In this page, you will find the interview with a business that has acquired JFS Standard, in which they describe their efforts toward acquiring JFS Standard and the effects they have achieved after acquisition.

This article was produced under a project subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2022.

Kozukaya Corporation (production and sales of desserts)

　Kozukaya Corporation has a factory in Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture, and is engaged in the production of desserts. The company was initially engaged in the production and sale of konnyaku, and has since applied the know-how it has cultivated in this field to the production of jellies and puddings. We have been contracted to produce desserts for in-flight meals served on flights to and from Centrair, and our high quality is highly evaluated by our customers. We have a wealth of business experience with famous food manufacturers and major food trading companies, and are strong in OEM production of puddings and jellies. In 1998, they were the first company in Japan to successfully mass produce cup-type mango pudding (according to Kozukaya). In February 2024, Kozukaya acquired the JFS-B standard at its main factory in Nishi-Kasugai County. In this interview, we talked to Mr. Masahiko Kozuka, representative of Kozuka-ya, about the purpose of acquiring the JFS-B standard and their vision for the future utilizing the standard.

-Please tell us about the purpose of acquiring the JFS-B standard.

Representative Kozuka: The direct reason we decided to acquire the JFS-B standard was that we felt that we could not continue to manage food hygiene based on HACCP by ourselves after the standard period ended, due to the termination of the Aichi HACCP certification system we had previously acquired. In recent years, many companies have become highly conscious of food hygiene, and we wanted to acquire some kind of certification (letter of conformance) and make it our strength. In particular, we produce Western-style confections such as jellies and puddings, which require a high standard of hygiene management. When we were wondering what kind of certification (letter of conformance) we should obtain, we heard about the JFS-B standard from a company with which we have a long-standing relationship. We were wondering what kind of certification (letter of conformance) we should obtain, when we heard about the JFS-B standard from a long-time business friend. We decided to proceed with the acquisition of the JFS-B standard because it is different from HACCP and requires a cost, but we could also take advantage of a subsidy.

-Actually, we were just about to acquire the JFS-B standard.

Kozuka: Actually, we were planning to renovate the production line at our main factory at the same time we were talking about acquiring the JFS-B standard. It was a coincidence that the timing coincided, but we were able to reflect the JFS-B standard in the renovation work. If you are considering renovating your production line, wouldn't it be more efficient to obtain the JFS-B standard in conjunction with that work? We believe that it is wiser to refurbish with food safety in mind than to simply refurbish.

-What was the reaction of your employees to acquiring the JFS-B standard?

Kozuka: The employees in charge of sales were very pleased. Recently, customers are demanding higher and higher standards of hygiene, and acquiring a recognized standard like the JFS-B standard facilitates our sales activities. For sales employees who communicate with customers on a daily basis, this standard would be a great weapon. On the other hand, I feel that the production line employees who make our desserts onsite were puzzled. They are all very dedicated to their work and always pay attention to hygiene, but they are not familiar with standards such as the JFS-B standard. It is impossible to obtain the standard without the cooperation of production line employees, so I tried to explain it to them carefully. As I did so, the response gradually changed. I believe that it is not difficult to gain the understanding of production line employees as long as you firmly convey the fact that there are significant advantages to acquiring the standard.

-I guess customers still place importance on having some kind of certification (letter of conformance), don't they?

Kozuka: There is no doubt about that. In our case, many of our customers have been with us for a long time, but even if they have been with us for a long time, we feel that without some kind of certification (letter of conformance), it may affect our future. We can say that certification (letter of conformance) is a must when dealing with new customers. No matter how much we tell them that our hygiene standards are strict, they cannot trust us without proof of this. If you want to grow further as a food manufacturer in the future, it is better to obtain certification (letter of conformance) such as the JFS standard as soon as possible.

-What was your impression of the JFS-B standard?

Kozuka: Compared to the Aichi HACCP, which we had previously acquired, there are many more items to check, and I had the impression that it would be a difficult standard. At the same time, I was worried at first that I might not be able to obtain the standard. However, the guidelines were easy to understand, and the acquisition process went more smoothly than I initially expected. Although only one person was involved in the acquisition of the standard, we were able to proceed without delay. If we had been able to work as a team, we might have been able to obtain the standard earlier. If a company can afford to do so, I would recommend that they form a team for the acquisition of the standard.

-Did your view of the JFS-B standard change before and after the standard?

Kozuka: It has changed in a positive way. I feel that it is easier to operate than I had imagined before acquiring the standard. Not only regular employees but also part-timers who do not have a lot of experience in food production work for our company, so it is very important that it is not difficult to operate. No matter how high the level of the standard is, it is meaningless if it is difficult to operate and not easy to use.

-How do you plan to make use of the JFS-B standard in the future?

Kozuka: It is not realistic to export Western-style confectioneries to other countries because it is difficult to preserve them for a long period of time. Therefore, we are thinking of expanding our business domestically rather than overseas. We are planning to process regional specialties into desserts at our factory and return them to their respective regions. Since we will be dealing with specialty products that are representative of the region, we anticipate that higher standards of hygiene will likely be required. The JFS-B standard we have acquired this time should be sufficient to meet even the very high hygiene standards. We are very happy to have acquired the JFS-B standard for the sake of developing our new business.

-What is your message to companies that are considering acquiring the JFS-B standard?

Kozuka: Not all companies that handle food products have acquired the JFS standard. However, I believe that the number of companies acquiring the JFS standard will continue to increase. Since awareness of food sanitation is only increasing, it will be essential to acquire a solid standard in order to gain the trust of business partners and end-users. The JFS standard, a Japanese-born standard, is quite detailed and easy to use. As word spreads, more and more companies are likely to acquire the JFS standard. I believe that the JFS standard is worthy of positive consideration.

-Thank you very much for your time today.

Company Profile
Company Name: Kozukaya Corporation
Representative: Masahiko Kozuka
Address: Head office and factory 8-1, Nishino-cho, Toyoyama-cho, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi 480-0202, Japan
Founded: March 5, 1929
URL: https://www.kodukaya.co.jp/

The Japanese version of the interview is available in the PDF below.

Disclaimer: The translation process used on this English website is partially offered by a "machine translation" for your convenience. This translated document is provided for information purposes only. In the event of a difference of interpretation or a dispute, the original Japanese version of this document is binding.