OREANDA-NEWS. Ajinomoto Co., Inc. will further expand its Food Products business in Russia with the start of sales of frozen gyoza for the restaurant-use market, mainly Japanese restaurants, in Russia's two largest cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, at the end of March. Ajinomoto Co. is aiming for Food Products sales of JPY 600 million in Russia by 2016.

Frozen Vegetable Gyoza, the product to be sold in Russia, will be manufactured in Thailand by Ajinomoto Frozen Foods (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Ajinomoto Group company and imported and sold by OOO Ajinomoto.

Russia currently has a population of 140 million and the highest GDP of the BRICs countries, with economic growth forecast to continue. Japanese food is very popular in Russia, where a Japanese food menu2 is offered in cafes, bars and other outlets in addition to Japanese restaurants. Approximately 4,000 outlets offer these Japanese food menus, of which about 75%, or 3,000 outlets, are located in Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Ajinomoto Co. survey). Russia's restaurant-use market, which is expected to grow, holds great appeal for the Food Products business of Ajinomoto Co. Moreover, a traditional dish similar to gyoza called pelmeni is widely consumed in Russia, creating expectations for the market acceptance of Vegetable Gyoza.

The Ajinomoto Group aims to become a "Genuine Global Specialty Company" under its FY2014-2016 Medium-Term Management Plan. Under the plan, Europe including Russia will follow ASEAN and Latin America as a growth area for the overseas Consumer Foods business.

Ajinomoto Co. established OOO Ajinomoto in Moscow in 2004, and the company sells food products and amino acid-related products in Russia. Ajinomoto Co. will further sell frozen Gyoza as a steppingstone, and expand its Food Products business through increasing product variety of frozen foods, seasonings, and processed foods etc. which have a high affinity with Japanese foods In Russia, where interest in Japanese food is increasing.

The Ajinomoto Group aims to be a global food company that contributes to well-being through providing more delicious, higher-quality products adapted to local food cultures and customs.