Second Internal Business Contest "ZERO ONE" Held

Medipal Holdings Corporation (Chuo Ward, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shuichi Watanabe) and its group companies (hereinafter "our group") announce the holding of the second internal business contest, "ZERO ONE."

"ZERO ONE" was launched in 2024 with the aim of creating new employee-proposed businesses and driving operational transformation, targeting the realization of a society where everyone can live in good physical and mental health and enhancing corporate value. The second edition was held under the theme "Celebrating Challenges!" with expanded eligibility to include more participating companies and employment types.

Prior to submissions, employees were offered opportunities to learn about entrepreneurship and marketing, and their business conceptualization skills were enhanced through workshops.

As a result, eight advanced ideas were selected for the final round from 134 passionate proposals, following document screening and preliminary presentation evaluations. Finalists included initiatives such as "Realizing a Circular Economy by Leveraging Our Group's Logistics Network," "Promoting Food Education through Children's Gut Microbiome Testing 'Uncheck,'" and "A Collaborative Platform for Preconception Care."

In the final round, judging was conducted by executive directors, along with audience voting by employees. A live broadcast using a next-generation online platform connected the event venue with employees across the country, fostering a strong sense of unity.

Selected ideas will receive ongoing support, including guidance from relevant internal departments and experts, budget allocation, and the provision of dedicated working environments.

Meanwhile, programs adopted in the first "ZERO ONE" contest are steadily progressing, with the following three projects already in commercial operation and on sale:

MEDIPAL DI NAVI: A Drug Information (DI) inquiry response system developed by Mediseo Co., Ltd. This search system consolidates all information necessary for DI responses and is used by pharmacists and MS personnel across our group. It has successfully reduced average search time to within one minute.

Low-Calorie Dog Treat "ZEROtcho"※1: Developed by MP Agro Co., Ltd., this product was initially sold via the crowdfunding platform Makuake and began general sales in April 2026. As of May 2026, it is also being distributed to animal hospitals nationwide.

"Rich Nutrition Ice 'Tomoni' with 10g Protein"※2: Developed by MP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd., this product was also launched via Makuake and began general sales on June 15, 2026.

Our group is committed to advancing business transformation through close collaboration between management and employees, in pursuit of our corporate mission: "Contributing to people's health and societal development through the creation of distribution value." Through initiatives like this, we aim to cultivate future-oriented talent, foster a creative corporate culture, and achieve sustainable growth in corporate value.

※1 A domestically produced, additive-free dog treat made with only four ingredients, created to help dog owners who worry about calorie intake and nutritional balance when giving treats to their pets. Each stick contains approximately 0.67 kcal ("zero and a little").

※2 "Even when I have no appetite, I can eat ice cream"—responding to such customer feedback, this ice cream delivers great taste and a rewarding feel while providing 10g of protein, calcium, zinc, and vitamin D, making it a gentle complement to daily meals.

https://www.mpgfc.co.jp/news/21420/