Ajinomoto

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajinomoto

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (味の素株式会社 ,Ajinomoto Kabushiki-gaisha?) (TYO: 2802), is a Japanese company that produces food seasonings, cooking oils, foods and pharmaceuticals. The literal translation of Aji no Moto is “Essence of Taste,” used as a trademark for the company’s monosodium glutamate (MSG). Ajinomoto currently (as of Feb 2009?) produces around 33% of the world’s MSG.

Ajinomoto is active in 23 countries and regions worldwide, employing around 24,861 people as of 2004. Yearly revenue stands at US$9.84 billion.

Ajinomoto’s signature product, monosodium glutamate (MSG) seasoning, was first marketed in Japan in 1909, having been discovered and patented by Kikunae Ikeda. The company rapidly expanded to other countries, with Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc. having been established in 1956. Since then, Ajinomoto has become a conglomerate spreading to other areas, though mostly in the food industry.

AJI-NO-MOTO is registered as a famous trademark in Indonesia and Thailand.

Ajinomoto’s chairman, Kunio Egashira, died on April 7, 2008.[1] He had been chairman of the company since June 2005.[1] Egashira had previously served as the company's president from June 1997.[1]