Misopotato Hompo Co., Ltd.

Misopotato Hompo Co., Ltd. (みそぽてと本舗有限会社) is a small Japanese food manufacturing company based in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, dedicated to the production and sale of 'miso potato' (みそポテト), a traditional local dish of the Chichibu region. The company traces its origins to June 1973 (Showa 48), when the Arai family opened a butcher shop called Arai Nikuten in Nakamiyajicho, Chichibu. In May 1977 (Showa 52), the shop established a delicatessen division and began selling miso potato, commercializing the local home-style dish earlier than most. Over the following decades the business evolved: it operated a delicatessen tenant inside a Daiei 'D-Mart Chichibu' store from 1984 to 1996, incorporated as Yugen-gaisha Delica Family in April 1986, and spun off a frozen-food manufacturing arm, Yugen-gaisha Delica Foods, in May 1993. In April 1998 Delica Family absorbed Delica Foods. The company began supplying miso potato to local supermarket chain Belc in March 1999, and to roadside stations Ashigakubo and Chichibu in 2004 and 2005 respectively. In November 2009 its miso potato won first place at the 5th Saitama B-Kyu Gotouchi Gourmet King Contest, a significant boost to its reputation. In July 2010 the company changed its name to Misopotato Hompo Co., Ltd. and registered the name as a trademark. In October 2015 it began providing miso potato as a return gift under Chichibu City's furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) program, and in November 2015 its management innovation plan was approved by Saitama Prefecture. A new Chichibu factory near the head office was completed and began operation in November 2021. In April 2022 Shin Arai became representative director. The company remains a small, family-run enterprise with capital of 3 million yen, producing miso potato by hand in a small factory. Its products are sold through local supermarkets, roadside stations, events, food-service channels, and its own online shop, and it has expanded into frozen miso potato vending machines and a miso-potato-flavored snack called 'Misopotechi'. The company also operates kitchen cars at events and festivals.

The company's history begins in June 1973 (Showa 48), when the Arai family opened a butcher shop called 'Arai Nikuten' in Nakamiyajicho, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture. In May 1977 (Showa 52), the shop established a delicatessen division and began selling 'miso potato', a local Chichibu dish of battered and fried potatoes coated with a sweet-salty miso sauce. This was an early commercialization of the dish. In October 1984 (Showa 59), the business entered a delicatessen tenant space at the Daiei 'D-Mart Chichibu' store. In April 1986 (Showa 61), it was incorporated as Yugen-gaisha Delica Family with capital of 2 million yen. In April 1990 (Heisei 2), capital was increased to 3 million yen. In May 1993 (Heisei 5), a frozen food manufacturing division, Yugen-gaisha Delica Foods, was established, and frozen food manufacturing and sales began, with miso potato as the main product. In April 1996 (Heisei 8), the company withdrew from the Daiei D-Mart Chichibu store when it closed. In April 1998 (Heisei 10), Delica Family absorbed Delica Foods. In March 1999 (Heisei 11), the company began supplying miso potato to three Belc supermarket stores in the Chichibu area. In March 2004 (Heisei 16), it began supplying frozen miso potato to the Ashigakubo roadside station, and in April 2005 (Heisei 17) to the Chichibu roadside station. In November 2009 (Heisei 21), its miso potato won first place at the 5th Saitama B-Kyu Gotouchi Gourmet King Contest. In July 2010 (Heisei 22), the company changed its name to Misopotato Hompo Co., Ltd. and registered the name as a trademark. In October 2015 (Heisei 27), it began offering miso potato as a return gift under Chichibu City's furusato nozei program. In November 2015, its management innovation plan was approved by Saitama Prefecture. In March 2016 (Heisei 28), the mayor of Chichibu visited the factory for an inspection. In August 2021 (Reiwa 3), frozen miso potato for home use began to be sold at some Belc stores. In November 2021, a new factory, the 'Chichibu Factory', was completed near the head office and began operation. In April 2022 (Reiwa 4), Shin Arai became representative director. In August 2022, the company installed a frozen miso potato vending machine at its own factory site. In March 2023, a second vending machine was installed at the Drug Ichiwata Minano bypass store. In January 2024, it launched a miso-potato-flavored snack called 'Misopotechi'. The company continues to operate as a small, family-run manufacturer, producing miso potato by hand and selling through local supermarkets, roadside stations, events, food-service channels, and its online shop.

• Opened 'Arai Nikuten' butcher shop in Nakamiyajicho, Chichibu, Saitama

• Established delicatessen division and began selling miso potato

• Entered as delicatessen tenant at Daiei 'D-Mart Chichibu'

• Incorporated as Yugen-gaisha Delica Family with 2 million yen capital

• Increased capital to 3 million yen

• Established Yugen-gaisha Delica Foods as frozen food manufacturing division

• Withdrew from Daiei D-Mart Chichibu upon its closure

• Delica Family absorbed Delica Foods

• Began supplying miso potato to three Belc stores in Chichibu area

• Began supplying frozen miso potato to Ashigakubo roadside station

• Began supplying frozen miso potato to Chichibu roadside station

• Won first place at the 5th Saitama B-Kyu Gotouchi Gourmet King Contest

• Changed company name to Misopotato Hompo Co., Ltd. and registered trademark

• Began offering miso potato as return gift for Chichibu City furusato nozei

• Management innovation plan approved by Saitama Prefecture

• Mayor of Chichibu visited factory for inspection

• Home-use frozen miso potato began selling at some Belc stores

• New 'Chichibu Factory' completed and began operation near head office

• Shin Arai became representative director

• Installed frozen miso potato vending machine at own factory

• Installed second frozen miso potato vending machine at Drug Ichiwata Minano store

• Launched miso-potato-flavored snack 'Misopotechi'

Specialist manufacturer of Chichibu's local B-grade gourmet 'miso potato', emphasizing handmade production in a small factory and a registered trademark.

• Miso potato (みそポテト)

  Battered and fried potatoes coated with a sweet-salty miso sauce, a Chichibu local specialty.

• Frozen miso potato

  Frozen version for home use and business use, sold at supermarkets and roadside stations.

• Misopotechi (みそぽてち)

  A miso-potato-flavored snack launched in January 2024.

1. 1みそぽてと本舗有限会社 －秩父名物 みそポテト－misopotato.com
2. 2沿革 | 会社概要 | みそぽてと本舗有限会社misopotato.com
3. 3みそぽてと本舗とは | みそぽてと本舗有限会社misopotato.com
4. 4会社概要 | みそぽてと本舗有限会社misopotato.com
5. 5Misopotato hompo - Wikidatawikidata.org