Meiji Co., Ltd. began selling "Meiji Milk Chocolate" in 1926.
The company has released countless chocolate products to date, but currently, under the slogan "Hirake, cacao," they are also focusing on utilizing cacao "other than food." Their lineup includes items such as denim, lacquerware, coasters, and towels. In January of this year, they also announced that they had successfully converted cacao ceramide into a material for the first time in the world.
This time, we spoke with Takeshi Hareyama and Yukari Honma from the Global Cacao Business Division's Cacao Marketing Department about the potential hidden in cacao.
PROFILE
Takeshi Hareyama
Meiji Co., Ltd. Global Cacao Business Division Cacao Marketing Department CXS G
PROFILE
Yukari Honma
Meiji Co., Ltd. Global Cacao Business Division Cacao Marketing Department CXS G
Enhancing the Appeal of Cacao
Could you tell us about the background behind the idea of utilizing cacao beyond food?
HareyamaWe've been making and selling chocolate for nearly 100 years. In visiting cacao-producing regions, our employees have seen the lives of the cacao farmers firsthand and wanted to support them, leading to the launch of "Meiji Cocoa Support" in 2006.