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Company History

1913	Seisuke Urakami, the first president, founds Urakami Shoten, an enterprise dealing in herbal medicines in Osaka.
1926	The company absorbed Fukuda Shoten, the manufacturer of Home Curry, and started to manufacture an instant curry product (Home Curry).
1928	Home Curry renamed House Curry.
1947	The Company was reorganized as a stock company and renamed "Urakami Foods Industry Co., Ltd." 1954.
1949	The name of the company is changed to House Curry Urakami Shoten, Ltd.
1954	An office opened in Tokyo (currently Tokyo Head Office).
1955	An office opened in Nagoya (currently Nagoya Branch).
1956	An office opened in Fukuoka (currently Fukuoka Branch).
1957	An office opened in Sapporo (currently Sapporo Branch).
1959	An office opened in Hiroshima (currently Hiroshima Branch). A new plant constructed in Fuse-shi City (currently Higashi-Osaka Plant).
1960	The name of the company is changed to House Food Industrial Co., Ltd. The company launched Indian Curry, the first solid curry roux in Japan.
1962	The Head Office building completed in Fuse-shi City.
1963	Vermont Curry launched. The product was advertised on TV and achieved unprecedented sales.
1964	An office opened in Sendai (currently Sendai Branch). Pudding Mix launched.
1965	Head Office Sales Department renamed Osaka Head Sales Office (currently Osaka Branch).
1966	Construction of Nara Plant is completed. Stew Mix launched.
1968	A sales office opened in Osaka (currently Osaka Branch).
1969	A sales office opened in Takamatsu (currently Takamatsu Branch).
1970	Technology Center (a research center, currently Somatech Center) and IDEAC Center (a training center) completed. Kanto Plant constructed in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The company launched Kukure Stew and entered the retort pouched food product market.
1971	The company is listed on both Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges. Kukure Curry launched.
1972	The company listed in the second section of the Nagoya Stock Exchange.
1973	The company listed in the first section of the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya Stock Exchanges. The company launched Shanmen Shoyu Aji (Soy Sauce Shanmen Noodles) and entered the packaged noodle market.
1974	The head office is partially relocated to Tokyo and Tokyo Head Office is established. Neri Wasabi (Horseradish Paste) launched.
1976	Construction of Fukuoka Plant is completed. Fruiche launched.
1977	The company launched Potato Chips with the technical support of a U.S. company, General Mills, and entered the snack foods market.
1978	The company launched Tongari Corn (Corn Chips), achieving high sales in the snack foods market.
1979	Umakatchan (Packaged Noodle) launched.
1980	Company trade mark and logo renewed under a new company slogan, "House Foods expands the joyful world of home cooking." Sales exceeded 100 billion yen.
1981	Los Angeles Office is opened.
1982	Shizuoka Plant constructed in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
1983	House Foods & Yamauchi Inc. established (in California, U.S.A.). (Currently House Foods America Corporation) The company launched Rokko no Oishi Mizu (Fresh Water from the Rokko Mountains) and entered the beverage market. The company provided corporate sponsorship for Tokyo Disneyland. Curry Marche launched.
1984	Kanto Branch established. House Insurance Enterprise Corporation established.
1985	Delica Chef Corporation established. The company launched a microwave oven food product, Range Gourmet, opening a new market for convenience foods.
1987	House Foods Hawaii Corporation established (in Hawaii, the U.S.).
1988	The last day of a fiscal year is changed from November 30 to March 31.
1989	S Pack Corporation established. An oven toaster food product, Dish Up, launched.
1990	Launched O'Zack, with technical support of Keebler Co., U.S.A. (currently United Biscuits)
1993	Somatech Center (research and development center) constructed in Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture. The company was renamed House Foods Corporation. Two head offices of Tokyo Head Office and Osaka Head Office established. "Designing an intelligent lifestyle" was adopted as the new corporate message. House Foods America Corporation established.
1994	Hosouchi Meijin (Packaged Noodle) launched.
1995	Reishabu Dressing (Pork Salad Dressing) launched.
1996	Kokumaro Curry and Hokkaido Stew launched.
1997	Construction of the new Tokyo Head Office is completed. All plants receive ISO-9002 certification. Shanghai Curry House Restaurant, Inc. is established.
1998	Shizuoka Plant obtained an ISO-14001 environmental management system certificate.
2000	Taiwan Curry House Restaurant, Inc. established. All plants receive ISO-14001 certification.
2001	The company provided corporate sponsorship for Tokyo Disney Sea. Shanghai House Ajinomoto Foods Co., Ltd. established.
2002	An office opened in Shanghai. Shanghai House Ajinomoto Foods Co., Ltd. launched a retort pouched curry product in China. Kokumaro Stew launched.
2003	House Foods Holding U.S.A. Inc. established. The first Environmental Report published. Kuromame Cocoa (Black Bean Cocoa) and Yasashii Shokutaku launched. Production and technology related divisions obtained an ISO 9001:2000 certificate.
2004	The company celebrated the 90th anniversary of its foundation and adopted "Taste and comfort" as its new corporate message. Shanghai House Foods Co., Ltd. established for the manufacture and sale of curry food products in China. Shanghai House Curry CoCo Ichibanya Restaurant, Inc. established. The company withdrew from the dairy product business in Hawaii, the U.S. House Foods Analytical Laboratory Inc. established. The company entered into a business alliance with GABAN Co., Ltd. Asaoka Spice K.K. incorporated as a group subsidiary. Rokko Plant constructed. Ukon no Chikara (Power of Turmeric) launched.
2005	Yoshikawa Plant constructed (for the manufacture of chilled products). Ichibanya Co., Ltd. joined the curry restaurant business in Taiwan. A joint ISO 14001 certificate obtained for all company plants, Tokyo and Osaka Head Offices, and Somatech Center. Cup Stew and Cup de Curry launched.
2006	A mail order business division established to start the sale of Kassei Ukon (Turmeric Supplement). House Wellness Foods Corporation incorporated as a group company (made into a 100% group company in October 2007). Hokkaido White Curry launched. House Foods America Corporation New Jersey Plant constructed.
2007	The company obtained a Next Generation Certification Mark (known as Kurumin) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Retort pouched Beef Curry, Retort pouched Pork Curry, and Retort pouched Chicken Curry, developed as food supplies for astronauts who stay at the International Space Station (ISS), were acknowledged as "Japanese space foods" by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). A joint ISO-14001 certificate obtained for the entire company. Curry House Korea Corporation established. House Instant Curry (reproduction of a curry product sold during the Showa Period) launched in collaboration with the movie, Always the Sunset at the Third Street (Part 2).
2008	An office opened in London. Soup for curry nabe (curry served in a pot) launched.
2009	House Business Partners Corporation established as a shared service company of House Foods Group. (Note: House Insurance Enterprise Corporation, an insurance agency, has been integrated into House Business Partners Corporation.) House Ai-Factory Corporation (parent organization: S Pack Corporation) re-opened following the functional enhancement of its operations. Mezameru Karada Asa Curry launched. Nutrisystem J Diet launched to reinforce the operations of the mail order business.
2010	The mineral water business is transferred. Retort pouched curry business in China integrated into Shanghai House Foods Co., Ltd.