Randy Capocasale On Kikkoman’s Global M&A Strategy

The world’s leading soy sauce producer, Kikkoman, is turning to mergers and acquisitions to fuel its global expansion amid the rise in popularity of Japanese cuisine internationally. With Japanese beverage groups having historically led global consolidation, the food giant is now recognizing M&A as a viable path to achieve higher profitability abroad compared to its domestic operations.

Randy Capocasale, a principal at Oliver Wyman, remarked, “We’re seeing the curtain open on a new world of opportunities for Japanese companies. There’s greater recognition of the ability to use M&A as a tool not just in Japan but abroad and the speed it can give Japanese companies in entering new markets.”

Randy emphasized that any M&A activity would have to be “careful, considered, and measured” as many Japanese food companies look to successful precedents before proceeding with their deals. Even with the added pressure from high tariffs on imports from Japan, the food producer remains optimistic about expanding its presence at the global level.

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