JFC JAPAN INC

What JFC JAPAN INC does

JFC JAPAN INC is a Tokyo-based B2B food trading company specializing in the export of Japanese and Asian food products and the import of international food ingredients into Japan. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kikkoman Corporation, having been renamed from Pacific Trading Co., Ltd. in 2013, and operates as the Japanese hub of the global JFC Group network of 60+ overseas bases. Its customer base spans Japanese food service companies (restaurants, izakaya chains) expanding overseas, food retailers and supermarkets seeking Japanese/Asian SKUs, and food manufacturers requiring OEM or private brand product development.

The company's underlying technology stack is centered on physical cold chain infrastructure rather than software. It operates a four-temperature zone warehouse and logistics management system handling room temperature, refrigerated, frozen, and super-frozen SKUs across a catalog of 10,000+ products. Supporting this infrastructure are a detailed raw material database built to ensure export regulatory compliance across 20+ jurisdictions, an in-house quality control office covering factory inspections, HACCP plan support, and audit procedures, and dedicated import customs clearance expertise. Distribution is conducted both through JFC Group subsidiaries with their own truck fleets and through direct export/import B2B channels.

JFC Japan makes money primarily via transaction fees on food import/export trades, complemented by professional services revenue from overseas store opening support (consulting, market analysis, ingredient sourcing, logistics) and OEM/private brand product development. Pricing is quote-based and varies by product, volume, destination, and service requirements, with no public list pricing. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by website inquiry forms, JFC Group referrals, and overseas trade show participation targeting Japanese manufacturers and food service operators planning international expansion.

Name

JFC JAPAN INC

Legal name

JFC JAPAN INC.

Website

https://jfcjapan.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JFC JAPAN INC is a Tokyo-based B2B food trading company and wholly owned Kikkoman subsidiary that exports Japanese and Asian food products to 20+ countries and imports international ingredients into Japan. It leverages the JFC Group's 60+ overseas bases, four-temperature cold chain warehousing, and regulatory compliance expertise to serve retailers, Japanese restaurant chains expanding overseas, and food manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Import/Export Trading

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Temperature-Controlled Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale (AFAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Foods Distribution (CRAOABAI), Frozen Food Cold Storage (TLALABAB), Cold Storage QA/Compliance & Traceability Services (HACCP/FSMA, audits) (AFAOAFAM)

Keywords

• Food import export
• Japanese food trading
• Cold chain logistics
• Food OEM development
• Overseas distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Export Services: JFC Japan exports Japanese and Asian food products to over 20 countries worldwide through its global JFC Group network. The company handles product sourcing, regulatory compliance, logistics, customs clearance, and final delivery to retailers and restaurants.
2. Food Import Services: Import and distribution of international food products into the Japanese market, leveraging worldwide JFC Group network for procurement and quality verification.
3. OEM/Private Brand Product Development: Development and manufacturing of private brand and OEM products for JFC Group companies worldwide, including product planning, manufacturing coordination, and quality control.
4. Overseas Store Expansion Support: Comprehensive consulting and logistics services supporting Japanese food service companies in opening overseas locations, including import feasibility studies, pricing, procurement, and distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

JFC Japan is a B2B specialty food trading company that exports Japanese and Asian food products to 20+ countries and imports international food ingredients into Japan. It manages the full supply chain from regulatory compliance and quality verification through to multi-temperature cold chain logistics (room temperature, refrigerated, frozen, and super-frozen) and last-mile delivery to retailers, restaurants, and food manufacturers.

Product overview

JFC JAPAN INC is a food trading company (specialty food importer/exporter) operating as part of the Kikkoman Group. The company offers three core service areas: Food Export Services (Japan to World), Food Import Services (World to Japan), and Product Development/OEM Services. These services are supported by specialized functions including overseas store opening support, promotional activities, and quality control services. The company handles over 10,000 products across four temperature zones (room temperature, refrigerated, frozen, and super-frozen) and operates through a global network spanning more than 60 overseas locations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. The company does not offer a software product; it provides food trading and logistics services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Exports to 20+ countries worldwide with established regulatory compliance processes
• +2 more outcomes

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

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd. Nishimoto Trading is a Japanese food trading firm with global distribution of Asian food products, similar four-temperature cold chain capabilities, and OEM/private label product development — directly overlapping with JFC Japan's export/import and product development service lines.
• Yamashita & Co., Inc. Yamashita & Co. is a Japanese food trading and distribution company focused on imported and domestic food products for retail and foodservice — comparable to JFC Japan's import services, regulatory compliance expertise, and B2B customer model.
• Wismettac Foods Inc. Wismettac is a Japanese-headquartered food trading company specializing in Asian food import/export and wholesale distribution. It directly competes with JFC Japan in the cross-border Japanese/Asian food trading corridor across Asia, North America, and Europe.
• Mutual Trading Co., Inc. Mutual Trading is a Japanese food importer/wholesaler serving the North American market with authentic Japanese ingredients and restaurant supply — directly comparable to JFC International's U.S. operations and overlapping with JFC Japan's restaurant/foodservice customer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Nichirei Corporation: Nichirei is a large Japanese frozen food manufacturer and cold chain logistics operator with significant refrigerated/frozen warehousing and processing capability — overlapping with JFC Japan's four temperature zone infrastructure but at much greater scale across food manufacturing.
• Itochu Corporation (Food Division): Itochu operates one of the largest Japanese food trading divisions, including branded food, fresh produce, and global food supply chains through consolidated subsidiaries. It competes broadly with JFC Japan in cross-border food distribution with substantially larger resources.
• Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Food Division): Mitsui's food division spans global food trading, protein, and consumer food businesses — operating across similar cross-border food corridors as JFC Japan but as part of a massive diversified trading conglomerate.
• Marubeni Corporation (Food Division): Marubeni is a major Japanese sogo shosha with a broad food trading and distribution business spanning grains, meat, seafood, and consumer food products globally. It competes with JFC Japan in cross-border food trading but as part of a much wider diversified portfolio.
• Sojitz Corporation (Food & Consumer Division): Sojitz operates food and agricultural trading businesses with global reach, competing with JFC Japan in cross-border food import/export, but as a smaller Japanese sogo shosha with broader industry exposure.

Others

• Nippon Express Holdings: Nippon Express is a major global logistics provider with cold chain capabilities. While not a direct food trader, it is an enabling peer that competes with the logistics portion of JFC Japan's service offering across temperature-controlled freight forwarding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jfc-japan-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries26 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 JFC JAPAN INC