Corporate Development and History

View Morinaga’s History

1910

FebruaryEstablished as Morinaga’s Western Confectionery Shop with capital of 300,000 yen.

1912

NovemberCompany name is changed to Morinaga & Co., Ltd.

1920

JulyMorinaga merges with Nippon Rennyu Co., Ltd. (thereby inheriting the Mishima Factory).

1921

MarchTsukaguchi Factory is newly established.

1923

MarchMorinaga Product Sales Co., Ltd. (a distributor for Morinaga products) is established (subsequently, distributor companies are established throughout Japan).

AprilMorinaga Candy Store opens in the Marunouchi Building in central Tokyo.

1925

JuneTsurumi Factory is newly established.

1942

OctoberMorinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. merges with Morinaga Food Industry Co., Ltd. (thereby inheriting the Chukyo Factory), Tokai Seika KK (thereby inheriting the Oyama Factory), and Morinaga Kansai Milk Co., Ltd.

1943

NovemberCompany name is changed to Morinaga Shokuryo Kogyo KK.

1947

MayKurume Factory is constructed and Morinaga adds brewing to its business activities.

1949

AprilMorinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. is established.

MayCompany is listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya stock exchanges.

AugustThe Commercial Division splits off and is launched as (the former) Morinaga Shoji Co., Ltd.

OctoberThe Milk Industry Division splits off and is transferred to Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

OctoberCompany name is changed back to Morinaga & Co., Ltd.

1953

JulyThe Brewing Division splits off and is launched as Morinaga Jozo KK (company name changed to Fukutokucho Shurui KK in 1991).

1954

JulyThe Kiosk Division splits off and is launched as KK Morinaga Candy Store (company name changed to KK Restaurant Morinaga in 1987).

1961

DecemberMorinaga establishes a capital alliance with Taiwan Seika Co., Ltd. (currently Taiwan Morinaga Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary).

1965

MarchYamato Foods Co., Ltd. (currently Morinaga Angel Dessert Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

AugustMorinaga General Mills Co., Ltd. (currently Morinaga Snack Foods Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary) is established through a merger between Morinaga and USA-based General Mills Inc.

1969

OctoberMorinaga merges with (the former) Morinaga Shoji Co., Ltd.

1970

DecemberMorinaga Development Co., Ltd. is established.

1973

SeptemberShinwa Shoji KK (currently Morinaga Shoji Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

1980

JanuaryMorinaga Dessert Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

1987

AprilThe new Oyama Factory is completed.

1989

NovemberMorinaga Development Co., Ltd. is registered with the Japan Securities Dealers Association as an over-the-counter sales brand.

1999

AprilMorinaga merges with Morinaga Development Co., Ltd.

2001

JanuaryFukutokucho Shurui KK shares are transferred.

JulyBusiness rights are transferred from KK Restaurant Morinaga to Morinaga and Angel Food Systems Inc. is established.

2003

MarchMorinaga (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (currently Shanghai Morinaga Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

2004

DecemberAngel Food Systems Inc. shares are transferred.

2008

JanuaryMorinaga purchases all shares of DU Associates Inc., of which Aunt Stella Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary (currently a consolidated subsidiary of Morinaga) (in October 2008, Aunt Stella Inc. absorbs DU Associates Inc.).

AugustMorinaga America, Inc. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

2010

DecemberMorinaga Food (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

2011

AprilTakasaki Morinaga Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

2013

JuneTsukaguchi Factory is closed.

DecemberMorinaga America Foods, Inc. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) is established.

2015

AugustMorinaga America Foods, Inc. commences production.

2019

MayMorinaga Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. (now a consolidated subsidiary) is established.