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 2023.

Ajisen Shioji Co.

Ajisen Shioji Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, and is engaged in the manufacture and sale of food products, mainly baby food. One of its representative products is "ofukuro baby food," a baby food made with organic vegetables. The company's main factory is JAS organic certified and produces baby food using 100% domestic ingredients and no food additives. The products are sterilized at high temperature and high pressure, which enables them to be stored for a long period of time before opening without additives. Ingredients used in our baby food are limited to their place of origin. Our products, which are made with the highest attention to ingredients and production methods, are supported by many consumers and are sold at major distribution and retail stores. We have also been focusing on Internet sales for some time and have established a system to deliver products directly to end users. In February 2024, the head factory acquired the JFS-B standard. In this interview, we spoke with Representative Yukie Yamada, who led the efforts to acquire the standard, about the purpose of the standard and her vision for the future.

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

Representative Yamada: The main reason is for export. In Japan, where the birthrate is declining, the baby food market is only getting smaller. For us, expanding exports has been a top priority. We have been exporting to Taiwan, Vietnam, and other countries for some time, but we wanted to further strengthen our exports. To do so, we came to the conclusion that we needed to obtain some kind of certification (letter of conformance). We were also encouraged by the fact that our domestic suppliers were increasingly asking us whether we had obtained the certification (letter of conformance), which guarantees food safety. Compared to the past, I felt that society as a whole has become more aware of food safety, and that our suppliers have become more sensitive about it. In our case, in particular, we produce baby food for infants, so we have no choice but to be sensitive to food safety issues.

-What were your impressions of the JFS-B standard?

Yamada: We have been focusing on food safety for some time, but when we saw the contents of the JFS-B standard, we were surprised and wondered if we needed to go this far. We had thought that our existing methods were sufficient, but we felt that there was still room for improvement. There are many items and many things that need to be done, but because the guidelines are easy to understand, I did not feel that the hurdles were that high.

-What did you find difficult in the process of acquiring the JFS-B standard?

Yamada: Overall, I didn't find it that difficult. It took us about three months from the start of our efforts to obtain the standard until we actually obtained it. We had obtained JAS organic certification in the past, and I feel that our experience from that time was put to good use. It was also important for us to have the experience of acquiring HACCP certification. I think that not only our company, but also other companies that have acquired other certifications in the past can use their experience in acquiring the JFS-B standard. Depending on the type, there should be a fair amount of overlap. The most time-consuming part of the project was the process of translating on-site employee experience into text, tables, and checklists. Until now, we had relied heavily on the experience of our employees, but we had to put that experience into a form that everyone could understand. It took some time, but it was a big win for the company to be able to incorporate the employees' experience into a form that was easy to understand. Of course, I alone could not have carried out the JFS-B standard acquisition. I had to involve the plant manager and other employees in various positions in order to move forward. If you are aiming for acquisition in a short period of time, it would be a good idea to work as a team.

-What was the reaction of the employees onsite to the acquisition of the JFS-B standard?

Yamada: We provided detailed explanations, and the employees were all very positive about the project. No matter how enthusiastic the management is about food safety, it will not succeed unless the front-line employees cooperate. We made sure to explain to employees why we were acquiring the standard and what they needed to do to obtain it. Baby food is a product that requires strict precautions against contamination by foreign substances. The acquisition of the JFS-B standard was a great opportunity for us to help our employees grow.

-What is your vision for the future using the JFS-B standard?

Yamada: I would still like to strengthen our exports. We had planned to export baby food to Cambodia, but our plans were halted when we were required to obtain some kind of certification (proof of conformity). Now that we have been certified under the JFS-B standard, we would like to resume our plans. We are also aiming to obtain the JFS-C standard in the not-too-distant future. It is not an easy certification by any means, but we believe that we will be able to acquire it relatively smoothly by utilizing the experience we gained when we acquired the JFS-B standard. Exports still account for only a small percentage of the company's overall sales, so we would like to acquire the JFS-C standard as well and further expand our exports.

-What are your expectations for the JFS standard?

Yamada: I would like to see greater recognition of the JFS standard. When talking with our business partners, there are still some who have never heard of the JFS standard. I think the level of recognition is higher than before, but I feel that it is still not enough. The higher the recognition, the higher the incentive to acquire the standard, so I think it would be good to promote the standard more aggressively.

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

Yamada: A highly reliable certification (letter of conformance) such as the JFS standard clearly shows that a company is committed to strict standards regarding food safety. We use organic vegetables to produce our baby food, and people believe us because we have JAS organic certification for our factories. In the same way, I believe that certification (letter of conformance) such as the JFS standard is necessary to gain the trust of suppliers and end users regarding food safety. I believe that it is well worthwhile to acquire this standard.

-Thank you very much for your time today.

Company Profile
Company Name: Ajisen Shioji K.K.
Representative: Yukie Yamada
Address: Head Office and Factory 1570-1 Nosei, Itoigawa, Niigata 949-1352 Japan
Founded: July 1985
URL: https://www.shioji.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.