2025 New Year’s Greeting

As we welcome 2025, we extend our best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous New Year.

Looking back on the past year, the business environment demanded efficient logistics systems and innovative products. This was driven by increased demand during a hot summer, elevated material and energy costs, a weak yen, and the 2024 logistics problem. Responding to these changes with agility, we strengthened our existing growth platform, boosted the top line, improved productivity, and tightly controlled costs and expenses, enabling us to grow the business.

In 2024, the first year of our strategic business plan “Vision 2028,” we achieved strong volume growth by leveraging the extreme summer heat to meet increased demand. Other highlights included maximizing Ayataka's in-store presence following its successful full product renewal, expanding the label-less and multi-pack product range, and launching high value-added products. In manufacturing and logistics, we bolstered production in the Tokai region by introducing a new aseptic production line at the Tokai Plant in Aichi Prefecture in July, reinforcing our "local production for local consumption" model. During the peak summer season, we flexibly responded to increased demand with improved Sales and Operations Planning accuracy, while collaborating with customers, suppliers, industry peers, and others to build a sustainable supply chain infrastructure.

As a result of these efforts, we revised our full-year earnings forecast upward in November 2024 and implemented comprehensive measures to strengthen shareholder returns ahead of schedule. These initiatives are aligned with our approach to increasing shareholder value under our Vision 2028 strategic business plan. We also delivered an unprecedented level of shareholder returns through various initiatives, including a revised dividend policy that reflects our ambitious plans for dividend growth.

In April, the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will return to Osaka for the first time in 55 years. As a Gold Partner of the Live Earth Journey signature pavilion, we aim to bring happy moments to visitors from around the world and help make this event a celebration of a sustainable future.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the year of the snake, a symbol of rebirth and transformation. Inspired by this, we will accelerate our transformation and deliver steady, sustainable profit growth in 2025. Building on our progress to date, we will thoroughly execute our key initiatives and remain focused on profitability and capital efficiency to achieve our Vision 2028 goals.

We appreciate your continued guidance and support this year.