Japanese foods distributor Tazaki Foods has bought Agrica Ab to expand its market presence across northern Europe.
Tazaki Foods is the largest importer and distributor of Japanese food and drink in the UK, selling to major supermarkets and restaurants. It works with brands including Asahi, Kirin and Little Moons.
Agrica Ab, also known as Porvoon Peruna, is a Finnish foodservice wholesaler that generated over €32m in revenues last year.
“This acquisition is a significant step in our ambition to expand our business and bring Japanese food culture to north Europe,” said Ken Furukawa, MD of Tazaki Foods.
“Through this acquisition, we will be able to better serve European customers by strengthening our delivery capabilities and establishing a wholesale network that supports the spread of Japanese food culture.”
Tazaki Foods is a £70m turnover business that has pioneered Japanese cuisine in the UK for more than 40 years. It started in the 1970s when its founder opened one of the first Japanese restaurants in the UK alongside a small shop in London for the Japanese expat community.
When Furukawa took over the business in the 1990s, he closed the shop and began focusing on supplying food manufacturers and new Japanese restaurants like Wagamama.
Its Yutaka brand was launched in 1995 to make Japanese foods more accessible for British shoppers and has grown to be a leading Japanese food ingredient brand across Europe.
Agrica Ab sells mainly to ethnic restaurants and has focused recently on expanding sales of Japanese and Asian ingredients, such as sushi-related ingredients.
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