Ajinomoto Launches Its First Fan Community Co-Created Product 'Amino Vital® ONE' Jelly Drink on April 1 — A Masterpiece Packed with Over 100 Prototypes, 1,400 Voices, and Genuine Passion

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (President: Shigeo Nakamura, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will launch the new "Amino Vital® ONE" jelly drink, containing 10,000mg of amino acids—the highest amount in the brand's history—to support amino acid supplementation based on sports nutrition science. It will be available nationwide at sports mass retailers and EC channels starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

This product was born through a joint development project with over 1,400 athletes belonging to our fan community, the "Amino Vital® Athlete Club." As our company has been promoting fan marketing in recent years, this is our first earnest co-created product built from scratch together with our fan community in the company's over 100-year history.

Furthermore, ahead of the launch, a new product unveiling event for fans, "THE NEXT," was held at TRUNK HOTEL ONDEN (Shibuya) on Tuesday, March 31.

## Development Background: First Product Developed via "Fan Community Co-creation" at Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
In addition to the marketing style of product development and advertising production based on its unique strategy cultivated over many years, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has recently been aiming for "fan marketing" to connect directly with customers and co-create value. A symbolic item of this is the "Amino Vital® ONE" jelly drink, newly released by the "Amino Vital®" brand, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

The development of this product began with repeated hearings and dialogues with members of the "Amino Vital® Athlete Club," a fan community owned by the "Amino Vital®" brand. The club was established in 2024 and consists of over 1,400 members who enjoy sports, primarily triathlons. It is our most active and highly engaged community, where athletes with Olympic experience and top-level competitors participate as community ambassadors, dedicating themselves to daily improvement through practice sessions and seminars.

Members voiced three primary needs that triathletes prioritize during exercise: a "sustained energy source," "electrolyte replenishment," and "recovery support." Furthermore, it became clear that a formulation easy to drink and refreshingly consumable even during severe exercise, and an appealing design that makes people want to pick it up, were also crucial factors.

To meet these needs, in addition to interviews and surveys with members, this product was created through thorough dialogue, including flavor voting and tasting sessions pursuing the ideal taste, participation in development meetings, and soliciting opinions on packaging design.

With many international sports tournaments being held this year, it can be called a "Sports Golden Year," and the number of sports players who dedicate themselves seriously to their hobby of sports with the same passion as their work and family is increasing. Through the "Amino Vital® ONE" jelly drink, "Amino Vital®" will support the earnest efforts of all people who challenge sports with high passion, starting with our community members.

## Developer Comments: "One Team" Development that Formed the "Ideal"
Yuichiro Sakai, Project Leader of "Amino Vital® ONE," Sports & Health Nutrition Dept.
"To what extent does the brand's knowledge cultivated over 30 years align with the essential needs of athletes? Facing this question, we placed the starting point of development on dialogue with users and reviewed the process itself this time. In addition to a thorough commitment to ingredients and their formulation amounts, we wanted its presence to make you look forward just by holding it in your hands. We have reflected this thought in the details of the design and packaging. This product is a new challenge for our company, as it is the first time as a manufacturer to create something from scratch together with a community."

Kenichiro Inoue, "Amino Vital®" R&D, Wellness Solution Development Center, Food Research Institute
"Given the high difficulty of product development and the numerous challenges, there were times when we almost gave up. However, as the person in charge of product development, I managed to reach the launch driven solely by the desire to deliver it to the athletes waiting for it. With our carefully selected ingredient formulation and ease of drinking, I am confident that we have created a product that strongly supports athletes fighting in extreme conditions."

Miharu Hosaka, "Amino Vital®" Marketing, Sports & Health Nutrition Dept.
"As this is our company's first fan community co-created product, we proceeded with product development while communicating with athletes at every development stage, including formulation, taste, and packaging. I hope you will continue to challenge your limits together with this 'Amino Vital® ONE,' where every athlete who cooperated can be called a product developer."

## Product Features: Supplementation that Supports Breaking Limits
### 3 "ONE"s Embedded in the Product Name
The naming of this product carries the meaning of three "ONE"s that support everyone challenging endurance sports.

1. All-in-ONE
In addition to a uniquely designed 10,000mg of amino acids centered on high-leucine EAA (the highest amount in the brand's history), this single pack contains carbohydrates, electrolytes, and citric acid. You can replenish nutrients essential for endurance sports in an all-in-one manner.

2. Only ONE
Our first fan community co-created product born from dialogue with over 1,400 athletes. It is an item that took the "athlete's reality" as the starting point for its design.

3. Challenge to No. 1 (ONE)
Updating personal bests, reaching the podium, and challenging oneself beyond yesterday. We infused the desire to support each person's "No. 1 for themselves" with this single pack.

### Commitment to the Product for Fighting Through the Race to the End
A single pack containing everything essential for tough endurance sports: carbohydrates, high-leucine EAA, electrolytes, and citric acid. It is an "all-in-one jelly" packed with 10,000mg of amino acids, the highest amount in the history of the "Amino Vital®" brand. Since it has a capped package, you can drink your preferred amount at any time during long races. It features a lightly sweetened salt lemon flavor and is highly recommended before or in the middle of sports.

## Pushing Challengers Forward! New Product Unveiling Event Held
On Tuesday, March 31, the day before the launch, a new product unveiling event for fans, "THE NEXT," was held at TRUNK HOTEL ONDEN (Shibuya). A total of about 200 people, including development partners from the "Amino Vital® Athlete Club," top athletes, and ambassadors, gathered at the venue. Following the screening of a movie depicting the trajectory of co-creation, the background and thoughts behind the product development were discussed, and a talk session by top athletes enlivened the venue.

### "My Long-Awaited Partner!" Co-creating Community Members Toast with the Jelly for the First Time
Members who co-created this product spoke passionately, saying, "I am moved that our voices have taken 100% shape" and "It's my long-awaited partner!" One member of the "Amino Vital® Athlete Club" who also challenges domestic and international triathlon races expressed joy, stating, "I'm glad that the nutrients needed during a race are all in one! Until now, I carried several packs around, but one 'Amino Vital® ONE' solves everything."

### Harry Sugiyama Also Takes the Stage! Expresses Expectations: "Being Able to Take in a Lot of Amino Acids Will Be a Weapon"
In the subsequent talk session, talent Harry Sugiyama took the stage as a special guest. As one of the entertainment industry's foremost marathon enthusiasts, Harry continues to challenge "Sub 3 (under 3 hours)" and grueling races amidst his busy work schedule. He excited the audience by saying, "With many international sports tournaments being held this year, I have an equal sense of expectation for 'Amino Vital® ONE'! I can't stop my excitement!" Furthermore, he commented, "When the second half of a long-distance track event gets tough, being able to refresh with the salt lemon flavor and properly intake amino acids will be a great weapon in the race." He concluded by saying, "'Amino Vital® ONE' seems like it will be an ally to everyone challenging hard sports like triathlons and ultramarathons!" garnering huge sympathy from the challengers gathered at the venue.

## Product Overview
1. Product Overview
- Product Name: "Amino Vital® ONE" Jelly Drink 130g
- Features: A single pack containing everything essential for tough endurance sports: carbohydrates, high-leucine EAA, electrolytes, and citric acid. It is an "all-in-one jelly" packed with 10,000mg of amino acids, the highest amount in the history of the "Amino Vital®" brand. Since it has a capped package, you can drink your preferred amount at any time during long races. It features a lightly sweetened salt lemon flavor and is highly recommended before or in the middle of sports.
Special Page URL: https://www.ajinomoto.co.jp/aminovital/special/athlete-club
- Volume: 130g
- Price: Open price
- Shelf Life: 12 months (unopened at room temperature)

2. Launch Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
3. Release Region: Nationwide
4. Sales Channels: Sports mass retailers, EC

For more details on Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and the Ajinomoto Group: Ajinomoto Co., Inc. ~Eat Well, Live Well.~