About Us
Company Information
Management Philosophy
/ Brand Vision
Company Data /
Access
The History of
the Starzen Group
Officers
Facilities / Group Companies
Management Philosophy / Brand Vision
Management Philosophy
around the world through
inspirational experiences
Brand Vision
that gives you strength and energy;
Arigato—express appreciation to
bring happiness
Since our founding, we have always valued efforts to make a difference in the world and to always give our best with honesty and integrity in all endeavors.
With the desire to make meat accessible, we have continued to take on unprecedented challenges and devoted ourselves to the development of the industry.
Believing in new possibilities, we have shifted our focus from meat to food.
Starzen desires to become a star that shines brilliantly in the world, like the stars that dazzle in the night sky.
Our mission and commitment to connecting food has brought us to where we are today through the support of our stakeholders.
- Our promise is to value the life of every human and animal
- Our responsibility is to create safe and secure products
- Our ability is to provide a stable farm-to-table approach
We believe that “food” has the power to inspire creativity in everyday life with:
- The power to bring well-being to our loved ones
- The power to heal and motivate us for tomorrow
- The power to connect people in the places where we gather
- The power to bring a smile to people’s faces
Appreciating food by expressing “Itadakimasu” and being thankful will lead to a brighter and more vibrant society that will bring smiles and happiness to the world.
Starzen will continue to inspire and create new possibilities through food.
Company Data
| Trade Name | Starzen Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Established | June 17, 1948 |
| Headquarters | Starzen Shinagawa Building, 2-4-13 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0075 |
| Capital | 11,658.27 million yen |
| Shares | Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 8043) |
| Representative | Representative Director, President & CEO Kazuhiko Yokota |
| Employees | 2,723 (as of the end of March 2024) |
| Business description | Processing and sale of meat, manufacture and sale of meat products, food stuffs, etc. |
| Sales | 410billion yen (consolidated) (fiscal 2023) |
| Clients | Supermarkets, meat specialty stores, department stores, family restaurants, fast food chains, convenience stores, co-operatives, food processing manufacturers, meat wholesalers, and others |
| Suppliers | Group companies (production processing factory, etc.), economic organizations, agricultural cooperatives, Japanese meat wholesale markets, overseas packers, and others |
Access
Headquarters Access
Starzen Shinagawa Building, 2-4-13 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0075
The History of the Starzen Group
1940－
- Jun.
1948 - Founded Zenkoku-Chikusan Co., Ltd. based on the National Livestock Cooperative (capital: 7.5 million yen) and started the buying and selling of work cattle.
- Oct.
1955 - First trial import of Frozen Beef from Australia.
- Mar.
1958 - Take the leadership of the Industry in Japan by introducing the first refrigerated truck transport of pork carcass.
1960－
- Mar.
1962 - Established the Yokohama Factory, commenced production of ham and sausage.
- Jun.
1970 - Changed company name to Zenchiku Co., Ltd.
- Jul.
1971 - Began supplying hamburger beef patties to McDonald’s Japan for the opening of its first store in Japan, the Ginza store.
- Jul.
1972 - Established Chiba Frozen Foods Plant for manufacturing hamburger beef patties for McDonald’s Japan.
- Sep.
1972 - Established Zenchiku Australia (currently Starzen Australia PTY LTD) and started full-scale overseas business development.
- Sep.
1977 - Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Jul.
1979 - Established Zenchiku U.S.A (currently STARZEN (AMERICA), INC.).
1980－
- Mar.
1984 - Established Akune Zenchiku Co., Ltd. (currently, Akune Plant of STARZEN MEAT PROCESSOR Co., Ltd.) as a meat processing plant in Zenchiku’s largest production area.
- Dec.
1995 - Invested in Australian Meat Packer G & K O'Connor.
- Oct.
1998 - Opened a processing center in Kawasaki and expanded the processing business.
- Apr.
1999 - Changed company name to Starzen Co., Ltd.
2000－
- Feb.
2000 - Capital and business alliance with LM Foods Co., Ltd. (currently LOHMEYER CORPORATION).
- Feb.
2003 - Began sharing information on the production history of domestic cattle on its website.
- Jun.
2004 - Began sharing information on the production history of domestic hogs.
- Jun.
2009 - Established Starzen Europe ApS.
2010－
- Jan.
2010 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to Macau.
- Mar.
2011 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to Hong Kong.
- Sep.
2012 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to U.S.A.
- Jan.
2014 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to EU.
- May.
2016 - Capital and business alliance with Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
- Dec.
2017 - Capital and business alliance with ADiRECT Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- Apr.
2019 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to Australia.
- May.
2019 - Started to export Japanese Wagyu to Russia.
2020－
- Dec.
2021 - Established Starzen (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in China.
- Feb.
2022 - Identified materiality of the Starzen Group to promote sustainability management.
- Apr.
2022 - Launch our WAGYU brand “AKUNE GOLD”.
- Sep.
2022 - “AKUNE GOLD” crowned World’s Best Steak in 2022 World Steak Challenge.
- Jun.
2022 - Expansion of AKUNE plant completed.
- Jul.
2023 - Obtained export license from Sannohe plant to Taiwan and started exporting.
- Apr.
2024 - “Eight Blossom Beef” crowned championship in the 2024 Wagyu Branded Beef Competition in Australia.
- Apr.
2025 - Acquired Broad Water Downs Pty Ltd. as a subsidiary and entered the Australian Wagyu fattening business fully.
Officers
Kazuhiko YokotaRepresentative Director, President & CEO
Direct supervisor of Quality Assurance Division, Audit Department and Compliance Promotion Department
Masao UzurahashiManaging Director
Supervisor of Sales Division, Overseas Division, McDonald’s Division
Masamichi TakahashiManaging Director
Supervisor of Production Division,
STARZEN MEAT PROCESSOR Co.,Ltd.
Tsunehiro SanaDirector
Supervisor of Administrative Division and Finance and Group Controller Division
Ryoichi TakahamaDirector
Supervisor of Corporate Division, IT & Communication Division and Logistics Division
Wataru OharaDirector(external)
Kaku YoshisatoDirector(external)
Mariko EtoDirector(external)
Shingo OgoshiDirector(external)
Kouhei KannoFull-time Audit & Supervisory Board Member
Ryuso SadanobuFull-time Audit & Supervisory Board Member
Toshiaki TadaAudit & Supervisory Board Member(external)
Michitaro WakayamaAudit & Supervisory Board Member(external)
Executive Officer
| Takeo Wakamatsu | Senior Executive Officer | General Manager of Overseas Division |
| Takahiro Ikejiri | Senior Executive Officer | General Manager of Sales Division |
| Tatsuya Karasawa | Executive Officer | Representative Director, President & CEO, Maruzen Co.,Ltd. |
| Yutaka Okudaira | Executive Officer | Deputy General Manager of Sales Division |
| Madoka Miyoshi | Executive Officer | Representative Director, President & CEO, STARZEN MEAT PROCESSOR Co., Ltd. |
| Shinichi Kawai | Executive Officer | Representative Director, President & CEO, LOHMEYER CORPORATION |
| Yukinaga Ishigami | Executive Officer | General Manager of Administrative Division |
| Hiroaki Okumura | Executive Officer | General Manager of IT & Communication Division |
| Masatoshi Tomita | Executive Officer | General Manager of Quality Assurance Division |
| Akihide Kitamoto | Executive Officer | General Manager, Assistant to General Manager of Overseas Division |
| Michisuke Morikami | Executive Officer | General Manager of Finance and Group Controller Division |
Facilities / Group Companies
Overseas Facilities
- STARZEN (AMERICA), INC.
- 370 Amapola Avenue, Suite 211, Torrance, CA 90501 USA
GoogleMap
STARZEN (AMERICA), INC. has its office in Los Angeles and delivers beef, pork, chicken and byproducts from North America and Latin America to Japanese households and restaurants. In addition to exporting to Japan, the company also sells its products domestically on the West Coast of the United States, where the food service industry is booming. By handling several breeds of livestock, it is able to address a wide range of food needs. As the globalization of meat procurement progresses, the company is working to increase its cost competitiveness and ability to provide a stable supply of meat in cooperation with group companies.
Leveraging its proximity to the production sites, it collaborates closely with local meat processors, jointly developing high-value-added products and providing guidance on quality management. In addition, in order to respond flexibly to the rapidly growing demand for Wagyu beef in the United States in recent years, it is working with the Japanese export department to expand the Japanese Wagyu beef business, focusing on local market research.
To deliver safe, reliable, and delicious meat to customers, the company will continue to pursue further improvements and provide high-quality meat based on the cornerstone of Starzen’s long-standing commitment to quality meat.
- STARZEN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
- 310 Edward Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AUSTRALIA
GoogleMap
STARZEN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD was established in 1972 and is located in Queensland, the heart of Australian Beef production.
Its initial mission was sourcing Australian Beef for the Starzen Group but more recently it has started importing and selling Japanese beef to the Australian marketplace.
STARZEN AUSTRALIA has developed and launched two of their own Australian Wagyu brands, Eight Blossom Beef and Imperial Blossom Beef. It actively engages in contract cattle fattening and processes all products locally. It has successfully developed a market in Australia and has begun exporting the two Australian Wagyu beef brands to China and in coming years, plans to expand to other countries around the world.
STARZEN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD is committed to supplying safe and reliable products to customers around the world.
- STARZEN EUROPE ApS
- Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, DK-8200 Aarhus N. Denmark
GoogleMap
STARZEN EUROPE ApS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starzen Co., Ltd.
Located in Denmark and established in June 2009, its original mission was to export meat and processed meat products from Europe to Japan. In addition, it plays a key role in gathering market data on livestock production and other markets in the EU.
Starzen EUROPE works closely with companies that have export licenses for Japan and continues to develop new suppliers and sources. Currently, it sources and purchases from the UK and within the EU including Denmark, France, and Spain.
With increased globalization and diversification of current customers’ needs, the scope of its business has expanded. Currently, it exports from Europe to other Asian countries as well as importing Wagyu beef from Japan for the European market.
As a member of the Starzen Group, the company supplies Japanese meats to Europe and exports carefully selected European foods to Asia.
- Starzen (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
- Room 704, 7th Floor, New Caoyang Science and Technology Building, No. 399 Nujiang North Road, Putuo District, Shanghai
GoogleMap
Starzen (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was established in December 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Starzen Co., Ltd. China has a population of 1.4 billion, and meat demand is growing amid economic development. At the same time, because the supply from domestic production is not sufficient to cover consumption, meat imports have increased rapidly in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future.
Meanwhile, the market in Japan is expected to shrink due to its aging and declining population, making the development of overseas consumer markets an urgent task.
To overcome these circumstances, the company will focus on sales of imported meats, such as Australian beef, and Japanese meats, such as Japanese Wagyu beef, as well as the manufacture and sale of processed products utilizing the expertise of the Starzen Group. It will strive to establish a meat supply base in the huge market of China.
- Broad Water Downs Pty Ltd
- 2072 Millmerran-Leyburn Road, LEYBURN QLD 4365
GoogleMap
- STARZEN SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
STARZEN SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starzen Co., Ltd. established in October 2013.
- Starzen Co., Ltd. Bangkok Representative Office
The Starzen Co., Ltd. Bangkok Representative Office was established in November 2020. It provides product sales support in Thailand, a consumer market that is experiencing remarkable economic development. At the same time, it is working to strengthen Starzen’s relationship with Thailand, a country of origin that is expanding exports of chicken and processed products not only to Japan but also to the rest of the world as the world’s kitchen.
Domestic Processing and Manufacturing Facilities
Meat processing plants
- Ishikari Plant
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Beef:70 Pork:600
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Pork:Hong Kong
- Misawa Pork Center
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Pork:2300
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Pork:Hong Kong, Vietnam, Macau
- Sannohe Beef Center
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Beef:50
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Beef : Vietnam, Macau, Thailand, Myanmar
- Koriyama Plant
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Pork:900
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Pork : Macau
- Akune Plant
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Beef:90 Pork:1400
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Beef : 51 Countries and regions(US, Asia, EU etc.)
Pork : Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, etc.
- Kaseda Plant
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Beef:35 Pork:830
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Beef : Vietnam, Macau, Thailand
Pork： Hong Kong, Vietnam, Macau
- Maruzen Co., Ltd.
-
- ［Number of heads processed per day］
- Beef:40
- ［Country of Export Certification］
- Beef : Vietnam, Macau, Thailand, Myanmar
Processed food and manufacturing plants
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Chiba Plant
- Manufacture of hamburger patties
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Matsuo Plant
- Manufacture of hamburg steaks
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Motomiya Plant
- Manufacture of hamburg steaks
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Tagajo Processing Center
- Manufacture of sliced roast beef, sliced roast pork, etc.
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Koriyama Processing Center
- Manufacture of sliced meats, portion cutting, seasoning, etc.
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Kanto Processing Center(Akishima)
- Manufacture of sliced meats, processing of ground meat, etc.
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Kanto Processing Center(Kawasaki)
- Manufacture of sliced meats, roast beef, roast pork, etc.
- Starzen Co., Ltd.Kansai Processing Center
- Manufacture of sliced meats, roast beef, roast pork, etc.
- LOHMEYER CORPORATIONNasu Plant
- Manufacture of ham, sausages, bacon, roast beef, etc.
- STARZEN MEAT PROCESSOR Co., LtdAkune Plant Processed Food Production Center
- Manufacture of beef and pork byproducts
- King Shokuhin Co., Ltd.
- Manufacture of processed meat products, processed fish products, delicacies, etc.
- Aoki Foods Co., Ltd.
- Manufacture of noodles
Group Companies
Information on group companies that support the supply chain of Starzen, an integrated food supplier.
Processing of meat
STARZEN MEAT PROCESSOR Co., Ltd
Processing and sale of domestic meats and Cattle and pig breeding and fatting, etc
Meat Service Co., Ltd.
Processing and sale of domestic byproducts
Douou Meat Center Co., Ltd.
Processing and sale of domestic meats
Manufacture and sale of processed meat products and other food products
LOHMEYER CORPORATION
Manufacture and sale of processed meat products such as ham, sausage, and roast beef
King Shokuhin Co., Ltd.
Manufacture and sale of processed meat products, processed fish products, frozen foods, delicacies, etc.
Sales of meat and processed meat products, etc.
Nick Foods Co., Ltd.
Sale of meat, processed foods, etc. for restaurants
Logistics and storage
Starzen Logistics Co., Ltd.
Distribution of meat, processed foods, etc., and refrigerated/frozen warehousing business
Other businesses
