Kaneka Foods Co., Ltd.
“BENOIT NIHANT GINZA” opening ceremony will be held. To commemorate the first store opening in Japan, Misato Ugaki, a big fan of Benoit Niant, will be on stage!
The first chocolate brand store in Japan opened in Ginza by cacao craftsman Benoît Nien, who was awarded “Chocolatier of the Year” in “Guide Chocolatiers” published by the world-famous gourmet book “Gault & Millau”!
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Kaneka Foods Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Futoshi Fukusaki), a group company of Kaneka Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Minoru Tanaka), has launched the Belgian chocolate brand BENOIT NIHANT. The opening ceremony for the first domestic store of “Nian” was held on September 15th (Friday).
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/93184/5/resize/d93184-5-9ad01832963aa2d34b96-0.jpg&s3=93184-5-ce858e51aed496a0c989794d43ac7fd9-2109×1407.jpg] At this event, Kaneka Corporation’s Chairman and Representative Director first gave an opening address.
Greetings from the organizer by Koichi Sugawara, Chairman and Representative Director of Kaneka Corporation
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“Just like the blessings of an angel, chocolate that can bring smiles to people all over the world and make everyone feel happy, Benoît Niand, the creator of chocolate, has finally arrived in Japan.Benoît Niand’s cacao Impressed by Mr. Benoit Niant’s commitment to beans and his passion for always expressing the pure and delicate flavor of cacao beans, we have today opened our first store in Japan to make Mr. Benoit Niant’s dream come true.Benoit Niant We would like to deliver the power of smiles carried by people in Japan from this store to everyone in Japan,” he said, expressing his joy at the successful opening of the long-awaited store.
Greetings from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Japan
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Next, we received words of congratulations from Antoine Evler, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Japan, for the opening of Benoît Nien’s new store.
“Today, I am very happy to be able to celebrate the opening of Benoît Nien’s first store in Japan with everyone.As Ambassador of Belgium, I am honored and proud to be able to attend this opening. There are many occasions when I feel that people in Belgium love Belgian chocolate as much as we Belgians do.Japan and Belgium share many values, but when it comes to food culture, We place emphasis on “high quality.” In addition to his particular manufacturing methods such as “single origin” and “craftsmanship,” Benoît Niant’s dedication and passion for chocolate is evident in his selection of cacao beans from all over the world and the production of chocolate in his own workshop. , makes the chocolates he makes special and of high quality. Thank you Benoît Nien for bringing such wonderful Belgian products to Japan. We hope that this first store in Japan will continue to grow. ” he said.
Greetings from cacao artisan Benoît Nien
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In addition, cacao craftsman Benoît Nien took to the podium and gave a speech at the opening ceremony, as well as talking about his commitment to chocolate and his thoughts on the first store in Japan. “Chocolatier Benoît Nien was born with the ambitious goal of selling the world’s best chocolate, authentic and authentic, without compromise. Chocolate that is mysterious, sustainable and respectful of people and the land. We purchase cacao beans from small farms and process them patiently and slowly, taking advantage of the local culture and know-how. There are people’s stories.The pursuit of true, natural taste, which I have been pursuing since 2006, has never left my mind.
17 years ago, I gave up my career as an engineer, traveled to cacao farms around the world, encountered the highest quality cacao, and turned my passion into chocolate making. While traveling to various countries, I encountered the delicate beauty of Japan and Kaneka, who shares the same passion, and I am happy to be able to open my first store in Japan today. We hope that this first store in Japan will become a touch point between our cacao and the people of Japan. We are very much looking forward to working with the Kaneka team, who are reliable chocolate lovers, to bring people in Japan closer to Benoît Niand than ever before. ” he said.
Greetings from co-owner Anne Nian
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Next, Anne Niang, co-owner and wife of Benoît Nien, talked about the two’s continued pursuit of chocolate until the opening of the first store in Japan. “Seventeen years ago, Benoît and I, after working careers at a machine manufacturer and a bank, decided to venture into the world of chocolate, which we love. Adding joy and value to life. We are proud of the choice they made.This adventure began when we met cacao farmers as cacao craftsmen, and we continue to interact with them even now. We are truly honored to have met Kaneka, who
understands our identity, and to be able to open a store in this beautiful country of Japan.”
Presentation by Kaneka Foods & Agris Solutions Vehicle President Genichiro Furunaga about corporate strategy and brand for store openings
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“Kaneka Corporation operates based on the Kaneka Spirits “Wellness First” philosophy of making the world healthy. During this time, he met chocolatier Benoît Niand, whose sincere and straightforward personality and sincere approach to chocolate resonated with Kaneka’s ESG management philosophy, so he decided to take on the challenge of chocolate adventure with Benoît Niant. did. Up until now, we have mainly carried out initiatives in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, but with the opening of our first store in Japan, we hope to strengthen our ability to convey the appeal of Benoît Nien throughout the year. The main store reproduces the colors of Benoît Nihan’s 18th century stone mills, and has also been decorated with the colors of the floors and walls of his Belgian workshop, as well as the aprons he wears on a daily basis. Additionally, the cylindrical display stand near the entrance is designed to resemble an 18th century stone mill. By using Kaneka organic LEDs for the store’s ceiling lighting and indirect lighting, we are working to not only express the atmosphere of our Belgian workshop in our home country, but also create an environment that is easy on the eyes. In addition, our shopping bags are made with biodegradable biopolymers that decompose even in the ocean, making them environmentally friendly. We would like to continue to actively work on creating an environment that is kind to people. ”, he talked about the company’s strategy for opening the first store in Japan and the store’s commitment.
Guest appearance by Misato Ugaki
[Comment from guest Misato Ugaki]
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The guest was Misato Ugaki, who is a huge chocolate lover and has published books related to chocolate.She spoke about her long-awaited desire to open a Benoît Nien store, saying, “Up until now, I had thought, “I want to eat it now!” I was disappointed that I couldn’t eat it because there wasn’t a store when I was there, but I’m glad that now I can buy and eat it whenever I come to this store in Ginza. I am also very grateful to Benoît Nien for opening his favorite chocolate shop in such a wonderful location. ” he said with a smile. He also talked about Benoît Niand’s chocolate, saying, “I promise that once you try it, you’ll be impressed, so I’d like you to try it.”
Opening commemorative tape cutting
Next, to commemorate the opening of our first store in Japan, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony by five people: Sugawara, Chairman of Kaneka Corporation, Antoine Evler, Ambassador of Belgium to Japan, Benoît Nien, Ann Niang, and guest Misato Ugaki. I did it.
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Benoît Niand chocolate tasting event
Finally, a tasting event was held for the media, where they sampled the rich chocolate that brought out the goodness of cacao.
【Product Summary】
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Product name: Chocolate parfait
Product description: Cacao ice cream, cacao pulp jelly, etc. by region of origin Parfait made with cacao.
Only the B1F cafe (advance reservation system) will be provided. Price: 4,378 yen (tax included)
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Product name: Ganache sandwich cookie
Product description: Cookies made with Hokkaido fermented butter that melt in your mouth
Sandwiched with ganache.
Price: 2,160 yen (tax included) for 4 pieces
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Product name: Galette Bretonne
Product Description: A thick baked cookie with a subtle saltiness and wheat aroma that will make you addicted.
Price: 1,890 yen (tax included) for 5 pieces
3,780 yen (tax included) for 10 pieces
[Overview of the first domestic store]
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Store name: BENOIT NIHANT GINZA
Opening date: Saturday, September 16, 2023 11:00-
Location: 4-6-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Ginza Act Building 1F/B1F
1 minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line “Ginza Station” Exit A11 Business hours: 11:00-20:00
Regular holiday: None (Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays) *Closed days and business hours are subject to change.
Guest Misato Ugaki Profile
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Born on April 16, 1991. Born in Hyogo Prefecture. Joined TBS in April 2014. He left TBS Television in March 2019 and joined Oscar Promotion in April of the same month. Currently, he is active in a wide range of activities as a freelance announcer, appearing on TV, radio, magazines, and commercials, as well as writing for weekly magazines and websites. He loves chocolate so much that he released a
chocolate-themed photo essay “My Love Chocolat” in 2021.
Biography
Joined TBS in April 2014 and appeared on numerous programs as an announcer. In March 2019, he left TBS.
Belongs to Oscar Promotion since April 2019.
About BENOIT NIHANT
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BENOIT NIHANT, which has been attracting attention in Belgium in recent years, is a chocolate brand launched in 2005 by Mr. Benoit Niant, a cacao craftsman with a unique background as a former engineer. We personally visit the farms and select only the highest quality cacao. Our chocolate is carefully made over a long period of time using old-fashioned vintage machines, with a focus on “single farm” and “single variety.” The chocolate has a pure aroma that brings out the individuality of the cacao beans to the fullest, and a delicate taste. It’s attractive.
In addition, at our cacao farms in Peru, we are working on creating environmentally friendly farms and fair trade with cacao producers. About Kaneka Foods Co., Ltd.
■Head office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
■Business details: Bread and confectionery, purchasing and sales for processed foods, machine sales
■Representative Director and President: Futoshi Fukusaki
■Inquiries regarding products: Kaneka Foods Co., Ltd. 0120-97-1207 (10:00-17:00, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays) More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000005.000093184.html