Earlier this summer, in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, about 60 nut industry professionals attended the Japan Nut Association’s (JNA) annual meeting. Among the guest speakers were the Almond Board of California’s (ABC) Richard Waycott, president and CEO, and Murielle Kim, global marketing consultant.
Attendees first heard from Mr. Hiroto Nakajima, JNA chair and CEO of Toyo Nut. Nakajima presented the business side of JNA – from annual reports to upcoming business plans – and shared updates on its election of officers, changes in membership and stories of recent inquiries from key stakeholders such as media, regulators and consumers. He also shared that global stakeholders involved in the nut industry are becoming more interested in business in Japan, and that Toyo Nut is becoming an important player in the global market.
Waycott, Kim and Nakajima spoke at the 2018 Japan Nut Association annual meeting.
The Almond Board was then introduced as JNA’s newest member, at which point Waycott provided attendees with an overview of ABC’s various undertakings on behalf of the almond industry. He spoke more in depth about the California almond industry and shared present opportunities for almonds, both globally and in Japan, specifically. Following Waycott, Kim elaborated on current California almond activity in the Japanese market, introducing ABC’s 2018 marketing activities directed toward both consumers and the trade sector.
Following the sessions, many attendees continued the conversation on California almonds with Waycott and Kim.
“It is always such a pleasure to visit Japan — a very special country and one that loves California almonds,” said Waycott. “We look forward to the years ahead as we further develop the Japanese market hand-in-hand with our Japanese colleagues and California handlers.
