Meiji to reorganize yogurt production sites in Japan

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Meiji Holdings Co. said Friday it will reorganize its yogurt production sites in Japan to cut costs and improve efficiency.

The company’s Meiji Co. division will close three factories in Miyagi, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures and simultaneously build a new factory in Kanagawa.

Meiji will cease production at its factories in the city of Miyagi, Taiwan, in November 2025, in the city of Kanagawa, Chigasaki, in March 2027, and in the city of Toda, Saitama, in July 2027. Production will be moved to other factories, including the new factory in Kanagawa.

Permanent workers at the three factories will be transferred to other positions, while the status of contract workers will be defined in employment contracts, an investor relations official at Meiji said.

The company will build the new ¥40 billion plant in the city of Atsugi in Kanagawa. Construction will start in 2025 and production will begin in March 2027. The plant will introduce new technology to extend the shelf life of products.