KAYAC Inc. acquires Okinawan tofu maker Shuri Tofu

KAYAC Inc. has acquired a 96.1% stake in Shuri Tofu Co., Ltd., a long-established tofu manufacturer based in Shuri, Naha, Okinawa, effective October 1. The move is framed as a business succession aimed at preserving Okinawan food culture through what KAYAC calls ‘regional capitalism,’ a model that treats local culture and community connections as vital economic assets.

Shuri Tofu, formerly known as Teruya Foods, has been producing traditional island tofu since 1969. Under the leadership of President Yukino Teruya, the company has focused on community engagement, including supplying local school lunches and reducing food loss through products like ‘OKARA chinsuko.’

Through this acquisition, KAYAC intends to apply its branding and promotional expertise to expand the reach of Shuri Tofu’s products both within and outside Okinawa. Yukino Teruya will continue as President, while Daisuke Yanagisawa, CEO of KAYAC, will join the board of directors to support the company’s goal of becoming a ‘100-year enterprise.’