Nissui releases New Products for Spring & Summer 2003

Nissui proposes products based on links in networks, links in the natural environment and harmony in family, which are referred to as the three "wa", as the terms "link" and "harmony" are pronounced "wa" in Japanese.

The product development themes for FY2003 are to be meticulous about: safety and security; tastiness; and ease of use.

(1) Meticulous about Safety and Security

Amid the outbreak of various food-related problems, customers' desire to have a safer and more secure diet is increasing substantially, oriented towards rational values (*1). In response, the food industry has started to make various efforts to enhance quality control and production management in order to deliver safe and secure food.

Nissui's efforts for safety and security are represented in its integrated business based on the linkage within the Group and with corporate partners.

At Nissui, each and every officer and employee of the Group is fulfilling their respective duties and making contributions to developing a healthy and abundant diet, while constantly endeavoring to improve quality through Nissui's proprietary technologies, in order to deliver safe, secure and valuable products to customers.

(*1) According to Nissui's Consumer Research, values for life which customers expect in a product are based on the combination of the following three values. Customers' needs are deemed to be a mixture of desires to fulfill these three values.

Rational Value:	Safety, security, health and other values desired based on rational thought.
Sensory Value:	Values perceived by the five human senses, such as freshness and tastiness.
Instinctual Value:	Values desired instinctually, such as the desire to save effort, the desire to simplify, the desire to save effort but wish to add an extra touch.

(2) Meticulous about Tastiness

It is fair to say that sensory values (*1), which can be perceived by the five human senses such as freshness and tastiness, are important values for the joy of eating. This spring, Nissui will focus on seasonal ingredients and the authentic taste of foods, as part of being meticulous about tastiness. In order for people to further enjoy the taste of seasonal ingredients (which can only be relished for a limited time) and the authentic taste of foods (which can only be experienced at tourist destinations and specialty stores), we have been meticulous not only about the ingredients but also about the processing methods to extract the flavor.

(3) Meticulous about Ease of Use

According to Nissui's Consumer Research, housewives who are willing to use convenient food ingredients as much as possible to minimize the effort required in the preparation stage have increased on an annual basis, accounting for 31%, 36% and 47% in 1999, 2000 and 2002, respectively.

This is deemed to be attributable to housewives' struggle (i.e. they want to serve their family a tasty meal, so even if they use convenient food ingredients, they want to add an extra touch), which is raising their expectations for products that would resolve their struggle.

Nissui will focus on such instinctual values (*1) and propose many products that will meet such expectations based on the desire to save effort, or the desire to add an extra touch.

Nissui's New Products for Spring & Summer 2003 (including renewed products)

• Products targeting frozen foods section: 16 • Products targeting canned & bottled foods section: 6 • Products targeting pouch-packed foods section: 3 • Products targeting daily deliveries section: 3 • Products targeting ham & sausage section: 2 • Products (frozen foods) targeting prepared foods section at mass retailers & restaurants: 7 • Products (frozen foods) targeting school meals: 3 • Products (frozen foods) targeting convenience stores & prepared foods section at mass retailers: 4 • Products (frozen foods) targeting seafood section and prepared foods section at mass retailers & restaurants: 4 Total 48