Ina Food Industry Co., Ltd was located in Ina, Nagano Prefecture, and is surrounded by high mountains of the Alps of Japan. Among this idyllic setting, Mr. Hiroshi Tsukakoshi, 68, chairman of Ina food, led the company through an incredible 48 years of continuous revenue and profit growth. The company was one of the leading manufacturers of powdered agar, gelatin traditional product derived from seaweed. In 2005, the news about the medicinal benefits agar led to a boom in demand, but Tsukakoshi felt that it was an accident and believes that if management was not concerned solely with income, and instead focus on creating sustainable growth, the company will continue to exist for long time. This, in turn, please, everyone who was directly or indirectly associated with the company. He was confident that Ina Foods was a new model for the Japanese small and medium-sized businesses in the new management philosophy that has brought happiness to employees and the community. He felt he had done a good job so far. Business flourished and pose no immediate problems. But he also felt that he should not just sit back and enjoy their success. There were great opportunities for growth, and he knew the operation must be improved before these options can be targeted. "Hide
by Mitsuru Misawa Source: University of Hong Kong, 13 pages. Publication Date: November 5, 2006. Prod. #: HKU607-PDF-ENG