Chlorella Industry

What Chlorella Industry does

Chlorella Industry Co., Ltd. is a privately held Japanese manufacturer founded in 1964 as the world's first chlorella-specializing producer. The company cultivates and processes a proprietary strain of Parachlorella beijerinckii — the Chikugo (CK-5) strain — characterized by a thin cell wall, 82% digestible cell wall treatment, and unique extracellular polysaccharide secretion. Its Kyushu Chikugo Plant in Fukuoka Prefecture operates 16 outdoor cultivation pools totaling 13,087 m², the largest dedicated chlorella outdoor cultivation facility in Japan, with an integrated production chain from flask culture through spray drying under HACCP, GMP, FSSC 22000, Halal, and FDA GRAS-certified quality systems.

The company operates four product business lines: (1) consumer health supplements under three tiered brands — ヤクケン バイオリンク (premium, order-made pharmacies), グロスミン (mass-market), and クロレラミン (natural food stores) — plus lifestyle brands such as mochotto with CHLORELLA and KAKERU MIDORI; (2) food additive ingredients (chlorella micro powder, chlorella powder, Flavotide extract) sold B2B to food manufacturers; (3) aquaculture feed products including 生クロレラ-V12, used globally for rotifer cultivation supporting larval fish of over 70 species including bluefin tuna; and (4) agricultural inputs (Aging bokashi fertilizer, Space Age A foliar spray). Revenue mechanics are one-time unit sales across both B2C channels (pharmacies, health food stores, department stores, e-commerce) and B2B direct sales (aquaculture, agriculture, food manufacturing), supported by 10 regional sales offices across Japan.

The business is led by President Eiichiro Itanami with ¥150,000,000 registered capital and two subsidiaries (BENEO Co., CIC Frontier). The company has accumulated over 740 research reports and 14 doctoral dissertations through university research collaborations, holds 9 consecutive years of METI Health Management Excellence certification (2018–2026), and operates regional sales offices from Hokkaido to Kyushu plus a Tokyo office opened August 2024.

Name

Chlorella Industry

Legal name

クロレラ工業株式会社

Website

https://chlorella.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chlorella Industry is a 60+ year Japanese manufacturer producing chlorella-based health supplements, food ingredients, aquaculture feeds, and agricultural inputs using its proprietary Chikugo (CK-5) strain at Japan's largest dedicated chlorella cultivation facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nutraceuticals and Functional Food Ingredients

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural Colorants (Plant/Algae/Microbial Extracts: Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Spirulina) (AFAJAEAA)

Keywords

• Chlorella supplements
• Aquaculture feed
• Agricultural fertilizers
• Natural food colorants
• Plant-based ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Health Food & Quasi-Drug Products: Chlorella Industry manufactures and sells finished consumer health products including chlorella tablets (ヤクケン バイオリンク, グロスミン, クロレラミン series), chlorella extract beverages, and quasi-drug intestinal products (新グロスキュー整腸薬). These are sold through pharmacies, health food stores, department stores, and direct sales.
2. Food Additive Ingredients: The company supplies chlorella micro powder, chlorella powder, and Flebotide sugar/salt solutions as ingredients to food manufacturers for use as natural colorants, quality improvers, and flavor enhancers. B2B ingredient sales form a significant commercial stream.
3. Aquaculture Feed Products: Live chlorella concentrates and chlorella-based feed products (生クロレラ-V12, ハイグレード生クロレラ-V12, 冷凍ナンノ, etc.) are sold to fish farms and aquaculture operations for larval fish and shellfish cultivation, supporting the farming of species including yellowtail, sea bream, flounder, tiger puffer, and bluefin tuna.
4. Agricultural Input Products: Chlorella-based organic fertilizers, soil conditioners, and foliar spray products (エージング, エナグリーン, スペースエージA, etc.) are sold to agricultural operations for crop cultivation including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
5. Consumer Branded Food Products: Finished consumer food products branded under 'mochotto with CHLORELLA', 'KAKERU MIDORI', 'クロレラベジカレー', '野菜のごほうび こどもシリーズ', and other branded items are sold to end consumers through retail and direct channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Chlorella Industry cultivates, processes, and distributes chlorella-based products derived from its proprietary Chikugo (CK-5) strain. The company sells consumer chlorella supplements under brands such as Yakuken Biorinck, Grosmin, and Chlorellamin through pharmacies and health food stores, while supplying chlorella powder and Flavotide solutions as natural food colorants to food manufacturers, live chlorella concentrates to aquaculture operations, and chlorella-based organic fertilizers to agricultural producers.

Product overview

Chlorella Industry operates as a chlorella-focused biotech manufacturer offering products across four business segments: health foods/supplements, agricultural inputs, aquaculture feeds, and food additives. The core health food portfolio includes three main supplement series — the premium ヤクケン バイオリンク (distributed via custom-order pharmacies), the mid-tier グロスミン (mass market), and クロレラミン (natural food stores) — all based on the proprietary Chikugo (CK-5) strain. Lifestyle food products under the mochotto with CHLORELLA sub-brand include dressings, plant-based ramen, and multi-purpose dashi, while KAKERU MIDORI and クロレラベジカレー serve plant-based consumers. The '野菜のごほうび こどもシリーズ' retort foods target families seeking allergen-conscious, vegan-compatible meals. Food additives include chlorella micro powder, standard powder, and Flavotide extract for coloration and quality enhancement. Aquaculture products comprise live and dried chlorella for rotifer and fish larval feed. Agricultural products include bokashi fertilizers and liquid fertilizers containing chlorella extract. The company also offers quasi-drugs including an intestinal medicine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ヤクケン バイオリンク (Yakuken Biorink): Premium chlorella product line sold through order-made pharmacies and drugstores
• グロスミンシリーズ (Grosmin)
• クロレラミンシリーズ (Chlorellamin)
• mochotto with CHLORELLA
• KAKERU MIDORI
• クロレラベジカレー (Chlorella Veggie Curry)

Products and services

• Yakuken Biorinck (ヤクケン バイオリンク) series Premium chlorella supplement series based on the Chikugo strain, distributed through order-made health consultation pharmacies and specialty health stores. Available in tablets, granules, liquid concentrate, and drink formats.
• Grosmin (グロスミン) series Mid-tier chlorella supplement series distributed through pharmacies, drug stores, and mass-market retailers. Available in tablet, granule, liquid concentrate, and drink formats.
• Chlorellamin (クロレラミン) series Chlorella supplement series distributed through natural food stores, rice shops, and health food retailers. Available in tablet, granule, liquid concentrate, and drink formats.
• Shin Groskyu Intestinal Medicine (新グロスキュー整腸薬) Green intestinal medicine combining three lactic acid bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus acidophilus) with dried yeast and chlorella raw powder, classified as a quasi-drug.
• mochotto with CHLORELLA Lifestyle food brand featuring chlorella-enhanced dressings (carrot, tomato, basil sauce), plant-based ramen (soy sauce), and multi-purpose dashi stock.
• KAKERU MIDORI Chikugo-produced chlorella powder product for cooking and food mixing applications, targeting plant-based diet consumers for nutritional supplementation.
• Chlorella Veggie Curry (クロレラベジカレー) 100% plant-based retort curry fortified with Chikugo-produced chlorella to provide Vitamin B12 typically found in animal products.
• Chlorella Tasumo (クロレラtasumo) Tablet-form chlorella products made from 100% Chikugo-produced chlorella without additives, including standard and lactobacillus plus variants.
• Yasai no Gohoubi Kodomo Series (野菜のこほうび こどもシリーズ) Children's retort food series (mapo tofu, curry, mushroom pasta sauce) developed with vegan restaurant Saidō and Moku Nursery School, with plant-based ingredients, allergy-conscious formulation, and Chikugo-produced chlorella.
• Chlorella Micro Powder (クロレラマイクロパウダー) Micro-pulverized chlorella powder developed as a natural green colorant for food applications, supplied B2B to food manufacturers.
• Chlorella Powder (クロレラ粉末) Chlorella-only natural green colorant powder usable as both food additive and supplement raw material, supplied to food manufacturers.
• Flavotide Sugar/Salt Solution (フレボタイド糖液・塩液) Chlorella extract product supplied to food manufacturers for quality improvement and taste enhancement applications.
• Live Chlorella V-12 (生クロレラ-V12) Live cell concentrate chlorella for aquaculture and seedling fishery, used globally for rotifer cultivation as feed for larval fish of over 70 species including yellowtail, sea bream, flounder, tiger puffer, and bluefin tuna.
• High-Grade Live Chlorella V-12 (ハイグレード生クロレラ-V12) EPA and DHA bio-concentrated live chlorella for aquaculture, reducing the need for secondary culture in fish larval production.
• Frozen Nanno K-2 (凍結ナンノK-2) Frozen Nannochloropsis concentrate for rotifer nutrition enhancement, water environment addition, and long-term storage.
• Aging (エイジング) fertilizer Multi-ingredient organic matter fermented 'bokashi fertilizer' with chlorella, N-P-K 4.0-5.5-3.0%, available in powder or pellet form with 90-120 day efficacy for crop cultivation.
• Space Age A Ace (スペースエースA《エース》) Liquid fertilizer with chlorella extract, N-P-K 0.2-0.2-0.1%, designed for plant activation in foliar and soil applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Chikugo strain digestibility reaches 82% after digestible cell wall treatment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• 久留米大学 先端癌治療研究センター / 医学部 疾患モデル研究センター (Kurume University)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Joint research partnership for chlorella functional studies. Companies collaborated on two academic presentations at the 80th Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science conference (May 2026) covering chlorella's effects on gut microbiota and constipation relief in rats, and chlorella carotenoid effects on dendritic cell immune response. The partnership generates scientific evidence supporting chlorella's health applications.
• 九州大学 大学院医学研究院 保健学部門 (Kyushu University Graduate School of Medicine)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Joint research partnership for fundamental studies on chlorella's immunological mechanisms. Presented findings on chlorella-derived carotenoid suppression of imidazoquinoxaline-induced inflammatory response in dendritic cells at the 80th Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science conference.
• ヴィーガンレストラン 菜道 (Vegan Restaurant Saidou)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026Chlorella Industry collaborated with vegan restaurant chain '菜道' (Saidō) to develop the '野菜のごほうび こどもシリーズ' (Vegetable Rewards Children's Series) retort food products launched January 28, 2026. The collaboration also involves co-developing other 'mochotto with CHLORELLA' products. 菜道 provided culinary expertise and vegan food formulation knowledge, while Chlorella Industry supplied Chikugo chlorella for nutritional enhancement and plant-based formulation.
• 福岡県筑後市 (Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025Chlorella Industry entered a comprehensive partnership agreement (包括連携協定) with Chikugo City on May 15, 2025. The partnership covers local production for local consumption (地産地消), promotion and PR of the Chikugo brand, regional community activation, and regional social welfare. The company has also donated educational materials to the city's library and special needs school, and hosts the annual 'Chlorella Fureai Festival' at its Kyushu Chikugo Plant.
• シャボン玉石けん株式会社 (Shabon Tama Soap Co., Ltd.)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerChlorella Industry and Shabon Tama Soap share a co-development partnership centered on sustainability and wellness. Their collaborative product 'みんなのせっけん' (Everyone's Soap) combines Shabon Tama's soap manufacturing expertise with Chlorella Industry's Chikugo chlorella extract. The partnership extends beyond product development to include mutual participation in community activities promoting sustainable living. Both companies cite shared values around environmental responsibility and human health.
• 近畿大学 水産養殖種苗センター (Kinki University Aquaculture Seed Center)notableTechnology or IntegrationKinki University uses Chlorella Industry's 生クロレラ-V12 for rotifer cultivation critical to bluefin tuna aquaculture. This partnership was foundational to Kinki University's world-first complete bluefin tuna aquaculture cycle achieved in 2002. The university's research validates Chlorella Industry's product quality and contributes to the company's reputation in aquaculture.
• 東京ファインフーズ株式会社 (Tokyo Fine Foods)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTokyo Fine Foods incorporated Chikugo chlorella as a key functional ingredient in 'V-Aid Pan', the world's first vegan disaster preparedness bread. Chlorella provides vitamin B12 and D for vegan nutrition, plus excellent dough compatibility and green coloration. The V-Aid Pan product has 5-year shelf life and is allergen-25 free, targeting vegan and disaster preparedness consumers.
• もく保育園 (Moku Nursery School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for '野菜のごほうび こどもシリーズ'. もく保育園 runs the 'One Table Day' initiative providing vegan school lunches that allow children with and without food allergies to share the same meals. This initiative informed the product concept and recipe development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubechlorella.co.jp/en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cic-chlorella-superfood

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 Chlorella Industry