Systems to Safeguard Secure Quality

Procurement

The Product Department in the Group Product Division handles all procurement functions for food ingredients. Integration and centralization of procurement is essential not only from the perspectives of cutting costs and improving operational efficiency, but also for the stable procurement of safe food ingredients. The Product Department of the Group Product Division strives constantly to build close relationships with suppliers, and as a way of hedging stable supply risks, it has a basic policy of purchasing from multiple suppliers. To guarantee food safety, we cooperate with intermediaries such as trading firms and wholesalers to visit production regions directly, regularly checking and providing guidance on hygiene and quality control systems, while also communicating with producers. The foundations on which we build these relationships with our suppliers are partnerships connected by mutual respect and trust. By maintaining fair prices that will ensure a profit for both parties and gaining a better understanding of each other’s business, a cooperative relationship is formed in which each other’s strengths and weaknesses are mutually complemented. This is what leads to strong procurement capabilities.

Manufacturing and processing

In October 2016, the Product Department of the Group Product Division, Tokyo Factory, and Kyoto Factory became ISO 22000 certified. The purpose of this international standard is to provide safe and secure products by adopting food safety management methods based on HACCP. At our five noodle production plants in Japan, we conduct exhaustive safety management under the slogan of “safety, reliability, quality, and efficiency.” In particular, Hanamaru fully automated the noodle production line at its Chiba plant in 2016, effectively recreating artisanal skills with machines. The accumulation and quantification of manufacturing data contributes to the maintenance of stable quality and the improvement of technology.

Logistics

In the area of logistics, we participate in the White Logistics Movement, which aims to eliminate drivers’ long working hours and heavy workloads. We are pursuing various initiatives, such as logistics improvement proposals and collaborations, order volume leveling, and consideration of legal compliance. In addition, for the improvement of logistics, the Group serves as a mediator to encourage cooperation among shipping companies, as well as using in-house drivers for irregular deliveries. These efforts are leading to lighter workloads and to the improvement of operational efficiency. We also provide support for recruitment of drivers.

Cooking and customer service

To provide safe, secure meals, we conduct regular tests and inspections at our outlets nationwide, and all staff implement thorough hygiene management with a high awareness of food safety. Cooking and ingredients management are standardized based on written manuals, and efficient operational systems have been established. This allows us to prevent inconsistencies in the quality of the products we provide and achieve the same quality and service at any of our outlets all over Japan. In addition, we devote constant efforts to the enhancement of QSC (quality, service, and cleanliness) so that we can offer customers a satisfying experience at our outlets. Yoshinoya, Hanamaru, and With Link hold regular skills competitions with the aim of refining and passing on service and skills, as part of our efforts to enhance the technical capabilities of our employees.

Testing

Yoshinoya has established a Food Safety Policy for the food ingredients it provides, and it is addressing all foreseeable food-related risks, including raw materials, processing, transportation, storage, and serving of food to customers. In addition, assuming potential risks such as bacterial and viral food poisoning, allergies, pesticides, and foreign objects, we handle all processes hygienically. The quality assurance department constantly incorporates the latest scientific knowledge obtained from regulatory authorities, inspection organizations, and the food industry. We are pursuing the safety of our customers from every conceivable angle by constructing and operating a realistic, highly effective quality assurance system. In addition to providing purchasing staff with training to improve the level of their knowledge, the quality assurance department also provides guidance on improvements to our suppliers by having staff responsible for procurement and quality assurance conduct joint inspections based on ingredient characteristics.