Sankuzuru Launches Nagano Factory (NAGANO Production Base) to Enhance Profitability with Efficient and Productive Facilities

Sankuzuru Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture / President and CEO: Ryota Kuze), a food manufacturing and retail company (Food SPA) that operates approximately 180 specialty stores nationwide under brands such as "Kuze Fuku Shoten" and "St.Cousair," announces the commencement of operations at its food manufacturing plant (Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture), acquired in August 2025, starting from June 2026. The factory began shipping "Nameko" mushroom products manufactured from June 1, 2026, sequentially, with in-store rollout planned from the end of June.

Nagano Factory (NAGANO Production Base)

Background and Positioning of the New Factory

The company's core strategy is the "Food SPA Model," which integrates product planning, manufacturing, and sales. This factory, acquired to further deepen this model, is expected to strengthen production capacity and supply systems, optimize inventory management, and improve quality control levels, thereby contributing to increased profitability and sustainable growth.

Specifically, the company anticipates increasing the in-house production rate of its own manufactured products from the current 55% to 80%. This is projected to boost overall operating profit by an amount equivalent to 1% of the company's total operating profit.

Basic Factory Information

Name: Nagano Factory (NAGANO Production Base)

Location: 733 Yanagihara, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture

Site Area: 3,958㎡

Number of Employees: 10

Manufactured Items: Bottled products

Production Capacity: 15,000 bottles/day

Future Quality Assurance System

The Nagano Factory plans to obtain the food safety certification "FSSC22000" by Spring 2027, establishing a food safety management system in line with international standards. Efforts are underway to build a system that supports quality not only through equipment but also through operational processes, ensuring that customers can choose products with confidence.

Guided by its corporate slogan, "A Table Full of Love and Joy, Forever," the company has been dedicated to product creation. Moving forward, Sankuzuru will continue to deliver safe and delicious food stably to its customers through further improvements in quality and supply systems.

We spoke with Mr. Tsukada, Head of Manufacturing and Quality Assurance, about the features of the Nagano Factory.

Shota Tsukada, Head of Quality Assurance Department

-- What kind of products will be manufactured at the Nagano Factory?

Initially, the Nagano Factory will start by manufacturing popular "rice topping" products, beginning with "Nameko" mushrooms. Products such as our main line of meat side dishes like "Otona no Ushigure" and items like "Iburigakko Tartar" are also planned to be handled sequentially at this factory. In the future, we aim to expand the product range to approximately 10 items, including seasonal products and jams.

-- What is the production capacity?

We anticipate a production capacity of approximately 15,000 bottles per day per line. Compared to the existing Iizuna Factory, the filling capacity itself has increased by about 1.5 times.

Automatic equipment (casing machine) for sorting Nameko filling products at set intervals

-- Please tell us about the unique features of the Nagano Factory.

A distinctive feature is the ability to achieve the same production level as the Iizuna Factory with approximately half the number of employees. Industrial robots are incorporated throughout, mitigating the risk of labor shortages while also reducing the burden on workers.

The factory's design incorporates mechanization from bottle depalletizing (removing unused bottles from packaging) to product palletizing (packaging products for shipment). The biggest challenge was replicating tasks previously done manually using linked conveyors and industrial robots. After repeated trial and error with multiple machinery manufacturers and the new factory project members, we were finally able to realize it. As a result, we believe we have created a highly unique, linear production line.

Furthermore, AI cameras have been introduced for inspection processes that were previously done visually by humans. We expect this to significantly contribute to stabilizing quality and reducing waste.

AI camera for inspection and palletizer

-- Is it a fully automated factory?

We do not rely entirely on machines. For the "taste" that is characteristic of Sankuzuru, we value human control. Particularly in the boiling process, we have intentionally retained the process where skilled staff, using the same size machinery as at the Iizuna Factory, confirm the taste while finishing the product, ensuring the faithful inheritance of our established flavor development.

Boiling process by hand

Sankuzuru Co., Ltd.

Sankuzuru Co., Ltd. is a food manufacturing and retail company headquartered in Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture. It operates specialty stores such as "Kuze Fuku Shoten" and "St.Cousair" nationwide, implementing the "Food SPA Model" that integrates product planning, manufacturing, and sales. Originating from the founder's experience managing a pension in the Madarao Kogen area of Shinshu, where he witnessed joyful dining tables shared by family and customers, the company upholds the corporate slogan "A Table Full of Love and Joy, Forever."

■Company Name: Sankuzuru Co., Ltd.
■Headquarters: 1260 Imogawa, Iizuna Town, Kami-Ina District, Nagano Prefecture
■Representative: Ryota Kuze, President and CEO
■Founded: 1979
■Established: 1982
■Business Activities:
- Manufacturing and sales of jams, wines, and other food products,
- Direct management and franchise expansion of wineries, restaurants, and retail stores.

Web Pages & SNS

■Homepage URL
https://www.stcousair.co.jp/company
■Official Online Shop
https://kuzefuku.com
■Rakuten Ichiba Store
https://www.rakuten.co.jp/sc-rkt/

■Official SNS
X (Kuze Fuku Shoten): https://x.com/kuzefuku
X (Sankuzuru): https://x.com/stcousair

Instagram (Kuze Fuku Shoten): https://www.instagram.com/kuzefuku/
Instagram (Sankuzuru): https://www.instagram.com/st.cousair/

Facebook (Kuze Fuku Shoten): https://www.facebook.com/kuzefuku/
Facebook (Sankuzuru): https://www.facebook.com/stcousaircoltd/

note (Sankuzuru Forest): https://note.com/stcousair_forest