Company History

• 2000

  • Jan.

    Kirin Logistics Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd.) established by Kirin Logistics Corp. merging 7 logistics affiliates.

  • Mar.

    

    Kirin Beverage introduces Kirin Namacha, bottled green tea.

  • Mar.

    Japan Potato Corp. established. (share transferred in 2010)

  • July

    Yokohama Akarenga Inc. established. (share transferred in 2013)

• 2001

  • Jan.

    Kirin Brewery integrates the sales department with Kirin-Seagram.

  • Mar.

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Classic Lager.

  • Mar.

    Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. (currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) launches Allelock® Tablets, a drug for allergic disease.

  • July

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Chu-hi Hyoketsu, ready-to-drink sparkling liquor.

  • Nov.

    Kirin Green and Flower Co., Ltd. established.

• 2002

  • Feb.

    Nihon Fine Foods changes its name to KIRIN FEED LIMITED(share transferred in 2005).

  • Feb.

    

    Acquired the business rights of Four Roses.

  • Mar.

    

    Acquires a stake in San Miguel Corp. in the Philippines.

  • Apr.

    Takeda-Kirin Foods Corp.(later Kirin Food-Tech Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Apr.

    

    Makes Eishogen Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary.

  • Apr.

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Tanrei Green Label.

  • July

    Kirin-Seagram changes its name to Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd.

  • Sep.

    Kirin Communication Stage Co., Ltd. (later Kirin Beer Marketing Co., Ltd., business integrated to Kirin Brewery in 2017) established.

• 2003

  • Feb.

    

    Mercian introduces HonshiboriTM Chu-hi.

  • Feb.

    Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) establishes BioWa, Inc. to promote Kyowa Hakko's therapeutic antibody business in the United States.

  • Mar.

    

    Mercian introduces Oishii-Sankaboushizai-Mutenka Wine.

  • Dec.

    Kirin Well-foods Co., Ltd. (business of health food products later inherited to Kirin Yakult NextStage Co., Ltd. in 2006) established.

• 2004

  • Nov.

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Ichiban Toretate Hop.

  • Dec.

    Kirin (China) Investment Co., Ltd. established in Shanghai, China.

• 2005

  • Mar.

    Kirin Pharmaceutical Singapore Pte. Ltd.(the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.) established.

  • Apr.

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Nodogoshi Nama.

  • Sep.

    

    Kirin Whisky Fuji Sanroku, the first Kirin Brand's Japanese whisky, introduced.

• 2006

  • Jan.

    Kirin (China) Investment Co., Ltd. makes Zhuhai Kirin President Brewery Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary and changes its name to Kirin Brewery [Zhuhai] Co., Ltd.

  • Feb.

    

    Kirin Beverage introduces Kirin Nuda.

  • May

    Formulates the Long-Term Management Vision “Kirin Group Vision 2015” (KV2015).

  • Oct.

    Makes Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary.

  • Oct.

    Kirin Green and Flower changes its name to Kirin Agribio Co., Ltd. (share transferred in 2010)

  • Oct.

    Kirin Yakult NextStage Co., Ltd. established, a joint venture of Kirin Group and Yakult Group.

  • Dec.

    

    Acquires a stake in Hangzhou Qiandaohu Brewery Co., Ltd.

  • Dec.

    

    Makes Mercian Corporation a consolidated subsidiary.

• 2007

  • Mar.

    Kirin Real Estate Co., Ltd.(closed and the function partially inherited to Kirin Business Expert Co., Ltd. in 2011) established.

  • Mar.

    Mercian introduces Shizen-no-Megumi.

  • Apr.

    Takeda-Kirin Foods changes its name to Kirin Food-Tech Co., Ltd.

  • July

    Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. changes its name to Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. and becomes a holding company of the Kirin Group.

  • July

    The new Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. becomes operational and engages in manufacture and sales of alcoholic beverages.

  • July

    Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. becomes operational.

  • July

    Kirin Business Expert Co., Ltd. becomes operational.

  • July

    Kirin Pharma introduces NESP®, an extended erythropoiesis-stimulating agent.

  • Nov.

    Kirin Brewery [Zhuhai] Jinding Plant completed.

  • Dec.

    Acquires a stake in Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.

  • Dec.

    

    Makes National Foods Limited a wholly owned subsidiary.(share transferred in 2021)

• 2008

  • Jan.

    Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. launches REGPARA®, a drug for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

  • May

    Co-establishes Vina Kirin Acecook Beverage Co., Ltd(the forerunner of Vietnam Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd) in Vietnam with Acecook Co., Ltd.

  • Oct.

    

    Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. and Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. merge to establish Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.)

  • Oct.

    Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. established.

  • Nov.

    National Foods Limited makes Dairy Farmers (Australia) a wholly owned subsidiary.

• 2009

  • Apr.

    Kirin Kyowa Foods Co., Ltd (share transferred in 2013) established.

  • Apr.

    

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Free, a non-alcoholic, beer-taste beverage. (out of production in 2017)

  • Apr.

    

    Acquires a stake in San Miguel Brewery in the Philippines.

  • Apr.

    Kirin Brewery and Diageo plc establish Kirin Diageo Co., Ltd., a joint venture that will conduct marketing of Diageo-owned brands such as Guinness® in Japan (share transfer in 2021).

  • May

    

    Kirin Beverage introduces KIRIN LOVES SPORTS.

  • Oct.

    Lion Nathan National Foods Pty Ltd (the forerunner of Lion Pty Ltd) in Australia makes Lion Nathan Limited in Australia its wholly owned subsidiary, and oversees business operations in Oceania conducted by Lion Nathan Limited and National Foods Limited.

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