Who is Morinaga and what is the most exciting thing to know about your company?

"MORINAGA & CO. was established in 1899 by its founder, Taichiro Morinaga. After a poor and underprivileged childhood, Taichiro Morinaga went to the United States to sell pottery, but sales were sluggish. In the midst of his disappointment, he was surprised by the deliciousness of the Western confectioneries he ate. He started his Western confectionery business in Japan with the hope that children in Japan would enjoy delicious and nutritious Western confectionery. In 1918, he launched the first Milk chocolate in Japanese history. Inheriting the will of our founder, we have continued it’s business for more than 120 years to contribute to the physical and mental health of children in Japan."
 

Why is sustainability so important for Morinaga and which challenges did you face to move forward?

“Considering the changes in the global environment, which is the foundation for human existence, we believe that environmental health is extremely important as well as mental and physical health. In May 2021, we established our 2030 Vision, which states that the Morinaga Group "will endeavor to become a company that will continue providing our customers, employees, and society with the three values of the health of the mind, the body, and the environment.” In order to continue to conduct business while reducing the burden on the global environment, we believe that it is important to implement sustainable initiatives in all processes from procurement of raw materials to delivery of products to customers. Cocoa beans, in particular, are an agricultural crop with many issues like deforestation, child labor and poverty.”

What's next for Morinaga?

“We believe that it is important to evolve from mental health to physical health and to contribute to the health of the environment.  We aspire to become a company that will continue providing our customers, employees, and society with the three values of the health of the mind, the body, and the environment, as defined in our 2030 Vision. That’s why we will source 100% of our cocoa sustainably by 2025, partnering with the Cocoa Horizons Foundation and other sustainable cocoa programs. By 2023, we will source all our palm oil sustainably. In addition, we know consumers will become more conscious of the need to eat healthier, so, even for sweets such as chocolate, we will improve our products with less sugar and added nutrients.”