Ajinomoto History

1.1 Background of the Company

History Our story began with taste, when Professor Kikunae Ikeda from the University of Tokyo isolated glutamate from the seaweed and discovered its flavour enhancing properties in 1908. The next year, his discovery was introduced to the market in the form of the flavour enhancer AJI-NO-MOTO ® meaning the Essence of Taste (scientifically, it is termed as Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG in short.) Today, AJI-NO-MOTO® is sold more than 100 countries, and  Ajinomoto Group's 15 factories around around the world are supplying supplying about one-third of the 1.5 million-ton global markets for  monosodium glutamate.  Ajinomoto (Malaysia) (Malaysia) Berhad Berhad started its business business operations operations in 1961 as AJI-NO-MOTO® monosodium glutamate producer. It is also one of the very first Japanese jointventure companies to be set up in this country. Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad has since grown into a dynamic food seasoning manufacturer marketing diverse brand name that is trusted by Malaysian for decades. Our AJI-NO-MOTO® food seasoning is an indispensable item in almost every Malaysian home.

1.2 Vision and Mission Statement

Mission We create better lives globally by contributing to significant advances in Food and Health and by working for Life.

I.

Create New Value Create value with new ideas and continuous innovation based on unique technologies and science.(Product value creation bolstered by technology, new dietary proposals)

II.

Pioneer Spirit Continue to constantly take on the challenge of creating new businesses and markets. (Adapt to regional culture and market conditions in creating markets)

III.

Social Contribution  Accommodate social requirements with humility and honesty, with the objective of  maximizing value for society through business activities. (Resolve social issues) (Improve the global environment) (Security and safety) (Trustworthy production) (Fair, impartial, transparent and simple)

IV.

Value People Respect the humanity of all the people involved in the Ajinomoto Group's businesses, and be an organisation in which they can grow and display their abilities to the fullest extent. (Provide a workplace where people can flourish) (Career development, support and follow-up) (Fair performance evaluation) (Teamwork)

Vision

We aim to be “a group of companies that contributes to human health globally” by continually creating unique value to benefit customers. 1. To become a global group of food companies centred on the world's No. 1 seasoning business. 2. To become a global group of amino science companies that contributes to humankind with the world's No. 1 amino acid technology. 3. To become a group of health-promoting companies with a scientific approach to good taste and health

INTRODUCTION