Kagome Co. Ltd. · Nagoya Japan ·(Tokyo: 28110)

For the Japanese, Kagome is synonymous with all things tomato, especially ketchup. Kagome is one of Japan's leading ketchup makers and dominates the market for canned tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, and tomato sauces. The company also produces canned teas and fruit and vegetable juices, including -- naturally -- tomato juice. The company traces its roots back to the first tomato plant sold in Japan in 1899. The founding family began making ketchup and oyster sauce in 1908 and formed the company in 1914. A joint venture with ketchup rival Heinz is intended to better manage Heinz's Japanese business and give Heinz access to Kagome's technology for packaging juices. To read the full description, subscribe now.