R&D Innovation

Green tea leaf
Green tea leaf

Open Innovation

By bringing technology and ideas to fruition through an accumulation of fundamental technology and alliances with diverse stakeholders, ITO EN continues to offer customers a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

Processes for Creating Shared Value
Forming a Sustainable Brand

  • Innovation

    Day-to-Day collaboration between company departments and divisions leads to accurate reflection of customer voices in product planning and development

    Product planning and development is backed by academic/scientific findings through fundamental research

    On-target patent and trademark strategies

  • Social Value

    Value offered to consumers

    Provision of highly-original products based on customer viewpoints, as can be seen in ITO EN’s creation of many “Industry First” products

    Provision of safe, natural and healthy products that avoid use of artificial additives as much as possible

    Provision of delicious, well-designed products that match the needs of the customers who will actually purchase them (in terms of gender, age, and so on)

    Evocation of demand through extensive product lineups

  • Business Value

    Securing sustainable profits

    Differentiation from other firms through product development capabilities

    Enhancement of brand power

    Securing high market share

Research and Announcement of Findings
Relating to Food Products with Health Value

Value for ITO EN

Brand establishment

Increased sales, expansion of market share and product differentiation through total marketing

Value for society

Benefits of health conscious information

Sustainable consumer lifestyles

R&D related to Japanese green tea and vegetables

Research and Technology Development in " World’s First " and " Industry First " Teas

As a leading tea company, ITO EN has spent nearly a half-century engaged in wide-ranging tea research and development, opening up new possibilities for tea.

We will continue to offer new values to our customers through collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders.

  • Palatability

    Natural Extraction, Fresh Production Methods

    Reproducing the flavor of tea made in a teapot

    Maintaining the freshness of green tea’s aroma and flavor

    Tea-Producing Region Development Project

    Increases quality of crude tea and stable procurement of raw materials

    Quality Control

    Maintain and increase quality

  • Health

    Tea Components

    Analysis of the health-promoting qualities of catechins

    Analysis of the health-promoting qualities of theanine and other components

  • Environment

    Non-Sterilant Bottle

    Spread of resource- and energy-conserving products

    Contributing to a sustainable society and environment

    Tea Leaf Recycling System

    Cost reduction through resource conservation and recycling

Patent Strategy

Differentiation with other companies’ products, brand damage control, ensuring competitiveness

Contributing to anti-counterfeit measures

Research and Technology Development on the Health Effects of Vegetables and Other Food and Beverage Ingredients and Manufacturing Technology

Using open innovation methods refined with tea, ITO EN is working to build a unique value chain in other categories, including vegetables. At each stage of the value chain, we also create commensurate social and environmental value, contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

  • Palatability

    Natural Sweetness Production Method
    (Carrot Raw Ingredient)

    Proprietary production methods matched to the raw material

    Contracted Cultivation

    Stable raw ingredient procurement (carrots, etc.)

    Quality Control

    Maintain and increase quality

  • Health

    Vegetable and Fruit Components

    Analysis of the health-promoting properties of beta carotene

    Analysis of the health-promoting properties of polyphenol and other components found in food

  • Environment

    Aluminum-Free Paper Pack Container

    Product differentiation through high added-value products

    Contributing to a sustainable society and environment

Patent Strategy

Differentiation with other companies’ products, brand damage control, ensuring competitiveness

Contributing to anti-counterfeit measures

Appropriate Information Disclosure

Displaying raw materials and place of origin

Providing health-related information