チョーヤ梅酒（株）

What チョーヤ梅酒（株） does

チョーヤ梅酒株式会社 (CHOYA UMESHU CO., LTD.) is a privately held Japanese producer of authentic honkaku umeshu (plum wine), operating continuously since its founding in 1914 by 金銅住太郎 (originally as a grape farm, with the umeshu business launched in 1959 and the formal corporation established in 1962 under 蝶矢洋酒造製造株式会社; renamed to the current form in 2000). The company sells alcoholic umeshu under the premium The CHOYA line and the mainstream 紀州 and さらりとした梅酒 lines, non-alcoholic ume beverages (酔わないウメッシュ, 酔わないThe CHOYA), soft drinks (夏梅, 夏梅ソーダ, 梅しぼり, syrups), and ume-derived foods (梅干, 梅 jelly, 梅 musubi dumplings). It also operates experiential retail including The CHOYA 銀座BAR in Tokyo and the 梅体験専門店「蝶矢」 plum-experience specialty store. End markets span Japanese consumers domestically and international consumers in 60+ countries, served through a wholly-owned German subsidiary (CHOYA UMESHU GmbH, established 1990) and export distributors.

The company's core production technology is a still-aging (自立熟成) method in which umeshu base is stored in tanks engineered to block light, heat, and air for approximately one year or longer, extracting flavor from both the plum flesh and seeds. The Iga Ueno factory (Mie Prefecture) covers 68,498 m² with ~9,500 m² of production area, housing 120 aging tanks of 100 kL capacity each (~8 m tall, 4 m diameter), supported by 326 tanks of 50 kL at Osaka and Wakayama factories, for an aggregate maximum daily output of roughly 60,000 bottles (720 mL equivalent). Five farmer research groups established between 1997 and 2008 supply 100% domestic Kishu Nankō plums, including 16+ hectares of certified-organic land, supporting a JONA-certified organic product line. Master blenders combine different vintages via single-year harvest blending to maintain consistent quality, and the company played a leading role in defining the Japanese 'Honkaku Umeshu' (本格梅酒) quality standard in 2015, which prohibits acidulants, artificial flavors, and colorings in qualifying products.

Revenue is generated from one-time unit sales of branded packaged goods at premium retail pricing (e.g., The CHOYA 至極の梅 650 mL at 1,200 yen; The CHOYA 熟成一年 700 mL at 1,050 yen; 紀州 1,000 mL paper pack at 818 yen; 酔わないウメッシュ 350 mL can at 142 yen; 梅 jelly 180 g at 259 yen). The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer channels (choya-an.jp online shop, The CHOYA 銀座BAR, the 蝶矢 specialty store), wholesale distribution to Japanese retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants, and distributor-led export to international markets. Customer segments split horizontally between Japanese consumers and overseas consumers in 60+ countries, and vertically between foodservice/hospitality and mass-market retail. The company is privately held with no public listing, no disclosed parent, no institutional investment noted, and no public revenue disclosure in the source data. International brand reputation is corroborated by repeated San Francisco World Spirits Competition medals, including the 2024 Best in Show Liqueur and Double Gold/Best of Class for The CHOYA AGED 3 YEARS EXTRA FRUIT.

Name

チョーヤ梅酒（株）

Legal name

CHOYA UMESHU CO.,LTD.

Website

https://choya.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CHOYA is a privately held Japanese umeshu (plum wine) producer founded in 1914. It makes premium The CHOYA umeshu, non-alcoholic ume drinks, and ume foods at its Iga Ueno factory, distributing to 60+ countries via a German subsidiary and partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Plum Wine (Umeshu) and Spirits

NAICS

Spice and Extract Manufacturing (311942)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural Extracts & Botanical Concentrates for Beverages (herbal, spice, aromatic extracts) (AFAFAGAJ)

Keywords

• Japanese plum wine
• Umeshu production
• Alcoholic beverages
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Ume cultivation

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka (Regional Office)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Alcoholic Beverages - Umeshu (Plum Wine): Core revenue stream from premium umeshu products including The CHOYA series (熟成一年, 熟成三年, 至極の梅, etc.), 紀州, さらりとした梅酒, and CRAFT CHOYA products. Distributed in 60+ countries internationally.
2. Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Products including 酔わないウメッシュ (non-alcoholic ume soda), 酔わないThe CHOYA (non-alcoholic umeshu taste), and 酔わないゆずッシュ (non-alcoholic yuzu), targeting consumers who want umeshu flavor without alcohol.
3. Food Products: Food items derived from ume including 梅結 (ume jam buns), 梅干 (pickled ume), うめ実ごろ (ume fruit in syrup), 梅ゼルリー (ume jelly), and syrups.
4. Specialty/Health Products: Specialty items including 謹製蝶矢人参丹 (ginseng supplement), 健康酒 (health sake with ginseng and herbs), and other wellness products leveraging ume extracts.
5. Soft Drinks: Non-alcoholic beverages including 夏梅 (summer ume drink), 夏梅ソーダ, 梅しぼり, and syrups like 完熟うめシロップ and はちみつ梅シロップ.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

チョーヤ梅酒株式会社 (CHOYA UMESHU CO., LTD.) manufactures and sells premium Japanese plum wine (umeshu) and ume-based products. The portfolio centers on The CHOYA brand featuring aged umeshu variants (1-year, 3-year, EXTRA FRUIT, 至極の梅), the standard 紀州 line, non-alcoholic umeshu beverages (酔わない series), seasonal soft drinks, syrups, and food products including pickled plums, plum jelly, and Japanese sweets. Products are made using 100% domestic Japanese Kishu Nankoume plums without acidulants, artificial flavors, or colorings, aged using proprietary still-aging methodology.

Product overview

チョーヤ梅酒株式会社 (CHOYA) is a Japanese plum wine (umeshu) and food products company founded in 1914. The product portfolio centers on premium umeshu products under the 'The CHOYA' brand, including aged variants (熟成一年, 熟成三年), luxury offerings (至極の梅, 大地の梅), and the core 紀州 line. The company also produces non-alcoholic alternatives (酔わない series), seasonal soft drinks (夏梅, 梅しぼり), syrups, and food products including pickled plums (梅干), plum jelly, and wagashi sweets. Products are made with 100% domestic Japanese plums, primarily Kishu Nankakaume, emphasizing authentic '本格梅酒' standards without acidulants, fragrances, or colorings. Distribution spans Japan and over 60 countries globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The CHOYA: Premium honkaku umeshu (plum wine) brand representing Choya's pinnacle of plum wine craftsmanship, featuring aged and extra-fruit varieties.
• The CHOYA 銀座BAR
• 蝶矢
• 紀州
• 夏梅
• 酔わないウメッシュ
• 酔わないThe CHOYA
• うめぼッちゃん
• うめ実ごろ
• 梅結 (Umemusubi)
• 蝶矢庵 (Choyaan)
• 梅体験专卖店「蝶矢」

Products and services

• The CHOYA 熟成一年 (Aged 1 Year)

Quantifiable outcome

• Products exported to 60+ countries worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CHOYA UMESHU GmbH (Germany)coreOthers · 1 January 1990Subsidiary established in Germany in 1990 to manage European markets. This represents the company's long-term commitment to international expansion, being the first Japanese umeshu company to establish a dedicated European subsidiary.
• 田辺印の会 (Tanabe-mark Organic Farming Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner14-member organic farming group registered with Wakayama Organic Certification Association. 16ha of certified organic ume area - largest in Wakayama Prefecture. Produces 120-130 tons of organic ume annually, supplying primarily to CHOYA. Established 2008.
• かつらぎ町有機栽培実践グループ (Katsuragi Town Organic Farming Practice Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner30-member group established in 1999 as Japan's first all-organic ume farming group. Produces 80 tons of organic ume annually. First organic certification received from WOCA in 2001.
• 完熟南高梅生産グループ (Fully Ripened Nankou Ume Production Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner325-member group with 50ha of cultivation area across 14 regions. Produces premium fully-ripened ume for CHOYA's highest quality products. Established 2003 through joint research on ume ripening for umeshu production.
• 梅特別栽培研究会 (Special Ume Cultivation Research Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner36-member group managing 17ha of reduced-pesticide ume cultivation. Produces ~250 tons annually for CHOYA. Established 1997, received Wakayama prefecture certification in 2002.
• 梅減農薬栽培研究会 (Reduced-Pesticide Ume Cultivation Research Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces ~40 tons annually for CHOYA. Established at CHOYA's initiative to research stable production and high-quality cultivation. Follows strict reduced-pesticide rules (max 50% of normal pesticide use, organic fertilizer only, no herbicides).
• 和歌山有機認証協会 (Wakayama Organic Certification Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic certification body that certifies CHOYA's partner farming groups including 田辺印の会 and かつらぎ町 group. Ensures organic compliance for CHOYA's organic product line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ozeki Corporation: Privately held Japanese sake and umeshu producer with both domestic and overseas distribution. Comparable to CHOYA as a private, traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage company with premium and export focus.
• Takara Shuzo: Major Japanese maker of sake, shochu, and umeshu (e.g., Takara Plum), with international distribution to bars and Asian retail. Closest direct competitor to CHOYA across traditional Japanese alcoholic beverages and umeshu product range.
• Hakutsuru Sake Brewing: Long-established Kobe-based sake brewer with growing umeshu and liqueur portfolio and overseas market presence. Comparable to CHOYA as a heritage Japanese alcoholic beverage producer with premium and international positioning.
• Nakano Seiyaku / Umenishiki: Wakayama-based producer specializing in premium umeshu with deep Kishu sourcing. Directly comparable to CHOYA in terms of regional sourcing, traditional aging methods, and premium positioning in the umeshu category.
• Gekkeikan Sake Company: One of Japan's largest sake producers, also offering umeshu and traditional fruit liqueurs for domestic and overseas markets. Highly comparable as a long-established Japanese alcoholic beverage manufacturer with premium and export channels.
• Matsui Shuzo (Matsui Sake): Japanese sake and umeshu producer based in Shimane with both domestic and overseas distribution through specialty importers. Comparable to CHOYA in traditional Japanese brewing heritage and exports to US/EU bar programs.

Emerging players

• Umenoi Yashiro / craft umeshu makers: Smaller, craft-focused umeshu and plum-based product makers emerging in Japan and abroad with artisanal positioning. Comparable to CHOYA in the umeshu category but competing on craft/craft-authenticity rather than scale.

Broad incumbents

• Asahi Group Holdings: Large Japanese beverage group covering beer, RTDs, and traditional alcoholic beverages. Comparable as a broad incumbent with deep retail and hospitality relationships that could be leveraged against CHOYA's premium positioning.
• Kirin Holdings: Major Japanese beverage conglomerate spanning beer, RTD, and traditional spirits including plum liqueur lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent with significantly larger resources than CHOYA, capable of competing across CHOYA's segments.
• Suntory Holdings: Japan's largest spirits company, producing whisky, RTD cocktails, and umeshu-style liqueurs as part of a broad portfolio. Comparable as an established Japanese alcoholic beverage incumbent with global distribution and resources to compete in umeshu-adjacent categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/choyaofficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnpqq6X-ZJ3rRDi-XyvMe6g
• Facebookfacebook.com/choya.jp
• Instagraminstagram.com/choya_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A4%E6%A2%85%E9%85%92%EF%BC%88%E6%A0%AA%EF%BC%89

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 チョーヤ梅酒（株）