About KOKUBU

number of sites / as of March 2024

KOKUBU with a long history.

Established since 1712.

Established since 1712.

Kanbei Kokubu IV set up a retail store, Daikokuya, at Nihonbashi-honcho in Edo. It is recorded that he was dealing with the Kimono trade as well as started the soy sauce brewing at the period of establishment.

Later, it converted to a foodstuff-wholesaling while withdrawing from the soy sauce brewing in 1880, and it is running till now. The driving force of the KOKUBU Group is our heart to the valuable trust and the ability of response to the environmental changes.

KOKUBU Group as a food-wholesaler

As a food wholesaler, we deliver foods across the whole Japan.

KOKUBU Group as a food-wholesaler

There are a large number of retail stores and food manufacturers in Japan, thereby, we can meet the various needs of the consumers, no matter what the regional diversity and the seasonal changes are. Food wholesaler is the connection between manufacturers and the retailers. We have been richly assorted the domestic and overseas merchandise and the ones developed in-house, and we can stably deliver to meet the needs of our customers.

Food wholesaler has diverse functions, such as the logistics for delivering goods accurately and promptly, the sales floor support with the merchandise project proposals, and the well-stocked utlizing all the informations, etc. It plays an important role in the streamlining and the optimization for the food distribution.

KOKUBU as a manufacturer

Different face, KOKUBU as a manufacturer.

KOKUBU as a manufacturer

The KOKUBU Group ran the soy sauce brewing business from the foundation till the early Meiji period. After that, while we were dealing with the merchandise from the manufacturers as a food wholesaling, as well as started to develop KOKUBU brand “K&K” and carried on selling. Currently, commencing with the brand merchandise K&K, tabete, paulownia mark and create, we are dealing with a variety of merchandise, such as side dishes, etc. In addition, we collaborate with the manufacturers, hand down the traditional regional culture and are promoting to develop the merchandise utilizing the materials.

KOKUBU key figures

Let's introduce KOKUBU Group by some figures to be understood easily.

  • 312
    years

    Established in 312 years ago

    Kanbei Kokubu IV, borned in Izawa where was the southern area of Ise-matsusaka, started the business in Edo-Nihonbashi since 1712. It is recorded that he was dealing with the Kimono trade as well as started the soy sauce brewing operation at the period of establishment. In the early Meiji period, it converted to a foodstuff-wholesaling while withdrawing from the soy sauce brewing industry.

  • JPY
    2,068.4
    billion

    Annual Sales (KOKUBU Group)
    JPY 2,068,417,000,000

    The KOKUBU Group's annual sales for the fiscal year ended December 2023 was JPY 2,068.4 billions.

  • 35,000
    companies

    The number of our customers is about 35,000 companies.

    We have dealings with about 35,000 companies, including supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, drug stores, liquor shops, food-service and meal-supplying, mail-order and net trade, etc.

  • 10,000
    companies

    The number of our clients is about 10,000 companies.

    We have business with about 10,000 manufacturers to meet the needs of our customers.

  • 600,000
    items

    The number of product line-up is about 600,000 items.

    The number of product line-up is about 600,000 items, such as processed foods, alcoholic drinks, confectionery, frozen chilled and fresh food, etc.

  • 326
    locations

    The number of domestic distribution centers is 326 locations.

    The logistics network covering the whole dometic area is built up by 326-location distribution centers. Also we have logistics functions in China and the ASEAN.

  • 48
    companies

    The number of subsidiaries is 48 companies.

    KOKUBU Group is formed by domestic and overseas 29 subsidiaries and 19 associate companies.

  • 60
    countries

    We export to 60 countries.

    Currently, we export foods and alcoholic drinks to 60 countries, mainly Asia, Europe and North America.