History of AGF®

The Early Years 1954–1969

General Foods, Inc. was established in 1954.
Maxwell instant coffee was released in 1960, followed by the Coffee Gift product set in 1968.
These products among the first to help create a coffee-drinking culture in Japan.

Event
1954
March 2

General Foods established

December
Production plant completed in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture
Bireley's orange and grape concentrate released
1960
December

Maxwell instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

1968
October

Yuban instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

Coffee Gift product set released

Gift Set

1970's

A series of quality instant coffee products were released in 1973, thanks in part to improved freeze-drying production methods.
Marim® non-dairy powdered coffee creamer was released in 1974.
In 1978, the company began producing ground coffee for household brewing.

Event
1970
November
Suzuka Plant completed in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
1973
August 1

Ajinomoto General Foods, Inc. established (joint venture between Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and General Foods Corporation in the US)

1974
June

Marim® powdered coffee creamer released

Creaming Powder/Creamer/
Instant Tea

1975
March

Maxim® instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

 

Assorted jars of instant coffee, creaming powder and sugar gift set released

Gift Set

1976
November
New equipment set up at Suzuka Plant to produce freeze-dried instant coffee
1977
August

Maxwell® Blendy instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

1978
February

Master Blend ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

June

Master Blend ground coffee gift set released

Gift Set

1979
March
Research laboratory established in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture

1980's

As part of efforts to further popularize coffee-drinking in Japan, the company began producing ground coffee for commercial use and offering gift sets that included single-serving instant coffee stick packets.
In 1988, bottled coffee was proposed as an entirely new product concept. The company released a lineup of bottled coffees that could be used to create delicious iced coffee at home any time.

Event
1982
April

Ground coffee for commercial use released

Commercial Use

August

Grandage instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

1984
 

Variety Gift Set released

Gift Set

1985
August

Maxim® ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

1986
October

Blendy® instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

1988
May

Blendy® bottled coffee and Kocha Monogatari (Tea Story) bottled tea released

Liquid Coffee

August

Belpack, Inc. (now AGF Suzuka, Inc.) established in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture

“Shin-chajin” (New Tea Master) instant tea released

Creaming Powder/Creamer/
Instant Tea

1989
April

“Shin-chajin” products for instant tea dispensers released

Commercial Use

June

Gift sets released for Blendy® and Maxim® bottled coffee products

Gift Set

August

Blendy® ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

1990's

Consumers increasingly call for a more personalized coffee experience. In 1998, the company began selling chilled coffee in cups.

Event
1991
April
New equipment set up at Suzuka Plant to produce coffee in plastic bottles
October
AGF SP, Inc. established
1995
August

Vacuum-sealed packages of Maxim® ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

September
Green Pack, Inc. (now AGF Kanto, Inc.) established in Ojima (now Ota), Nitta District in Gunma Prefecture
1996
March
Ojima Plant completed in Ojima (now Ota), Nitta District in Gunma Prefecture
 

Assorted jars of instant coffee gift set

Gift Set

1998
April

Blendy® released in chilled cups

Liquid Coffee

1999
February

Blendy® bottled coffee with milk released

Liquid Coffee

 

Ground coffee gift set

Gift Set

2000's

The company began selling single-serve drip coffee in 2001. The following year, it released single-serve instant coffee stick packets that made it easy to enjoy authentic coffee flavors any time.
Efforts were made to meet increasingly diverse consumer needs with the release of flavored stick packets that included green and black teas, cocoa, and more.

Event
2000
March
Ojima Plant acquires ISO 9002 certification
November
Suzuka Plant acquires ISO 9002 certification
2001
February

Blendy® Drip Pack ground coffee

Ground Coffee

March
Mannooligosaccharides isolated from spent coffee grounds and discovered to help regulate gastrointestinal function

Blendy® iced coffee released in cartons

Liquid Coffee

April

Maxim® Café Menu series released

Liquid Coffee

July
Entire group, including affiliates, acquires ISO 14001 certification
2002
February

Maxim® Handy Drip ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

Blendy® single-serve concentrated liquid coffee packets released

Liquid Coffee

Blendy® single-serve instant café au lait packets released

Stick Products

March

Maxim® instant coffee refill pack released

Instant Coffee

May

Marim® single-serve liquid creamer packets released

Creaming Powder/Creamer/
Instant Tea

August

Maxim® Café Menu single-serve packets series released

Stick Products

October

Blendy® instant coffee refill pack released

Instant Coffee

2003
November
Entire group acquires ISO 9001 certification

Blendy® single-serve instant coffee stick packets released

Stick Products

2004
May

Blendy® Maroyaka Café au Lait released in cartons

Liquid Coffee

2005
March

Blendy® single-serve instant coffee packets with oligosaccharides released

FOSHU*
*Food for Specified Health Uses

2006
April
AGF Pack, Inc. changes its name to AGF Suzuka, Inc. and Green Pack, Inc. changes its name to AGF Kanto, Inc.

Maxim® café series Matcha Latte released

Stick Products

 

Instant coffee gift set

Gift Set

2007
March

Maxim® “Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten” ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

Maxim® “Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten” instant coffee released

Instant Coffee

2008
 

Gift set of single-serve mixed coffee packets

Gift Set

2009
February

Blendy® Plus released

FOSHU*

2010's

The company released Teaheart fruit tea in single-serve stick packets in 2013, leading to brisk sales in the stick packet tea market. With consumers demanding ever-more personalized beverage experiences, there was a growing market for products like stick packets and single-serve ground coffee.
In 2014, AGF proposed the JapaNeeds Coffee®, to cater to the delicate palates and distinctive coffee-drinking habits of the Japan. It introduced T2ACMI Baisen® to match the flavor profile of Japan's soft water.
The following year, Sen coffee was released. The product was designed specifically for the Japan's palate, which was scientifically demonstrated to have a heightened aromatic sensitivity through a research project that looked at national flavor preferences.
In April 2015, AGF experienced a "second founding" when it became a wholly-owned member of the Ajinomoto Group. The following April, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. transferred its gift product business to AGF, integrating it with AGF's existing gift product business.
The name of the company was changed to Ajinomoto AGF, Inc. in July 2017.

Event
2010
 

Blendy® Stick Tea Au Lait single-serve packets released

Stick Products

2012
February
Blendy® released in plastic bottles made from recycled material
April
AGF Kanto, Inc. and AGF Suzuka, Inc. acquire FSSC 22000 certification
 

Blendy® and “Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten” single-serve instant coffee packets

Stick Products

2013
February

Maxim® “Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten” single-serve ground coffee

Ground Coffee

Maxim® Triplesso in chilled cups

Liquid Coffee

Blendy® Stick Teaheart single-serve stick packets released

Stick Products

Blendy® Stick Cocoa au Lait stick packets released

Stick Products

August

Maxim® Top Grade Hybrid released

Instant Coffee

Maxim® Patissiena single-serve stick packets released

Stick Products

2014
July
AGF Kanto, Inc. added production line for single-serve stick packet coffees
August
AGF Suzuka, Inc. added packaging line for roasted coffee beans

Maxim® Triplesso bottled coffee

Liquid Coffee

2015
February

Blendy® Hello Smoothie single-serve stick packets released

Stick Products

AGF® Professional commercial-grade brand introduced

Commercial Use

Maxim® Triplesso single-serve instant coffee packets
AGF® Japanese Tea seriese in single-serve packets

Stick Products

April
AGF, Inc. becomes a wholly-owned Ajinomoto Group Company
 

Maxim® liquid coffee in bottle gift set

Gift Set

August

Sen ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

2016
March

“Assist Water” released

FOSHU*

April
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. transfers its gift product business to AGF, Inc., integrating it with AGF's existing gift product business

Ajinomoto Gift sets

Gift Set

August

Blendy® CAFÉLATORY® single-serve packets series released

Stick Products

October
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. purchases the trademarks for Blendy®, Maxim®, and other AGF-manufactured products
2017
February

Blendy® Stick Ice Au Lait single-serve instant coffee packets series released

Stick Products

Maxim® “Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten” Cold Brew Coffee released

Ground Coffee

July

Company name changed to Ajinomoto AGF, Inc.

August

Maxim® BLACK IN BOX single-serve instant coffee packets released

Stick Products

2018
February

Blendy® CAFÉLATORY® Fruit Tea single-serve packets series released

Stick Products

August

Blendy® Stick Hojicha (roasted green tea) Au Lait single-serve packets released

Stick Products

2019
February

Blendy® Personal Instant Coffee single-serve packets released

Stick Products

March
AGF Kanto, Inc. established the Second Manufacturing Division in Sano City, Tochigi Pref.
August

Blendy® Roasters & single-serve packets released

Stick Products

September

Morihiko no Jikan ground coffee released

Ground Coffee

2020's

In 2020, AGF released Blendy® Matcha Ippuku series in single-serve stick packets that have rich foam without a need of tea whisks. Our initiative to reduce environmental impact is implemented through the partial use of paper materials in its stick packages.
In 2021, the company released Blendy® “THE LITRE” a stick-type powdered drink that can be dissolved in one liter of water, as a solution to both consumer and societal issues such as convenience and CO2 reduction. Additionally, the company released Blendy® Natûme® series that offer natural sweetness and aroma of the ingredients.

Event
2020

February

Blendy® Matcha Ippuku series released

Stick Products

August

Blendy® Stick series / Blendy® CAFÉLATORY® series with two single-serve packets released

Stick Products

October

Blendy® TOKETA! series released

Stick Products

November
AGF Kanto, Inc. and AGF Suzuka, Inc. acquired ISO 45001 certification
2021

February

Blendy® THE LITRE series released

Stick Products

“Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten®” Handy Drip Colombia series released

Ground Coffee

August

Blendy® CAFÉLATORY® single-serve packets "The" series released

Stick Products

Blendy® Natûme® series released

Stick Products

November
Head Office Sales Department acquired ISO 45001 certification
2022

March

Blendy® “Mainichi no chokatsu coffee” released

Instant Coffee

Blendy® Stick “Gyunyu de nomu plus” series released

Stick Products

September

“Chotto Zeitakuna Kohiten®” Stick Caffè Latte released

Stick Products

December
Entire company acquired ISO 45001 certification
2023

March

Blendy® Stick Creamy ice cafe au lait series released

Stick Products