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. (business transfer in 2026)

  • 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. (out of production in 2024)

  • 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.

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