I participated the titled forum on the other day in Tokyo that was composed of the first and second parts.

The first part was the keynote speech “All started for one customer and with a cup of ramen – For the smile of 100 million people” by Mr. Kawahara Shigemi, Chairman of Chikaranomoto Holdings Co,, Ltd. The second part was a panel discussion “Aiming for Global Company of Food Service Industry” with Mr. Kawahara and Mr. Akimoto Michio (Representative Director of Wondertable,Ltd.), JIFA director.

A strong message by Mr. Kawahara “even if it fails, keep moving foolishly and honestly on the way you believe” that was told in front of many food and beverage participants attracted me.

Behind the spectacular aspect of a listed company, from the standpoint of always looking for failures without being afraid, I felt a corporate climate in which not only the executives of IPPUDO but also the group are moving together. It seems that this corporate culture appears in employee education in each country, ramen classroom for primary school students in Japan, Ramen Contest which also opened to overseas people, etc.

The company is being carefully addressed to solve problems. For example, in France, the amount of taxes and social security borne by companies is larger than in Japan and other countries, and personnel expenses become 1.8 times the basic amount. In the past, opening up in New York spent four years. There was also a big problem in opening up a joint venture in Shanghai. For salt-sensitive China, a localization of “salting down” was required. Introducing AI for the near future is also being considered for lack of manpower and so on. However one of the reasons to expand overseas is to give dreams and liveliness to all people involved in the group as a whole, including employees.

Regarding domestic matters, it was interesting about the goodwill division system that started from 2010. Goodwill division is a wonderful custom from long ago in Japan as well. It is not only me who was very impressed by the consistent attitude of “it needs to keep changing in order not to change” that means “keeping to adopt new good things while leaving good old things”.

He said “As you go through one way, you will see a deep and wide world” and concluded “We will continue to focus on Asia and the United States and will push forward strong relationships of trust with good cooperate partners in the world”.

In fact, it is a valuable company that has been recognized as a Cool Japan company through passing its strict selection criteria and his perspective on the company that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the year when he becomes 83 years old was extremely powerful.

Finally, I would like to note that Mr. Akimoto’s ability to draw Mr. Kawahara’s thought well was wonderful.

Contact to us

https://franchisejapan.biz/contact/?page=input

Tweet