Discover how Mizkan combines ancient and modern techniques to create the best vinegar products
With over 220 years of craftsmanship and innovation, Mizkan remains dedicated to its mission of bringing expertly crafted vinegars and Japanese-inspired flavors to European tables, all while preserving the legacy of Britain’s beloved heritage brands, Branston and Sarson’s. Chikara Tanaka, CEO, joins us to provide an update one year after Mizkan’s last feature in Food Chain, highlighting recent developments within the business.
“The business environment has become significantly more challenging due to inflation, minimum wage increases, and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). While facing these external obstacles, we have successfully achieved our planned results by adhering to our corporate philosophy: continuously challenge the status quo and offer customers only the finest products. We approach these challenges as one unified team across the entire company,” he begins.
Over the past 12 months, Mizkan has launched new products across its four business categories: Sarson’s, Branston, Japanese vinegar for food service and Japanese-style seasonings. Mizkan has also launched a new vinegar brand, The Vinegar Company, offering a versatile product suitable for both cooking and cleaning. Meanwhile, the Branston brand was expanded with the introduction of a new Piccalilli flavor. A new pickling liquid and sushi sauce have also been rolled out to enhance the company’s Japanese food service category. In addition, Mizkan debuted a range of Japanese-style seasonings for home use, including yuzu ponzu, rice vinegar and sushi seasoning. These offerings make the most of the company’s strength in developing flavorful products and have been well-received by customers. As for existing products, Mizkan has been able to further enhance customer satisfaction by proactively engaging new clients and implementing initiatives at the point of sale, along with broader usage suggestions for existing customers.
Tradition, technology, and trends
Thanks to its history spanning over two centuries, Mizkan is no stranger to moving with the times, and excels at adapting to evolving customer demands and embracing modern innovations. Chikara shares insights into the company’s current approach to research and development. “By harnessing the assets and resources of our entire group, we can effectively support and drive growth in our European business. We have established a structure that enables us to leverage the expertise, know-how, and technologies cultivated within our group, allowing us to preserve tradition while driving innovation. For example, in the fermentation process of vinegar, we apply cutting-edge technologies that enhance and modernize the process while maintaining the same high quality by using traditional fermentation methods. Moreover, by employing advanced technologies in raw material processing and product design, we are able to swiftly adapt to shifts in customer preferences and diverse requirements. Guided by a customer-centric approach, we continually work to accurately capture market trends and evolving needs in order to develop and propose new products.”
Expanding further on the topic, Alison Robertson, Mizkan’s Quality Assurance and Technical Director, clarifies: “Our rich heritage gives us the opportunity to build on our wealth of knowledge based on years of fermentation and vinegar production, using both ancient and modern techniques. Always keeping the customer in mind, we collaborate globally to share our knowledge on products and processes while ensuring that culinary trends are taken into account. Additionally, our research and development efforts enable our food scientists to experiment with new technologies and processes. As a company, we have made significant investments in research and development, particularly in Japan. Through collaboration, we are open to embracing new technologies that align with specific market demands and consumer needs.”
Decades of dedication
In addition to its research and development capabilities, Mizkan has significantly invested in the expansion of its facility in Middleton, UK. Operations Director Simon Lock tells us more about the purpose of this investment and how it will transform the facility. “We have developed a five-year investment plan for our Middleton factory, totaling circa £17 million. This plan encompasses several major enhancements, including a new factory roof, additional storage tanks and silos, and upgraded environmental protection systems. Moreover, we are investing in increased filling capacity in our bottling hall to support our growth, along with additional cooking capacity for rice wine vinegar and other Japanese vinegar varieties for both food service customers and new retail products in the UK and EU markets. We are also planning to implement automatic warehouse racking systems to boost storage capacity and improve safety, and to refurbish an older section of the factory to create new product development facilities. These upgrades will position us well to achieve our ambitious and innovative growth plan for Sarson’s malt and spirit vinegars, as well as our range of Japanese products. Collectively, these initiatives will help secure the long-term future of over 100 jobs in the Middleton area,” he enlightens.
As part of the expansion of the Middleton site, Mizkan is fostering a strong partnership with the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) and the University of Manchester (UoM) to drive research and innovation in sustainable materials and engineering. “Our decision to engage with UoM was motivated by the establishment of CEAMS, a department within the university designed to collaborate with industry while operating under the academic umbrella,” Simon explains. “Partly funded by the government, CEAMS specializes in sustainable materials through engineering and technology expertise. Depending on the project, a PhD student typically conducts experiments under the supervision of their lecturer and writes the report. Many challenges within the food industry require academic input or support to achieve sustainable, long-term solutions. One noteworthy outcome has been a comprehensive project on the impact of perlite and celite filtration optimization, along with a thorough analysis of the hollow fiber modules and techniques that support these findings.”
With decades of dedication to crafting exceptional products, Mizkan stands as a testament to the enduring value of tradition combined with innovation. Its commitment to quality, from carefully selected ingredients to time-honored production methods, has earned it a trusted place in kitchens and tables across generations. Whether enhancing everyday meals or elevating gourmet creations, Mikzan creates more than just products, it embodies a legacy of craftsmanship and a promise of excellence that will endure for generations to come.