What Daisho does

Daisho Co., Ltd. (株式会社ダイショー) is a Japanese public food seasoning and sauce manufacturer founded in 1966 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market (ticker: 2816). The company develops, manufactures, and sells a broad portfolio of packaged condiments centered on three flagship franchises: YAKIICHI (焼肉一番) BBQ sauces, Ajikoshi (味・塩こしょう) salt-and-pepper seasonings, and the long-selling Motsunabe Soup (もつ鍋スープ), which has held category leadership in Japan's specialized hot pot soup market for 30 years since Daisho pioneered the segment in 1989. The full product range spans hot pot soups (miso, soy sauce, chanko nabe, curry, spicy, seafood dashi), sukiyaki/shabu-shabu sauces, BBQ and steak sauces, dressings, aojiru (green juice), karaage coating powders, and ramen products, with seafood-free and plant-based variants now supplementing the core lineup.

Daisho operates four FSSC22000-certified factories in Japan (three in Fukuoka including the Kyushu Factory, Fukuoka Factory, and Fukuoka No. 2 Factory, plus the Tokyo Head Office) and runs a distinctive B2B2C go-to-market in which products are merchandised inside the fresh produce sections — meat, fish, and vegetables — of mass merchants and supermarkets, generating synergistic sales with fresh ingredients. This channel model is being extended into ready-made food sections, drugstores, and discount stores, while direct-to-consumer sales flow through the oec-daisho.com online store and a mail-order business selling health/beauty items and exclusive seasonings.

The company monetizes primarily through wholesale of packaged goods (BBQ sauces, hot pot soups, seasonings, dressings, ramen) to retail partners, with a smaller D2C and international trade revenue stream covering Hong Kong, China, and North America. For FY2026 (ending March 2026), Daisho reported net sales of ¥27,489 million, employs 501–1,000 people, and has 21,955 shareholders; ownership is concentrated among Yamada Kosan Co., Ltd. (25.30%), the Kanazawa Memorial Educational Foundation (15.41%), and individual shareholder Matsumoto Keiko (8.84%), with no controlling parent entity identified.

Name

Daisho

Legal name

DAISHO Co., Ltd.

Website

http://www.daisho.co.jp/

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Daisho Co., Ltd. is a Japanese public food seasoning and sauce manufacturer founded in 1966, serving retail and household consumers with BBQ sauces, hot pot soups, and condiments distributed through supermarkets, drugstores, discount stores, and direct e-commerce channels in Japan and overseas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Seasonings and Sauces

NAICS

Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepared soups, stews & chili manufacturing (AFAKAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soy Sauce, Tamari & Asian Condiments Manufacturing (AFAKADAF), Fermented & Specialty Condiments Manufacturing (Kimchi Base, Gochujang, Miso-Based Sauces) (AFAKADAO), Noodle Manufacturing (instant, ramen, rice noodles) (AFAKABAC), Chili & Heat Ingredients (Chili Powders, Flakes, Paprika, Capsicum Extracts) (AFAJANAG)

Keywords

• Seasoning manufacturing
• Sauce production
• Condiment industry
• Food manufacturing
• Hot pot soups

Headquarters

HQ city

Sumida

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sauce and Seasoning Products: Manufacturing and sales of yakitori sauce (焼肉たれ), sauces, and powdered seasonings. Core products include 'YAKIICHI' BBQ sauce line and '味・塩こしょう' (seasoning salt) which are flagship products.
2. Hot Pot Soup Products: Specialized hot pot soups including the long-selling 'もつ鍋スープ' (offal hot pot soup) which has been on the market for 30 years. The company pioneered this category in Japan.
3. Dressings and Other Products: Sales of dressings, aojiru (green juice), and other blended seasonings. The company created new markets by introducing vegetable dressings and aojiru to produce sections.
4. E-commerce / Mail Order: Direct-to-consumer sales through the company's online store and mail-order division. Offers health and beauty food products as well as original seasonings not available in general retail channels.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Daisho manufactures and sells Japanese seasonings, sauces, hot pot soups, dressings, and condiments under brands including YAKIICHI (BBQ sauces), Ajikoshi (salt and pepper seasoning), and the flagship Motsunabe hot pot soup. The company pioneered the hot pot soup category in Japan in 1989 and operates a unique distribution model placing products in fresh produce sections of supermarkets to create synergy with fresh ingredient sales. The company also operates direct-to-consumer e-commerce and exports to international markets.

Product overview

Daisho (株式会社ダイショー) is a Japanese food seasoning and sauce manufacturer founded in 1966, operating as a B2C food products company with a B2B2C distribution model through fresh food retail sections. The company offers a diverse portfolio of condiments, sauces, and seasonings centered around three core product lines: (1) YAKIICHI (焼肉一番) BBQ sauces including spicy, salt, black pepper, and garlic variants; (2) Ajikoshi (味・塩こしょう) seasonings combining salt and pepper; and (3) hot pot soups including the flagship 30-year-old Motsunabe Soup, along with ramen products (ラー麦), karaage powders (から揚げ粉), and various sauces and dressings. The company pioneered selling seasonings in fresh produce sections of supermarkets, creating synergistic sales between their products and fresh ingredients. They also operate online stores and international trade operations serving markets in Hong Kong, China, and North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YAKIICHI (焼肉一番): BBQ sauce brand including spicy, salt, and black pepper flavors
• AJIKO (味・塩こしょう)

Quantifiable outcome

• Leading market share in hot pot soup category for 30 consecutive years with '博多もつ鍋スープ'

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mizkan Holdings: Japanese condiment and sauce manufacturer producing vinegars, ponzu, noodle soups, and Japanese seasonings. Highly comparable product portfolio (sauces, soups, dressings) and overlapping retail distribution channels in Japan.
• House Foods Group: Japanese food manufacturer with major curry and stew product lines as well as sauces and seasonings. Comparable mid-cap Japanese packaged food company with overlapping retail distribution and similar product positioning.
• S&B Foods: Japanese spice, herb, and prepared sauce manufacturer of similar size. Comparable mid-cap packaged food maker with overlapping retail channels and product types (sauces, seasonings, curry products).
• Kewpie Corporation: Japanese condiment leader best known for mayonnaise and dressings, with an expanding sauces and seasonings portfolio. Comparable Japanese condiment manufacturer selling through similar retail channels with overlapping categories (dressings, sauces).
• Bull-Dog Sauce Co. Japanese sauce specialist producing tonkatsu, yakiniku, and pasta sauces for retail. Closely comparable mid-cap Japanese sauce maker with similar retail distribution model and product focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kikkoman Corporation: Global leader in soy sauce and Asian condiments with a much larger portfolio including Asian sauces, seasonings, and prepared foods. Larger incumbent operating in the same Japanese condiments category with broader international reach.
• Ajinomoto Co. Japanese food and seasoning giant with extensive seasonings, frozen foods, and Asian cuisine portfolio. Major incumbent with overlapping product categories in seasonings, soups, and Asian sauces.

Emerging players

• Nissin Foods Holdings: Japanese instant noodle and ramen leader with global distribution. Comparable for Daisho's ramen product sub-line (Hakata tonkotsu, Nagahama yatai) targeting overseas markets where Nissin is a benchmark player.
• Ichibanya Co. Japanese curry restaurant chain operator with branded retail curry products. Comparable through Daisho's gyudon sauce and ready-meal sauce lines targeting foodservice-adjacent retail opportunities.

Others

• Yukiguni Maitake: Japanese food producer with retail packaged food products sold through supermarket fresh and prepared-food sections. Comparable channel positioning with Daisho's fresh-section merchandising strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oec_daisho_offi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=HG9wF6zCK9g
• Facebookfacebook.com/daishooec
• Instagraminstagram.com/daisho_oec/?hl=ja

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Daisho