Our History

Since 1917–1970s

Original Logo

1917
Founded
1948
Reorganized as
1954
Started business with Zenkoren (now JA Zen-Noh)
Launched A-Coop branded tea as a “Kumiai Mark” product
1970
Began partnership with Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union
Kanaya First Factory completed
1971
Establishment of Tokyo Sales Office
1974
Yakushima Tea Farm established

Since 1980–1990s

Historic Tea Fields

1983
Yasushi Harada appointed President
1984
Sales reached ¥10 billion
1985
Started funeral gift business
1986
Mukuya Factory completed
1988
Yabukita Blend launched
1990
Coffee roaster installed; mass production began
1998
New HQ and factory completed
Ibaraki Kyodo Service Co., Ltd. established with Ibaraki Keizairen

Since 2000–2010s

Yabukita Blend TV Commercial

2000
ISO 9001 certification acquired
2001
Acquired Marujou Co., Ltd.
2005
Yakushima Farm (Harada Tea Garden Co., Ltd.) established
2008
Harada Tea Garden Co., Ltd. founded
Kanaya Factory (raw tea) began operations
Yakushima Farm certified for GLOBAL G.A.P. & JGAP (first in green tea industry)
Ranked 37th in TV commercial likability efficiency
2009
JGAP certification acquired
GLOBAL G.A.P. certification acquired
2010
Kawane First Factory began operations
Kanaya Second Factory completed
2012
Establishment of Singapore Representative Office
FSSC 22000 certification acquired
2013
Soichiro Harada appointed President
Halal certification acquired
2014
Nakazato Raw Tea Factory began operations
Minami-Makinohara Raw Tea Factory began operations
2015
Singapore subsidiary established
2016
Katsumata Factory began operations
2017
Established U.S. local subsidiary
Kanaya Grain Factory began operations
Obtained Organic JAS certification
2018
Mukuya Grain Factory began operations
Mukuya Plant West Wing began operations
Obtained Kosher certification
2019
Obtained Health Food GMP certification