Yamazaki Baking, the Japan-based bakery group, is to build a new plant in its domestic market.

In a statement, the company said the factory will make products including bread, croissants and donuts. Construction of the plant, which will be in the southern city of Kobe, is slated to start in January. Yamazaki is aiming to begin production in March 2018. The factory will employ around 330 staff, Yamazaki said.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Reporting on the investment, local business publication Nikkei Asian Review said bread is replacing rice as the staple in the diet of many consumers in Japan. It pointed to government data that showed Japanese households with two or more people spent more on bread than on rice for the first time in 2011.

Nikkei Asian Review also cited data from research firm Fuji Keizai, which has forecast Japan’s bread market will be worth JPY937bn, 13% more than in 2010.

In August, Yamazaki reported improved first-half revenue and profits, with only sales of its “western-style confectionery” lines falling year-on-year.

The group has recently expanded its operations in the US, buying local firm Bakewise Brands from private-equity firm Ancor Capital Partners and investment fund Merit Capital Partners.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact