JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center
JA全農青果センター株式会社 is a Japanese fresh produce distributor and wholly-owned subsidiary of JA ZEN-NOH that sources fruits and vegetables nationwide, wholesales to retailers, cooperatives, and food manufacturers, packs ~200 million units annually, operates five set centers, and develops processed foods under the 'Minna no Yasai' brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersToda, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center does
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center (JA全農青果センター株式会社) is a Japanese fresh produce distribution company established on June 1, 2006, as the direct sales arm of JA ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations). The company operates four integrated business functions: (1) wholesale of fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from production regions nationwide via JA cooperatives and sold to mass retailers, consumer cooperatives, food processing manufacturers, and restaurant chains through daily price and quantity negotiations at JA shipping yards; (2) packing and portioning services producing approximately 200 million custom-packaged units per year using original labels and packaging materials; (3) set center operations across five nationwide locations handling pre-processing, repackaging, and order fulfillment for consumer cooperative home delivery services; and (4) processed food development and sales under the proprietary 'Minna no Yasai' (みんなのやさい) brand. The company maintains three primary distribution centers in Tokyo (Saitama), Kanagawa (Hiratsuka, since 2013), and Osaka (major renovation completed April 2024), each equipped with cold storage infrastructure to preserve produce freshness. Revenue is generated through B2B transactional fees across these segments with individually negotiated wholesale pricing; no public pricing is disclosed.
The company's go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales, with dedicated product managers (品目担当者) maintaining direct relationships with both producers in agricultural regions and buyer departments at trading partners, conducting daily business negotiations and providing value-added services including product origin storytelling, store display coordination, and promotional support. In April 2024, the company merged with Zenno Seika Service Co., Ltd. and established a new Processing Business Development Headquarters to consolidate and grow its processed food capabilities. As a wholly-owned subsidiary within the JA ZEN-NOH cooperative group (shareholders include JA ZEN-NOH and JA ZEN-NOH Business Support Co., Ltd.), the company operates as a private corporation with no public listing and no disclosed revenue figures.
The company pursues consumer-facing brand-building through three content initiatives: 'Nouka no Bukotsu Meshi' (農家の無骨メシ), which communicates authentic seasonal cooking traditions from farming communities; 'SMART', a recipe and cooking tips initiative; and 'Minna no Yasai', a processed food brand website supporting domestic vegetable consumption. It also conducts CSR activities including parent-child cooking classes, youth sports clinics, and community events. The company has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, or technology partnerships beyond standard logistics infrastructure; its competitive differentiation rests on its structural position within the JA ZEN-NOH cooperative ecosystem and the nationwide producer network this confers.
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center
- Legal name
- JA全農青果センター株式会社
- Website
- https://z-center.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- JA全農青果センター株式会社 is a Japanese fresh produce distributor and wholly-owned subsidiary of JA ZEN-NOH that sources fruits and vegetables nationwide, wholesales to retailers, cooperatives, and food manufacturers, packs ~200 million units annually, operates five set centers, and develops processed foods under the 'Minna no Yasai' brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Produce Wholesale and Distribution
- NAICS
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fresh Produce Distribution (CRAOABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fresh Vegetable Wholesale (AFAIACAB), Farmer Cooperatives & Co-op Retail (AFABAJAB)
Keywords
Where JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toda
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 青果物の仕入れ・販売 (Fresh Produce Wholesale): Core business: purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from production regions nationwide via JA cooperatives and selling to mass retailers, cooperatives, food processors, and restaurant chains. Price and quantity negotiations conducted at JA shipping yards; goods inspected and stored in refrigerated facilities before distribution.
- 青果物の小分け包装 (Fresh Produce Repackaging): Approximately 200 million packaging units per year. Custom packaging based on sales partner specifications using original stickers and packaging materials, creating value-added differentiated products.
- セットセンター運営 (Set Center Operations): Contracted operation of set centers for consumer cooperatives. Handles pre-processing (origin labeling, protective packaging) and pick operations (sorting orders into delivery containers) for cooperative home delivery services. Currently contracted by major eastern and western cooperative operators across 5 nationwide locations.
- 加工食品の開発・販売 (Processed Food Development and Sales): Development and sales of processed foods under own brands such as 'みんなのやさい' (Everyone's Vegetables). Addresses changing household compositions and expanding the domestic fresh produce market.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center is a B2B agricultural produce company that purchases fresh fruits and vegetables from JA cooperatives nationwide and wholesales them to mass retailers, consumer cooperatives, food processors, and restaurant chains. The company also operates fresh produce repackaging/portioning (approximately 200 million units annually), runs five nationwide set centers for cooperative home delivery fulfillment, and develops and sells processed foods under its own brands.
Product overview
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center operates as a comprehensive agricultural produce company with four core business functions: wholesale of fresh produce (仕入れ販売), packing and portioning services (小分け包装), set center operations for cooperative home delivery (セットセンター運営), and processed food development and sales (加工食品の開発販売). The company also runs two content initiatives—'農家の無骨メシ' and 'SMART'—to communicate the value of Japanese agriculture and promote vegetable consumption. The company's flagship processed food brand is 'みんなのやさい' (Minna no Yasai). As a direct sales arm of JA ZEN-NOH, the company connects producers with consumers through multiple distribution channels including supermarkets, cooperatives, and food manufacturers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- みんなのやさい (Minna no Yasai): A brand for processed foods that supports daily home cooking, developed to expand the domestic fresh produce market
- 農家の無骨メシ (Nouka no Bukotsu Meshi)
- SMART
Products and services
- Wholesale of Fresh Produce (青果物の仕入れ・販売) Core business of purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from JA cooperatives nationwide (Hokkaido to Okinawa) and wholesaling them to mass retailers, supermarkets, consumer cooperatives, food processors, and restaurant chains. Includes product proposals, pricing, quality presentation, and store display coordination.
- Fresh Produce Repackaging and Portioning (青果物の小分け包装) Annual repackaging of approximately 200 million units of fresh produce with custom labels and original packaging materials tailored to retailer and consumer specifications. Creates value-added differentiated products.
- Set Center Operations (セットセンター運営) Contracted operation of set centers for consumer cooperative partners. Handles pre-processing (origin labeling, protective packaging) and pick operations (sorting orders into delivery containers) for cooperative home delivery services. Operates 5 nationwide locations serving major eastern and western cooperative operators with next-day delivery capability.
- Processed Food Development and Sales (加工食品の開発・販売) Development and sales of processed foods under own brands such as 'Minna no Yasai' (みんなのやさい / Everyone's Vegetables), addressing changing household compositions and expanding the domestic fresh produce market. The Minna no Yasai brand supports daily home cooking with domestic agricultural products.
Quantifiable outcome
- 年間約２億点の小分け包装を実施 (Approximately 200 million packaging units per year)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- 全農青果サービス株式会社majorMerged into JA全農青果センター in April 2024, consolidating processing business development functions into the main company structure.
- 全国農業協同組合連合会 (JA Zenno / National Agricultural Cooperative Federation)coreParent organization of the JA Zenno Group. JA全農青果センター was established in 2006 and received transfer of the horticultural direct sales business from JA Zenno in 2006. JA Zenno is the primary shareholder and core member of the group network that provides the nationwide producer network enabling direct sourcing from agricultural regions across Japan.
- 株式会社全農ビジネスサポートcoreOne of the two shareholders of JA全農青果センター株式会社. Co-develops business support services within the JA Zenno Group ecosystem.
- JA全農グループ各社 (JA Zenno Group Companies)coreRelated group companies including JA全農ミート (meat), JA全農チキン (chicken), JA全農卵 (eggs), JA全農大米 (rice), JA全農、物流 (logistics), JAみらい (future), meito, and JA全農フードソリューション. Part of integrated agricultural and food group serving producers and consumers.
- 生活協同組合 (Consumer Cooperatives)coreMajor cooperative partners for joint purchase and home delivery businesses. JA全農青果センター operates set centers for cooperatives in both eastern and western Japan, handling pre-processing and order fulfillment for cooperative member deliveries. Major cooperative operators nationwide.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hamada Co., Ltd. Japanese food wholesaler specializing in fruits and vegetables with domestic and imported produce distribution. Directly comparable to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center in fresh produce wholesale serving retailers and food service operators.
- Toyo Seika Co., Ltd. A major Japanese fresh produce wholesaler operating at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market. Directly comparable to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center as a B2B wholesale distributor of fruits and vegetables serving retailers and food service, though without the JA cooperative producer network.
- Pal System Logistics Co., Ltd. Logistics arm of Pal System consumer cooperative, operating set centers and produce distribution for cooperative home delivery. Directly comparable to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center's set center operations for cooperative partners, though vertically integrated within Pal System rather than operating as a third-party.
- Kokubu & Co., Ltd. Major Japanese food and beverage wholesaler with nationwide distribution. Comparable as a broad-line B2B food distributor handling fresh and processed products to retailers and food service, with overlapping customer segments to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center.
- Nippon Access Co., Ltd. Japan's leading foodservice distribution company, supplying fresh and processed foods including produce to restaurant chains and food service operators. Closely comparable to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center in serving restaurant chains and food manufacturers with cold-chain B2B distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Starzen Co., Ltd. Japanese food company with meat and produce distribution operations serving retailers, food service, and processors. Overlaps with JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center in B2B food distribution infrastructure and customer base.
- Itochu Foods Co., Ltd. Food distribution arm of Itochu Corporation handling nationwide wholesale of fresh, frozen, and processed foods. Overlaps with JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center in fresh produce B2B distribution to retailers and food service, though operating as part of a much larger sogo shosha.
- Nichirei Logistics Group: Japan's leading cold-chain logistics provider. Adjacent to JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center's cold-storage and distribution operations, offering shared infrastructure services to food producers and retailers across the country.
- Maruha Nichiro Corporation: Large Japanese food company with broad fresh and processed food distribution including produce. Comparable in operating cold-chain distribution and serving institutional buyers, though primarily focused on seafood and processed foods.
- Mitsui & Co. Fresh Produce Operations: Produce and food distribution operations of Mitsui & Co., one of Japan's major trading houses. Comparable in B2B fresh produce wholesale and supply chain integration, though operating as part of a much larger diversified conglomerate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center social profiles
Digital presenceJA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center 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 JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center
What does JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center do?
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center is a B2B agricultural produce company that purchases fresh fruits and vegetables from JA cooperatives nationwide and wholesales them to mass retailers, consumer cooperatives, food processors, and restaurant chains. The company also operates fresh produce repackaging/portioning (approximately 200 million units annually), runs five nationwide set centers for cooperative home delivery fulfillment, and develops and sells processed foods under its own brands.
Is JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center a public or private company?
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center founded?
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center was founded in 2006.
Where is JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center based?
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center is headquartered in Toda, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. 青果物の仕入れ・販売 (Fresh Produce Wholesale) is the primary driver. The others are 青果物の小分け包装 (Fresh Produce Repackaging), セットセンター運営 (Set Center Operations) and 加工食品の開発・販売 (Processed Food Development and Sales).
Who are JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hamada Co., Ltd., Toyo Seika Co., Ltd., Pal System Logistics Co., Ltd., Kokubu & Co., Ltd. and Nippon Access Co., Ltd.. Broad incumbents are Starzen Co., Ltd., Itochu Foods Co., Ltd., Nichirei Logistics Group, Maruha Nichiro Corporation and Mitsui & Co. Fresh Produce Operations.
Does JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center.
What industry is JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center in?
JA Zenno Fruit and Vegetable Center's product category is Fresh Produce Wholesale and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOABAB, Fresh Produce Distribution, with a secondary code of AFAIACAB, Fresh Vegetable Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 424480 and its SIC code is 5141.