ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has confirmed that its subsidiary Yayoi Foods Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Teruo Fujishima, President & CEO; hereinafter “Yayoi Foods”) suffered serious damage at its Kesennuma plant from the huge earthquake off the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region.

Yayoi Foods aims to build a stable supply structure to deliver products safely and without anxiety to all customers and consumers, and has agreed with Nichirei Foods Inc. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Yoshihiko Soma, President; hereinafter “Nichirei Foods”) to proceed with the examination of outsourcing original equipment manufacturing for some products produced at its Kesennuma plant. Yayoi Foods is also proceeding with the examination of original equipment manufacturing for some products at its Kesennuma plant with Prima Meat Packers, Ltd. (headquartered in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Tetsuya Matsui, President & CEO; hereinafter “Prima Meat”), a company with which it has a business tie-up.

At the same time, Nichirei Foods, Prima Meat and Yayoi Foods have agreed to share functions regarding production, development, procurement, distribution and sales in the field of processed foods, centered on frozen food products, and proceed with discussions regarding the building of cooperatives and tie-ups to develop a more efficient processed food business.

Our deepest sympathies go out to all the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, and we hope that normal conditions are restored as soon as possible.

Corporate profiles (as of March 31, 2010)

Corporate profile of Nichirei Foods

Corporate profile of Prima Meat

Corporate profile of Yayoi Foods