of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (静岡県立大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on the effects of heating conditions on protein particle and oil droplet formation in soy milk, and vacuum evaporation processing of soy milk for reduced-pressure applications.
• Kyushu Women's University (九州女子大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrossover study on the effects of continuous soymilk intake on lipid and glucose metabolism in Vietnamese subjects, presented at the International Congress of Nutrition (2022).
• Kanto Gakuin University (関東学院大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch on frailty prevention through rehabilitation facility user interventions including soy milk intake, presented at the Japanese Nutrition Improvement Association (2022).
• Matsumoto University (松本大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch on soy milk intake effects on bone metabolism markers in adolescent female rhythmic gymnasts and athletes, published in Japanese Sports Nutrition Society (2020).
• Miyagi University (宮城大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with Tohoku University and Marusan-AI on immunobiotic feed using fermented soy milk byproduct (okara) for pig health and growth performance, published in Microorganisms (2022).
• Tetra Pak (日本テトラパック)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for aseptic (無菌) filling packaging technology. Tetra Pak provides the aseptic packaging materials and equipment enabling Marusan-AI's room-temperature shelf-stable soy milk products. Marusan-AI participates in the Tetra Pak Bell Mark recycling program, collecting and recycling used paper packs.
• Akinori Goto (個人加人)minorOthersExclusive agent in Michigan, USA for sourcing organic soybeans under organic JAS regulations. Agent coordinates between US organic farming corporations and Marusan-AI for compliant organic soy supply chain management.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/marusanai_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/marusanai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marusan-ai
• Instagraminstagram.com/marusanai_official/?hl=ja

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Marusan-AI