Sprouting Innovation Salad Cosmo’s Pioneering Journey in Japan’s Mung Bean Market
The Pioneer of Natural Bean Sprouts
In a marketplace once dominated by chemically bleached bean sprouts, Tomohiro Nakata, the 73-year-old president of Salad Cosmo, stands out as a reformist in Japan’s bean sprout industry. Since 1973, Nakata embarked on a mission to produce and promote unbleached, additive-free bean sprouts, challenging the industry’s status quo amidst significant resistance. His persistence paid off, with his standards eventually becoming the norm, transforming the production processes across the industry.
Responding to Global Uncertainties with Price Reductions
Amidst global instability and rising prices post-pandemic, Nakata made a bold decision to lower the prices of Salad Cosmo’s bean sprouts. This move, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on consumers, required innovative strategies to reduce costs without compromising quality. Nakata’s company has maintained profitability for 43 years, largely due to efficient factory automation and cost-saving measures.
