Kobe Bussan and Gourmet Kineya Establish Joint Venture "MEAL HUB Co., Ltd." and Hold Joint Press Conference on the Establishment and M&A
Kobe Bussan and Gourmet Kineya have announced the establishment of a joint venture, "MEAL HUB," and the M&A of LSG APAC, a global in-flight meal company, to strengthen their in-flight meal business and global expansion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 14:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 19:14 (292h 43m after Collected)
Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Hirokazu Numata) and Gourmet Kineya Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President and CEO: Atsushi Mukumoto) announced the establishment of a joint venture company and the acquisition of shares (M&A) in an in-flight meal-related corporate group centered overseas. This move aims to strengthen the in-flight meal business and promote global expansion.
Accordingly, a joint press conference was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. On the day of the event, representatives from both companies explained the purpose of establishing the joint venture, the background of participating in the joint investment, and the future vision of the newly undertaken in-flight meal business in overseas markets.
## Background of the Establishment of MEAL HUB Co., Ltd.
Hirokazu Numata, President of Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. and President of MEAL HUB Co., Ltd., introduced the background of establishing the joint venture "MEAL HUB". He stated, "The in-flight meal business is expected to have high growth potential globally. In particular, the Asian region, where LSG APAC*1 (the target of this M&A) operates, is anticipated to see significant growth. As a joint venture, we plan to achieve growth that exceeds this expectation. In addition, we are looking to use this M&A as a foothold to strengthen our own strengths—Gyomu Super, delicatessen, and restaurant businesses—overseas. Specifically, we expect synergies such as providing our own private brand products from 27 domestic factories to in-flight meals and further strengthening our overseas suppliers in over 50 countries." He outlined a policy to maximize the strengths and know-how of both companies to strengthen the newly undertaken in-flight meal business.
*1: The Asia Pacific division of the LSG Group, which develops the in-flight meal business globally.
## Expanding Domestic In-Flight Meal Know-How to New Overseas Markets
Subsequently, Atsushi Mukumoto, President and CEO of Gourmet Kineya Co., Ltd., introduced the background of participating in the joint investment for the establishment of the joint venture. He stated, "LSG is a company operating the in-flight meal business globally and has abundant experience and know-how. This time, we have decided to acquire its Asia Pacific division through M&A. On the other hand, since our founding 60 years ago, Gourmet Kineya has developed various businesses related to 'food'. Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to build a relationship with Kobe Bussan, leading to the establishment of this joint venture. Through this M&A, Gourmet Kineya expects various synergies such as procurement and overseas expansion of our restaurant business, as well as optimizing our business portfolio balance." He expressed the idea of aiming for further business growth by expanding the know-how and network of the in-flight meal business cultivated domestically to new overseas markets.
Accordingly, a joint press conference was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. On the day of the event, representatives from both companies explained the purpose of establishing the joint venture, the background of participating in the joint investment, and the future vision of the newly undertaken in-flight meal business in overseas markets.
## Background of the Establishment of MEAL HUB Co., Ltd.
Hirokazu Numata, President of Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. and President of MEAL HUB Co., Ltd., introduced the background of establishing the joint venture "MEAL HUB". He stated, "The in-flight meal business is expected to have high growth potential globally. In particular, the Asian region, where LSG APAC*1 (the target of this M&A) operates, is anticipated to see significant growth. As a joint venture, we plan to achieve growth that exceeds this expectation. In addition, we are looking to use this M&A as a foothold to strengthen our own strengths—Gyomu Super, delicatessen, and restaurant businesses—overseas. Specifically, we expect synergies such as providing our own private brand products from 27 domestic factories to in-flight meals and further strengthening our overseas suppliers in over 50 countries." He outlined a policy to maximize the strengths and know-how of both companies to strengthen the newly undertaken in-flight meal business.
*1: The Asia Pacific division of the LSG Group, which develops the in-flight meal business globally.
## Expanding Domestic In-Flight Meal Know-How to New Overseas Markets
Subsequently, Atsushi Mukumoto, President and CEO of Gourmet Kineya Co., Ltd., introduced the background of participating in the joint investment for the establishment of the joint venture. He stated, "LSG is a company operating the in-flight meal business globally and has abundant experience and know-how. This time, we have decided to acquire its Asia Pacific division through M&A. On the other hand, since our founding 60 years ago, Gourmet Kineya has developed various businesses related to 'food'. Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to build a relationship with Kobe Bussan, leading to the establishment of this joint venture. Through this M&A, Gourmet Kineya expects various synergies such as procurement and overseas expansion of our restaurant business, as well as optimizing our business portfolio balance." He expressed the idea of aiming for further business growth by expanding the know-how and network of the in-flight meal business cultivated domestically to new overseas markets.
FAQ
What kind of company is MEAL HUB?
MEAL HUB is a joint venture established by Kobe Bussan and Gourmet Kineya to promote in-flight catering business and global expansion.
What is the target company for this M&A?
The target company for this M&A is the Asia Pacific division of the LSG Group, which operates in-flight catering services globally (LSG APAC).
What are the benefits of establishing the joint venture?
The benefits include integrating Kobe Bussan's private label manufacturing facilities and procurement network with Gourmet Kineya's food service expertise to create synergies in the rapidly growing Asian in-flight catering market.