Meiji

Overview

Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. (明治, Meiji) is a major Japanese conglomerate specialising in food, nutrition and pharmaceuticals. Internationally, the brand is best recognised for its chocolate, milk, yogurt, infant formula and sports nutrition products, although its corporate history encompasses a far broader range of dairy, health foods and medicines.1 While many consumers associate Meiji primarily with confectionery, the company operates as a diversified group spanning both consumer nutrition and clinical healthcare.

The modern corporate structure dates to 2009 with the establishment of Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. Its principal operating subsidiaries are Meiji Co., Ltd., which manages the food and nutrition business, and Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., which oversees pharmaceuticals.2

Corporate Profile

Item	Information
Brand / Corporate Name	Meiji (明治)
Country of Origin	Japan
Origins	1916
Original Company	Tokyo Confectionery Co., Ltd.
Modern Holding Company	Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Main Consumer Company	Meiji Co., Ltd.
Major Fields	Confectionery, dairy, nutrition, health foods, infant nutrition, sports nutrition, pharmaceuticals
Best-Known Products	Meiji Milk Chocolate, Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt, Meiji milk, infant formula, SAVAS, various chocolate snacks
Corporate Group Established	2009
Current Positioning	Food, nutrition, health and pharmaceutical group

For the fiscal year ended March 2025, Meiji Holdings reported consolidated sales of approximately ¥1.154 trillion. As of 31 March 2025, the group employed 17,231 people on a consolidated basis.3

Business Scope

Meiji is distinct among Japanese manufacturers for combining confectionery and dairy heritage with significant pharmaceutical operations. Unlike companies focused exclusively on snacks or beverages, Meiji’s portfolio has historically addressed both “deliciousness” and “health”. The consumer food business encompasses chocolate and confectionery, fresh milk and dairy products, yogurt, infant formula, sports nutrition, functional health foods, ice cream, cheese and gummies.4

Beyond consumer goods, the wider Meiji Group maintains active operations in pharmaceuticals and vaccines. This dual focus explains why the corporate identity emphasises nutrition, health, quality and everyday enjoyment rather than functioning solely as a confectionery manufacturer.

History

Foundation and Early Years (1916–1925)

Meiji traces its origins to 1916 with the establishment of Tokyo Confectionery Co., Ltd. in Tokyo. At that time, Western-style confectionery was gaining popularity in Japan but relied heavily on imports; the founders aimed to produce high-quality Western sweets domestically.5 Production of caramels and biscuits commenced in 1917, coinciding with the early development of the company’s dairy lineage through a predecessor entity.6 Consequently, Meiji was not originally founded as a chocolate-exclusive company.

The dairy business developed in parallel with confectionery. In 1921, the company launched Meiji Merry Milk, a condensed milk product. Over subsequent years, Meiji expanded into fresh milk and other dairy items, establishing the second pillar of its brand identity.7

Meiji Milk Chocolate (1926)

A defining moment in the company’s history occurred in 1926 with the launch of Meiji Milk Chocolate. Meiji imported manufacturing machinery from Germany and engaged German experts to refine production techniques, resulting in a product that achieved significant commercial success.8 This release effectively established Meiji as a leading chocolate manufacturer in Japan.

Notably, the product retains a version of its distinctive brown-and-gold packaging, maintaining a visible link to its historical origins.9 Meiji describes the brand as having been a market leader in Japan for nearly a century since this introduction.10

Post-War Expansion and Pharmaceuticals

Following World War II, Meiji diversified beyond confectionery. The company entered the pharmaceutical sector by commencing penicillin production in 1946, subsequently developing antibiotics and other medicinal products.11 Simultaneously, the food business expanded to include milk, infant formula, yogurt and nutritional products. This period marked the emergence of the modern Meiji model integrating food, nutrition, health and pharmaceuticals.

Iconic Product Era (1960s–1970s)

The 1960s and 1970s were pivotal for Meiji’s consumer brand portfolio, seeing the launch of several long-running products:

Marble Chocolate (1961)
Almond Chocolate (1962)
Caru/Curl (カール) (1968)
Apollo Chocolate (1969)
Meiji Plain Yogurt (1971)
Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt (1973)12

The development of Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt is particularly notable. During the 1970 Osaka Expo, Meiji employees encountered authentic Bulgarian yogurt and sought to reproduce its characteristics in Japan. After extensive study and obtaining permission to use the name “Bulgaria”, the company launched Meiji Plain Yogurt in 1971 followed by Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt in 1973.13 It remains one of Meiji’s flagship dairy brands.

Health and Sports Nutrition (1980s–2000s)

Responding to growing consumer interest in wellness, Meiji expanded into sports nutrition, protein, functional foods, collagen and probiotic yogurt. The SAVAS sports nutrition brand was established in 1980.14 During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company also developed products such as Amino Collagen, Meiji Probio Yogurt LG21 and Meiji Oishii Gyunyu.15 This era helped reposition Meiji from a confectionery manufacturer to a broader food-and-health brand.

Corporate Restructuring (2009–Present)

A major restructuring took place on 1 April 2009 with the establishment of Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. as the holding company above the former Meiji Seika and Meiji Dairies businesses.16 In 2011, these were reorganised into separate operating companies: Meiji Co., Ltd. for food and Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. for pharmaceuticals.17

Today, the term “Meiji” may refer to the consumer brand, the food company Meiji Co., Ltd., or the wider Meiji Holdings Group.

Major Product Categories

Chocolate

Chocolate remains the category most strongly associated with Meiji, with a heritage dating back to 1926.18 The portfolio includes Meiji Milk Chocolate, Meiji Black Chocolate, Meiji Chocolate Kouka, Meiji The Chocolate, Almond Chocolate, Apollo, Meltykiss and Galbo. Meiji Milk Chocolate is especially significant, having remained on the market for approximately a century.

Milk and Dairy

Dairy constitutes the other historic pillar of the business. Products span fresh milk, yogurt, cheese and drinking yogurt. Meiji Oishii Gyunyu, introduced in 2002, exemplifies the company’s strategy of emphasising taste and added value in commodity categories.19

Yogurt

Yogurt is a key health-oriented category for Meiji. Major brands include Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt, Meiji Probio Yogurt LG21, Meiji Probio Yogurt R-1 and PA-3. Meiji states that it launched Japan’s first plain yogurt in 1971, helping to establish the category domestically.20

Infant Nutrition

Meiji has produced infant formula for decades, investing significantly in usability and development. In 2007, the company introduced Meiji Hohoemi Raku Raku Cube, described as the world’s first infant formula in pre-portioned cube form. This innovation reflects Meiji’s philosophy of making nutritious products more convenient to use.

Sports Nutrition

Meiji is a prominent player in the Japanese sports nutrition market, primarily through the SAVAS brand launched in 1980. SAVAS focuses on protein, muscle development, athletic performance and recovery, giving Meiji a presence among consumers who may not associate the company with traditional dairy or confectionery.

Pharmaceuticals

Although the consumer brand is closely linked to food, pharmaceuticals have been part of the group since penicillin production began in 1946.21 The division later expanded into antibiotics, vaccines and other medicines. Today, these operations are principally managed by Meiji Seika Pharma within the Meiji Holdings structure.22 This substantial pharmaceutical arm distinguishes Meiji from many international food conglomerates.

Brand Philosophy and Identity

Nutrition has been a central theme throughout Meiji’s history. Founder Hanji Soma expressed an ambition to contribute to society through nutrition, a concept that continues to influence corporate philosophy.23 The brand’s approach can be summarised as combining taste, nutrition, health and scientific expertise. This framework connects diverse product lines—from chocolate and milk to infant formula and pharmaceuticals—under the shared goal of improving lives through food and health.

Meiji’s brand identity is characterised by several elements:

Japanese Heritage: The brand traces its history to 1916, representing over a century of operation.24
Chocolate Legacy: Meiji Milk Chocolate (1926) remains a defining product.25
Health Focus: Unlike pure confectionery brands, Meiji integrates nutrition, dairy and health foods into its core identity.
Innovation: The company has repeatedly created new categories, including Japan’s first plain yogurt and cube-format infant formula.26
Longevity: Many brands have persisted in the Japanese market for decades, often evolving gradually rather than being replaced.

Key Brands

The current consumer portfolio includes numerous individual brands across multiple categories:

Category	Examples
Chocolate	Meiji Milk Chocolate, Black Chocolate, The Chocolate
Chocolate Snacks	Apollo, Almond Chocolate, Galbo, Meltykiss
Yogurt	Bulgaria Yogurt, LG21, R-1, PA-3
Milk	Meiji Oishii Gyunyu
Sports Nutrition	SAVAS, VAAM
Infant Nutrition	Meiji Hohoemi, Meiji Step
Health / Beauty	Amino Collagen
Nutritional Foods	Meibalance
Cheese / Dairy	Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi products

27

Name and Historical Context

The name “Meiji” (明治) is identical to that of the Meiji era in Japanese history (1868–1912). However, the company was founded in 1916, four years after the end of that era.28 The name should therefore not be interpreted as indicating that the company was established during the Meiji period.

International Presence

While Meiji is most prominent in Japan, the group has expanded internationally over its history. Pharmaceutical exports began in 1950, followed by the expansion of food and pharmaceutical businesses into multiple overseas markets.29 The international strategy combines exporting Japanese-developed products with establishing local operations. For example, CP-Meiji was established in Thailand in 1989 as part of the group’s overseas dairy expansion.30 This has made Meiji products widely available across parts of Asia.

Significance in Japan

Meiji holds a significant position in Japanese food culture due to its involvement in the development of Western confectionery, chocolate, dairy, yogurt, infant nutrition, sports nutrition, functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Its products appear at many stages of Japanese consumers’ lives, from infancy through to old age. The company describes its evolution as a shift from confectionery and dairy towards a broader focus on health and nutrition.31

Current Status

As of the mid-2020s, Meiji functions as a large Japanese food-and-health group rather than merely a chocolate manufacturer. The group is organised around major food and pharmaceutical businesses, with Meiji Co., Ltd. handling food and Meiji Seika Pharma managing pharmaceuticals.32 The consumer portfolio spans dairy, chocolate, ice cream, yogurt, infant nutrition, sports nutrition and health foods.33 The company continues to emphasise the intersection of food, nutrition, health and science, reflecting the philosophy established over a century ago.

About Meiji