Uema

What Uema does

Uema Confectionery Co., Ltd. (株式会社上間菓子店), headquartered in Tomigusuku, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is a privately held specialty food manufacturer that pioneered Japan's dried plum (umesu) snack category in 1981 with the launch of its flagship Suppaiman brand. The company employs 51–100 staff (65 including part-time workers) and operates a single production facility with ~1,000 tons/year of capacity, producing dried plum snacks, sugar-coated plum candies, assorted savory plum-flavored snacks (squid, seaweed, furikake, fish cake, pork jerky, curry, somen), and Suppaiman-branded character merchandise. Its core technology is a multi-stage dried plum processing pipeline (vibration sorting, washing, flavor infusion, drying) and a sugar-cooking/candy-encasing process using 100°C caramelization and four-pot molding. Manufacturing is supported by a three-stage quality control system spanning raw material entry, in-process, and post-manufacturing inspection.

Uema's business model is omnichannel consumer goods distribution. Revenue is generated through (i) direct-to-consumer e-commerce on its own storefront (www.amaume.co.jp) with nationwide Japan shipping, (ii) a company-owned factory-direct retail store (上間商店) at the Tomigusuku site, (iii) wholesale distribution through Don Quijote nationwide and Okinawa souvenir/airport shops, and (iv) free factory tours that drive on-site retail conversion. Pricing is unit-based across a broad SKU portfolio (¥20–¥3,980), with free shipping over ¥5,000. The company's customers are primarily Japanese tourists visiting Okinawa, children and general consumers seeking nostalgic or character-driven snacks, and secondary use-case segments such as athletes (post-exercise recovery) and pregnant women (sour cravings). The Suppaiman mascot IP, which celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2026, anchors a recurring collaboration pipeline with Sega's Ryu ga Gotoku franchise, Chiikawa, the Yomiuri Giants, and Be-Leger protein, and a formal character licensing program was opened to individual applicants in January 2026.

Name

Uema

Legal name

Uema Co.,Ltd.

Website

https://amaume.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Uema is a privately held Okinawa-based Japanese confectionery manufacturer that pioneered Japan's dried plum snack category in 1981 under the Suppaiman brand, selling dried plums, candies, savory snacks, and character merchandise through DTC e-commerce, factory-direct retail, Don Quijote, and Okinawa souvenir shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tomigusuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 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. Direct product sales (e-commerce + retail): Revenue from selling Suppaiman branded dried plum snacks, candies, and character merchandise through company e-commerce site and the physical Uema Store. One-time product purchase model with free shipping on orders over ¥5,000.
2. Wholesale / retail distribution: Products sold through Don Quijote, ドン・キホーテ, Okinawa souvenir shops, and other retail chains across Japan. One-time purchase model at retail price points.
3. Factory tours and on-site retail: Free factory tours attract visitors to the production facility in Tomigusuku, Okinawa, converting tourists into retail purchases at the on-site 上間商店 (Uema Store).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Uema manufactures and sells the Suppaiman (スッパイマン) brand of dried plum snacks, plum-based candies, plum-flavored savory snacks, and Suppaiman character merchandise. Core products are sold under the Suppaiman label, originally launched in 1981, with both seeded and seedless dried plum variants, plum-encased amber candies, and a wide range of plum-flavored snacks such as furikake, wakame, squid, and fish cake. The company also operates the on-site Uema Store and offers free factory tours in Okinawa.

Product overview

Uema Confectionery Co., Ltd. (株式会社上間菓子店) is an Okinawa-based confectionery manufacturer founded in 1966 that pioneered dried plum manufacturing in Japan. The company's flagship product line is "Suppaiman" (スッパイマン), a dried plum snack brand celebrating 45 years since its 1981 launch. The product portfolio centers on the core Suppaiman dried plum series (甘梅一番, たねなし, たねぬき variants in various sizes), expanded through the Suppaiman candy line (梅キャンディー, たねぬき梅キャンディー, 梅コロキャンディー), snack items (柿ピー, 茎わかめ, ふりかけ, ミミガージャーキー, 梅そうめん, various seafood snacks, and newer innovations like 梅シートロング and つまめる梅肉), and character merchandise (ぬいぐるみ, クッション, お守り, キーホルダー, ストラップ, ショップバッグ, マングラス). The company also operates limited-time collaboration products with franchises like 'Ryuu ga Gotoku' (龍が如く), Yomiuri Giants, Chiikawa (ちいかわ), as well as brand collaborations with 浜乙女, ドン・キホーテ, Oki-Hamu, and protein supplement partnerships with Beer Legend. Additional offerings include the factory tour experience and the nostalgic "Uema Shop" (上間商店) retail store. The company operates a direct-to-consumer online store alongside wholesale distribution through convenience stores, department stores, and specialty retailers nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• スッパイマン (Suppaiman): The flagship dried plum snack brand, originally named '甘梅一番' (Amamage Ichiban). Suppaiman was created to be 'Super Man' who is loved by children worldwide.

Products and services

• Suppaiman Dried Plum Snacks (with seed) — 甘梅一番 The flagship Suppaiman dried plum snack line with seed, sold in multiple package sizes (17g, 35g, 65g). Japan's original dried plum snack brand for general consumers and Okinawa souvenir buyers.
• Suppaiman Seedless Dried Plum Snacks — たねなし / たねぬき Seedless dried plum snacks in 10g, 15g, and 55g package sizes. Easy-to-eat allergy-friendly variants popular for children, general consumers, and tourist purchases.
• Suppaiman Plum Candies — 梅キャンディー / たねぬき梅キャンディー Dried plum candies encased in amber sugar coating, available in seed and seedless variants (8-piece, 10-piece packs), plus round tablet format (梅コロ). Bestselling candy products for everyday snacking.
• Suppaiman Plum-flavored Savory Snacks — おつまみ・梅菓子 Plum-flavored savory snacks including kaki-pee rice crackers, plum wakame, plum furikake rice seasoning, plum-flavored pork ear jerky, plum squid fritters, plum kombu seaweed, plum-flavored somen noodles, plum-flavored curry, and pinchable plum paste. Sold as snacks and souvenir items.
• Suppaiman Character Merchandise — グッズ・キーホルダー・ぬいぐるみ Suppaiman mascot character merchandise including plush dolls (S and L sizes), cushions (S and L), keychains, straps, shopping bags, lucky charms with plum seed, and branded glassware for fans and collectors.
• Suppaiman Ume Sheet Long — 梅シートロング Long sheet-format dried plum snack, an innovative product format that gained popularity through social media virality. Sold individually (¥64) and in 30-sheet bundle sets (¥1,920).
• Be-Leger WPC Suppaiman Plum-flavor Protein Powder Limited quantity whey protein powder with Suppaiman plum flavor in collaboration with Be-Leger, 900g (30 servings) at ¥3,980. Targeted at athletes and health-conscious consumers.
• Free Factory Tours at Tomigusuku, Okinawa Free factory tours in Tomigusuku, Okinawa, open to individuals and groups (10-40 people), with online booking. Tour times 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. Tours funnel visitors to the on-site Uema Store for retail purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual production capacity of ~1,000 tons of dried plum products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Black Eye PatchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Apparel brand that designed a custom bike for the Suppaiman mascot character featured in a new special-effects hero-style commercial celebrating the 60th company anniversary and 45th Suppaiman anniversary.
• Nitora (ニトラ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Bike shop that built a custom bike for the Suppaiman mascot character featured in the 60th anniversary / 45th Suppaiman anniversary special-effects commercial.
• Okinawa Television (沖縄テレビ)minorOthers · 9 March 2026Okinawa Television station broadcasting the new special-effects hero-style Suppaiman commercial starting March 9, 2026, as part of the 60th company anniversary and 45th Suppaiman anniversary celebration.
• D-51minorOthers · 9 March 2026Okinawan musical duo that created an original song for the new special-effects hero-style commercial commemorating the 60th anniversary and 45th Suppaiman anniversary.
• Chiikawa (ちいかわ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2024Collaboration product 'スッパイマンちいかわ一番 たねなし' released September 8, featuring Chiikawa character branding on Suppaiman seedless dried plum packaging.
• Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDon Quijote is the primary nationwide retail chain for exclusive and limited-edition Suppaiman snack products such as柿ピー一番 and たねどこ！？; customer reviews frequently reference Don Quijote as the primary purchase location.
• Sega / Ryu ga Gotoku (龍が如く)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal collaboration releasing two limited-edition たねぬき梅キャンディー products — a standard version and an Okinawa-exclusive version — tied to the Ryu ga Gotoku video game series set in Okinawa.
• Yomiuri Giants (読売ジャイアンツ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration product 'スッパイマン巨人一番 たねなし' featuring Yomiuri Giants branding and a special package design; sold as a limited edition.
• Be-Leger (ビーレジェンド)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCollaboration releasing 'ビーレジェンドWPCスッパイマン梅風味' protein powder — a limited-edition protein product using the Suppaiman flavor brand; priced at ¥3,980 for 900g (30 servings).
• 浜乙女minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCollaboration product 'スッパイマンふりかけ' using 浜乙女's furikake (rice seasoning) formulation with Suppaiman branding.
• Okihamu (オキハム)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCollaboration product 'スッパイmannミミガージャーキー' using Okihamu's grilled pork chip manufacturing expertise with Suppaiman branding.
• Maruesu (マルエス)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCollaboration product 'スッパイマン いか天' using the Maruesu seafood snack manufacturing process with Suppaiman flavor branding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kameda Seika: Kameda Seika is a Japanese rice-cracker and dried-seafood-snack maker with nationwide retail presence. Comparable to Uema in Japan retail scale, savory-snack product format, and branded snack manufacturing economics.
• Kasugai: Kasugai Seika is a leading Japanese fruit-flavored hard-candy and confectionery manufacturer specializing in individually wrapped fruit candies with character-driven packaging — directly comparable to Uema's plum-candy / Suppaiman individually-wrapped candy SKUs and broad retail distribution across convenience stores and drug chains in Japan.
• Bourbon: Bourbon is a Japanese snack manufacturer producing cookies, crackers, candies, and savory snack items at scale with nationwide distribution. Comparable to Uema in Japan-domestic retail distribution, multiple snack SKUs, and family-oriented brand positioning.
• Kanro: Kanro is a Japanese non-chocolate candy manufacturer known for gummies and licorice drops, selling through nationwide retail and direct e-commerce. Uema shares the same Japanese nonchocolate confectionery category, multi-channel distribution model, and lifestyle-snack positioning.
• UHA Mikakuto: UHA Mikakuto is a Japanese nonchocolate candy specialist (gummies, mints, chewable supplements) operating nationwide in Japan with strong convenience-store and drug-channel presence — directly comparable to Uema in nonchocolate confectionery category, flavor-innovation orientation, and mascot/character branding.

Broad incumbents

• Calbee: Calbee is Japan's largest snack manufacturer with broad potato-chip, savory-snack, and cereal lines and much larger scale than Uema. Comparable as a broad Japanese snack incumbent and benchmark for nationwide retail execution, but operates at a fundamentally different scale and category breadth.
• Ezaki Glico: Ezaki Glico is one of Japan's largest confectionery incumbents with chocolate, candy, gum, and snack portfolios. Comparable as a broad Japanese confectionery incumbent with nationwide distribution, but operates with much larger scale, international footprint, and capital resources than Uema.
• Meiji Seika: Meiji Seika is a Japanese confectionery, food, and pharmaceutical major with broad candy, chocolate, and snack exposure. Comparable as a Japanese confectionery incumbent, but with much larger scale, capital, and product breadth.

Emerging players

• Kotobuki Seika: Kotobuki Seika is a smaller Japanese confectionery manufacturer with branded snack and candy lines and nationwide retail distribution. Comparable in scale and category to Uema as a mid-sized Japanese confectionery peer, though without Uema's character-IP business or factory-tour experiential layer.

Regional players

• Oki-Hamu (Oriolo): Oki-Hamu (Oriolo) is an Okinawan meat and food manufacturer based in Okinawa with similar regional identity and souvenir-channel presence to Uema. Comparable as an Okinawan food company operating in the same Okinawa retail/tourism channels, though focused more on meat products than confectionery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/suppaiman_uema
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiZqw49KgQLyZlXxO7GsjqA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/uemakashiten
• Instagraminstagram.com/suppaiman_uemakashiten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Uema