Kirin Holdings Selected as a "DX Stock 2026" for Commitment to Digital Transformation

TOKYO, May 18, 2026 - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings) was selected as a “DX Stock 2026” under the Digital Transformation Stocks (DX Stocks) program for 2026, jointly selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday, April 10.*1
*1 https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/it_policy/investment/keiei_meigara/dx_meigara.html

The Digital Transformation Stocks (DX Stocks) program is an initiative in which METI and the Tokyo Stock Exchange select and announce companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that are proactively engaged in digital transformation (DX). These companies leverage digital technologies as a foundation to fundamentally transform their business models and drive new growth and enhanced competitiveness.

The Kirin Group has formulated its long-term management vision, Innovate2035!, and has set forth the vision of “continuing to create innovation through the power of people and technology to energize the world as a global leader in CSV.” To continuously generate innovation by combining its technological capabilities rooted in fermentation and biotechnology with organizational capabilities centered on consumer-driven marketing, co-creation with AI is indispensable. Under the KIRIN Digital Vision 2035*2, which aligns with this long-term vision, the Group aims to become a global leader in CSV by enhancing the quality, scale, and speed of value creation through the power of digital technologies.
This selection recognizes the Kirin Group’s company-wide initiatives utilizing digital technologies, including the transformation of business processes, enhancement of the value of existing businesses, and acceleration and development of new businesses, which were comprehensively evaluated.
*2 Digital Transformation | Innovation | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Examples of Specific Initiatives

Promotion of Generative AI Utilization

The Kirin Group is promoting the widespread adoption of generative AI across the organization based on its generative AI utilization roadmap. In 2025, the rate of AI usage at the individual level exceeded 70% across the entire Kirin Group. At Kirin Holdings’ head office, the usage rate reached nearly 100%, and in terms of productivity improvement, the rate of task substitution by AI exceeded 10%.*3
The promotion of AI utilization is being advanced in conjunction with initiatives to strengthen foundational capabilities, including cultural transformation, human resource development, and the enhancement of AI infrastructure. From an organizational perspective, the Group has established and strengthened DX promotion organizations and developed specialized human resources at its major operating companies*4, thereby building a structure to drive DX initiatives.
In addition, through the employee digital skills enhancement program “DX Dojo,” more than 5,100 employees had completed the main courses cumulatively by 2025. Furthermore, practical short-duration courses focused on AI utilization were newly introduced last year, and these courses were taken more than 3,500 times by 2025.
*3 The effect of business efficiency improvements achieved through digital and AI utilization, evaluated as an equivalent amount relative to the total working hours of all employees.
*4 Major operating companies, primarily Kirin Brewery Company, Limited and Kirin Beverage Company, Limited, have established DX-specialized organizations and assigned dedicated personnel to build a structure for promoting DX.

Preference AI*5

The Kirin Group has developed a preference AI system called “FJWLA / Fujiwara (Flavor Judgment for Whole Liking Analysis),” which efficiently and comprehensively identifies key components that influence perceived taste (sensory evaluation) experienced by consumers. This system was also utilized as a product development support tool in the 2026 renewal of Kirin Beer’s flagship product, Harekaze.
“FJWLA” is a system that organizes and analyzes data accumulated by Kirin over the years, including consumer preference surveys and data related to beer components. Its key feature is the ability to visualize points for improvement among components that affect taste and aroma in beer, thereby supporting consideration and discussion by development teams.
*5 https://www.kirinholdings.com/jp/newsroom/release/2025/1212_01.html

The Kirin Group will steadily advance the two pillars of digital utilization outlined in the KIRIN Digital Vision 2035: “eliminating tasks that people do not need to do (productivity improvement)” and “accelerating work that creates value together with people (value creation).” Through manufacturing that carefully considers both nature and people, the Group will expand new sources of joy in the areas of food and health and contribute to the realization of a spiritually rich society.

About Kirin Holdings

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is a global company operating across three core business domains spanning Alcoholic Beverages, Non-alcoholic Beverages & Health Science, and Pharmaceuticals. The company traces its roots to Japan Brewery, established in 1885, which later became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, Kirin has expanded its business operations by leveraging fermentation and biotechnology as core strengths. The company entered the pharmaceutical field in the 1980s, which has since grown into a global business. In 2007, the company transitioned to a pure holding company structure as Kirin Holdings, and it is now strengthening its Non-alcoholic Beverages & Health Science domain.

Under its long-term vision “Innovate2035!”, the Kirin Group is focused on creating value that encourage behavioral change among consumers and patients, creating new lifestyle habits in the areas of food and health. With a unique business portfolio spanning Alcoholic Beverages, Non-alcoholic Beverages & Health Science, and Pharmaceuticals, the Group will further expand group-wide initiatives that support both mental and physical well-being.

The Kirin Group will continue to advance innovation through the combined strength of its people and technology, creating both social and economic value as a global leader in CSV*, while pursuing sustainable, long-term growth in corporate value.

* Creating Shared Value. combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large