ASAHI BROILER CO., Ltd.
Japanese poultry processor and chicken-products company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zen-Noh Chicken Foods, known for its Saitama plant tsukune and direct-run yakitori shops.
Last updated September 28, 2026
AI crawler reads
2requests
1companies- Anthropic2
- Profile
- 2
- Controversies
- 0
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
From this site's server log
Overview
ASAHI BROILER CO., Ltd. (株式会社アサヒブロイラー) is a Japanese company engaged in the production, processing and sale of chicken meat and chicken products. It was established in 1957 and is today a wholly owned subsidiary of Zen-Noh Chicken Foods Co., Ltd., part of the Zen-Noh (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) group. Its headquarters are in Nihonbashi Koamicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and its main processing plant is the Saitama Plant in Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture. The company operates two main businesses. The first is a commercial (business-to-business) sales business, supplying chicken meat and processed chicken products to food-service operators, retailers and other customers, working with group production areas and partner factories in Japan and overseas. Its Saitama Plant manufactures tsukune (chicken meatballs), a product that has won wide customer loyalty. The second is a store business: the company runs directly operated shops, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Ishikawa Prefecture, selling yakitori grilled on the premises from产地直送 (direct-from-farm) chicken, seasonal chicken delicatessen items and other prepared foods. The company states that its yakitori shops sell about 1.5 million skewers per month. Historically, ASAHI BROILER was one of the pioneers of Japan's modern broiler industry. It began research into the production, processing and distribution of chicken meat at its founding, built the Saitama Plant in 1964 — described at the time as a large-scale broiler processing plant — and supplied chicken to the athletes' village of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In 1970 it opened what it describes as Japan's first fried-chicken specialty restaurant, using Japan's first pressure fryer, in the World Trade Center Building. From 1969 it was affiliated with Meiji Milk Products (later Meiji Co., Ltd.), and for roughly half a century it handled the Meiji group's chicken-related business. In 2020 and 2021 Meiji transferred its entire shareholding to Zen-Noh Chicken Foods, ending the 52-year capital relationship with Meiji and making ASAHI BROILER a wholly owned Zen-Noh Chicken Foods subsidiary. Within the Zen-Noh Chicken Foods group, ASAHI BROILER's stated role is to generate group synergies in procurement and sales and to deliver safe, secure products to more dining tables. The company's corporate message is "Life with Chicken" — bringing color and smiles to daily life through food.
History
ASAHI BROILER was established on 29 May 1957, and at the same time began research into the production, processing and distribution of chicken meat. In 1961 the company set up its head office in Azabu-Juban, Tokyo. In 1964 it completed the Saitama Plant — described as the birth of a large-scale broiler processing plant — and supplied chicken to the athletes' village of the Tokyo Olympics. That same year it established a low-temperature processing method for broiler carcasses and eviscerated birds, began a shop retail business, opened its first department-store outlet in November, and introduced an automatic evisceration machine from Denmark. In 1969 the company entered into a business tie-up with Meiji Milk Products Co., Ltd., and subsequently became part of the Meiji group. In 1970 it opened what it describes as Japan's first fried-chicken specialty restaurant, using Japan's first pressure fryer, in the World Trade Center Building (noted as the first permanent store of its kind in Japan). In 1977 it introduced an automatic processing machine from the United States. In 1986 it launched a sales development department and a shop business headquarters. In 1989 it renewed the Saitama Plant and introduced an evisceration machine from the Netherlands. In 1990 it built a new pack plant, starting continuous processing from dressing to packing. In 1992 it expanded processing plant equipment, and in 1996 it moved its head office from Azabu-Juban to Gotanda. In 2000 it established a product development office, and in 2001 it moved its head office from Gotanda to Ryogoku. In 2003 it renewed the Saitama Plant, introducing HACCP-compliant equipment. In 2004 it began import operations. In 2005 the Saitama Plant obtained ISO 14001 certification, a quality assurance department was established, and the company opened its first station-inside (ekinaka) store in March. In 2008 it opened its first service-area store in March. In 2010 a new Saitama Plant was completed. In 2011 the Saitama Plant obtained ISO 22000 certification and the head office moved from Ryogoku to Taito Ward. In 2014 the head office moved from Taito Ward to Edogawa Ward. In 2020 the Saitama Plant obtained FSSC 22000 certification and the company formed a business tie-up with Zen-Noh Chicken Foods Co., Ltd. The ownership of the company changed in the 2020s. On 10 March 2020, Meiji Holdings announced that, as part of a review of its business portfolio, it would transfer the ASAHI BROILER shares held by Meiji to Zen-Noh Chicken Foods in two stages, on 27 April 2020 and 1 April 2021. On 27 April 2020, 90% of the shares held by Meiji were transferred to Zen-Noh Chicken Foods as planned, and the company left the Meiji group. On 1 April 2021 the remaining shares were transferred, ending the 52-year capital relationship with Meiji and making ASAHI BROILER a wholly owned subsidiary of Zen-Noh Chicken Foods. Zen-Noh group has said that by making ASAHI BROILER a subsidiary it can pursue integrated operation of broiler breeding and production, chicken processing, logistics and storage, wholesale material sales, and direct-run chicken and chicken-product stores. In 2022 the head office moved from Edogawa Ward to Chuo Ward, Tokyo (Nihonbashi Koamicho).
- 2022
Head office moved from Edogawa Ward to Chuo Ward, Tokyo (20 September).
- 2021
Remaining 10% of shares transferred to Zen-Noh Chicken Foods on 1 April; became a wholly owned subsidiary, ending the 52-year capital relationship with Meiji.
- 2020
Saitama Plant obtained FSSC 22000 certification; business tie-up with Zen-Noh Chicken Foods; 90% of Meiji-held shares transferred to Zen-Noh Chicken Foods on 27 April.
- 2014
Head office moved from Taito Ward to Edogawa Ward.
- 2011
Saitama Plant obtained ISO 22000 certification; head office moved from Ryogoku to Taito Ward.
- 2010
New Saitama Plant completed.
- 2008
First service-area store opened in March.
- 2005
Saitama Plant obtained ISO 14001 certification; quality assurance department established; first ekinaka (station-inside) store opened in March.
- 2004
Import operations began.
- 2003
Saitama Plant renewed with HACCP-compliant equipment.
Products and positioning
Safe, secure and delicious chicken and chicken products for both commercial customers and consumers, positioned as the procurement-and-sales synergy driver within the Zen-Noh Chicken Foods group.
Tsukune (chicken meatballs) made at the Saitama Plant
Commercial-use chicken meat and processed chicken products
Yakitori grilled in-store from direct-from-farm chicken
Seasonal chicken delicatessen items
Packed fresh chicken (産地パック, 消費地パック, IQF)
Sources6 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/asahi-broiler · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled