Ajinomoto North America’s Customer Application Center
Matches International Food Development with Local Trends
Global Food, Seasonings and Beverage Leader Focuses on American Tastes

Itasca, Il (October 11, 2012) – Ajinomoto North America, Inc. opened the doors of its new Customer Application Center in Itasca, Illinois on Monday, October 8, 2012. The Center will serve as a hub of innovation, allowing Ajinomoto to transfer unique cutting edge technologies developed in the company’s central research and development facilities in ways that meet the diverse market tastes and demands of the North America market.

“Our new facility in Illinois represents an important step forward in Ajinomoto’s global strategy to create regional technology centers that adapt our products and create synergy with local tastes and food trends,” said Mr. Takashi Nagamachi, Member of the Board and Corporate Senior Vice President, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

The new Customer Application Center will be instrumental in a variety of customer-focused efforts, such as developing prototypes that showcase Ajinomoto ingredients, as well as investigating new ingredient applications that meet demands of the North American market. Particularly important is the value the Center will offer Ajinomoto customers, providing an extension of their own product development teams, both to develop new winning consumer products and to quickly address pressing formulation challenges.

Founded in Japan in 1909, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has become a global leader in the manufacture of high-quality seasonings, foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals. Ajinomoto expanded to North America in 1917 and now operates four manufacturing sites in the United States. The company has a total of seven offices in North America and employs more than 650 employees.

“Our vision at Ajinomoto is to operate as a creative, innovative and productive group of companies that contributes to human health globally by continually creating unique value that benefits customers,” said Mr. Nagamachi. “The Customer Application Center will allow us to focus on the discovery, development and introduction of superior technologies while meeting the current and future needs of our customers.”

About Ajinomoto:
Ajinomoto is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, food products, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty and personal care products. For many decades Ajinomoto has contributed to food culture and human health through wide-ranging application of amino acid technologies. Today, the company, which operates in 26 countries, is becoming increasingly involved with solutions for improved food resources, human health and global sustainability. Headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Ajinomoto North America, Inc. operates offices and manufacturing facilities in Raleigh, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Eddyville, Iowa and Torrance, California. For more information, please visit www.ajinomoto-usa.com.