Mizkan Group Global Web Site

September 15, 2005

MIZKAN AMERICAS’ PARENT COMPANY, THE MIZKAN GROUP, ACQUIRES LEADING CHINESE COMPANY
Distributor of popular Wadakan brands added to global portfolio

MT. PROSPECT, Ill., Sept. 15, 2005 - Mizkan Americas, Inc., a leading condiment manufacturer, today announced its parent company, the Mizkan Group, has added to its roster of high-quality brands with its acquisition of Wadakan Investment Holding Company, a Beijing-based manufacturer of soy sauce and vinegar products in China.

As part of its aggressive global expansion strategy, the Mizkan Group has obtained the majority of the shares of Wadakan Investment Holding Company, which is the holding company for Beijing Wadakan Food Co., Ltd, Beijing Longmen Wadakan Food Co., Ltd, and Beijing Huwang Wadakan Food Co., Ltd. The three companies mainly produce products under the Wadakan brand name.

Through this acquisition, the Mizkan Group plans to play a role in enhancing the value of Chinese consumers’ diets by providing them with high-quality products. In addition, the Mizkan Group plans to apply its production technologies, quality control processes and know-how in fermentation, brewing and food production, as well as its research and development capabilities, to the Chinese companies.

The Mizkan Group researched the Beijing market and identified Wadakan Investment Holding Company as a promising opportunity within the soy sauce and vinegar category, which has grown more than 10 percent in the last year in China. In addition, the Wadakan brand has strong brand awareness and appeal to consumers across the country.

“This acquisition is a key element of our strategy towards global leadership in branded food products,” said Kazuhide Matazaemon Nakano VIII, president & CEO of Mizkan Group. “Wadakan brand soy sauces and vinegars are a natural addition to our current portfolio of high-quality condiments, and the acquisition will allow us to increase our brand power across China.”

The Mizkan Group currently manufactures and distributes high-quality food products - including soy sauces, rice wine vinegars, cooking wines and mustards - mustards across more than 600 global brands in more than 35 countries around the world. Mizkan Americas is a major player in the 241 million U.S. liquid condiment category^*1 and operates 10 manufacturing and distribution facilities across the United States.
*1 IRI research study, ending July 10, 2005

Recently, Mizkan Americas was commended for the high-quality liquid condiment products it provides to retailers for use as private label brands. Nationwide retailers selected Mizkan Americas as the recipient of Private Label Buyer’s Category Colonel Award, which is designed to recognize suppliers exemplifying the ideals of a private label leader.

In Beijing, the current chairman of Wadakan Investment Holding Company, Shen Zheng Xie, will continue to oversee the Beijing Wadakan, Longmen Wadakan, and Huwang Wadakan companies within the current Mizkan Group management structure. Shen Zheng Xie will partner with Mizkan Group leadership to offer the Mizkan mission and corporate identity slogan, “Bringing Flavor to Life” to consumers in China and across the world. He will also work to promote the development of value-added products to the Wadakan brand and improve technologies and one-step-ahead quality standards at each company.

“With this acquisition, we intend to become the leading manufacturer of vinegar and soy sauces in China, and introduce exciting new condiment options to Chinese consumers through our value-added products,” said Craig Smith, president of Mizkan Americas. “We look forward to emulating the success we’ve had in the United States and across the world.”

Mizkan Americas, formerly Nakano Foods, has a heritage in the condiment business that spans 200 years and is a leading manufacturer of condiments in the U.S. with 10 manufacturing plants that serve the retail foodservice, specialty, Asian and industrial trade channels. Mizkan Americas produces a wide variety of vinegars, mustards, cooking wines, sushi seasoning, jellies, salad dressings, Asian sauces and other liquid condiments. “mizkan” brands include Nakano, Four Monks, Barengo and Mitsukan. For more information about Mizkan Americas, please visit www.mizkan.com.