Ajinomoto eyes big gain in China

Japan's Ajinomoto Co Inc, the largest food seasoning company in Asia expects the sales revenue of its food sector 8 times the current figure in China within the next three years as it strives to diversify its products and widen sales network, according to sources.

The company's sales revenue this year is estimated to be RMB 130 million, and the company expects to increase the figure to RMB 1 billion by 2010, said Maeda Koichi, chairman and president of Ajinomoto (China) Co Ltd.

Ajinomoto is expanding itself through setting up joint ventures with Chinese partners and several acquisitions including Taoda Group, a leading soy producer in China. Meanwhile, it is widening distribution channels and developing more new products for local consumers in order to compete with its major rivals like Nestle and Unilever.

Besides more than 50 kinds of monosodium glutamate, seasonings, and instant soups, Ajinomoto's first Chicken Broth products were launched this year.

Last year, Ajinomoto, together with Knorr Foods, Xiamen Ajinomoto Life Ideal Foods, Ajinomoto China and Xiamen Ideal Group, jointly established a new company called Xiamen Ajiraku Ideal Foods.