Kuriyama Beika Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; President: Taiga Kuriyama), which manufactures and sells rice crackers such as "Bakauke," "Setoshio," and "Hoshitabeyo," presented its initiatives regarding "year-month expiration date labeling" and logistics reform at the "Information Meeting on Initiatives for Suppressing the Generation of Food Waste, etc.," hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

This meeting is held to share initiatives and challenges regarding food loss reduction among stakeholders in the food industry and government, with the goal of promoting the suppression of food waste. As part of the "Case Study Report" session, the company introduced its efforts toward food loss reduction and logistics efficiency, such as the transition to year-month expiration date labeling and the promotion of palletized transport.

Our Initiatives In response to labor shortages in the logistics industry and the "2024 Logistics Problem," our company is promoting food loss reduction and logistics efficiency through the following measures:

・Transition to Year-Month Expiration Date Labeling By changing from a date-specific format to a year-month format, we have increased flexibility in distribution and sales, contributing to the reduction of food loss.

・Promotion of Palletized Transport We have advanced the use of pallets for transport from factories to logistics hubs and delivery destinations, realizing more efficient cargo handling and reducing truck waiting times.

・Extension of Lead Times By reviewing the period from shipment to delivery, we have contributed to the optimization of distribution and the reduction of disposal risks.

※ Related Information ・Press release announced July 28, 2025 "Bakauke" maker Kuriyama Beika announces results of logistics reform: Achieved 60% palletization, reduced loading/unloading waiting time by two-thirds to an "average of 1 hour": https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000086.000063435.html

・Publication of case studies on food loss reduction initiatives, Fiscal Year 2025 (Announced by MAFF on October 30, 2025): https://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/recycle/syoku_loss/attach/pdf/161227_3-45.pdf

Comment from the Presenter (Logistics Reform Lead) "As one of our initiatives to address the 2024 Logistics Problem, I spoke about how switching to year-month expiration date labeling has led to food loss reduction. I also explained that this involved not just changing the printing, but also implementing internal regulations in parallel to ensure the quality of the products being shipped."

Moving forward, our company will continue to promote initiatives aimed at solving social issues, including food loss reduction, and contribute to the realization of sustainable food distribution across the entire industry.

Company Overview Company Name: Kuriyama Beika Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 2661 Niizaki, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture Representative: Taiga Kuriyama, President and Representative Director Established: February 5, 1949 Number of Employees: Approx. 750 (52% male, 48% female) Capital: 86.77 million yen Business Description: Manufacturing and sales of rice crackers Major Products: "Bakauke," "Setoshio," "Hoshitabeyo," etc.

About the Corporate Brand "Befco" "Befco" is a brand named after the initials of Beika (Rice Cracker), Frontier, and Company. We aim to be a brand loved around the world by creating "fun," "deliciousness," and "newness" that transcends the boundaries of rice crackers.

Business Description A confectionery manufacturer that produces and sells rice crackers such as "Bakauke," "Setoshio," and "Hoshitabeyo." With the theme of "fun, delicious, and new," we are challenging ourselves to provide new value suited to the times, starting with our long-selling products. While cherishing tradition, we continue to propose new ways to enjoy food.

Other Company Data (Fiscal Year 2024) Sales: 26.8 billion yen Average Age: 37 years old Average Years of Service: Approx. 15 years Childcare Leave Acquisition Rate: 100% for women, 100% for men (continuing since FY2023) ※ Kuriyama Beika by the Numbers website: https://recruit.befco.jp/data/

President Profile Taiga Kuriyama Date of Birth: April 30, 1994 (31 years old) After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Seikei University, he worked at Heiwado Co., Ltd. before joining Kuriyama Beika in 2020. Appointed President and Representative Director in April 2025. Currently leading the next-generation management structure.

＜Official Websites＞ Top Page: https://www.befco.jp/ Befco Online Shop: https://befco-shop.jp/ Recruitment Site: https://recruit.befco.jp/

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: event