Increasing momentum toward tea cultivation in Nishio

　In mid-19th century when Japan was opened to the world, major export goods was raw silk and tea. In midst of such background, there was movement to develop the tea business in the Nishio region, which is blessed with a natural environment of good water quality, soil, and weather that is suitable for producing tea. During this period in 1888, the first president Sugishita Aijiro found Sugishita Shoten, a tea and indigo plant production company.

Nishio Tea aimed for high-quality tea from the beginning

　The feature of Nishio Tea founded in early Meiji era was that they aimed to produce high-quality tea from the very beginning. This was the start of the foundation for good tencha production, which later became the raw material for matcha.

Improved quality, enhanced technology and expanded channels

　In 1904, the Hazu-gun Seicha Doshikai was organized with tea field owners of Kamimachi (where AIYA headquarters is located). The organization has been taking initiatives for the tea production business by holding tea fairs and conducting tea production training programs for improved technology. Technology and quality for high-class tea was further improved and sales channels were expanded. Customers expanded from within the prefecture to Kanto and then to Kansai areas.

Shifting from gyokuro to tencha of a higher value

　Tea producers in the Nishio area including Sugita Shoten, aimed to produce gyokuro with higher commercial value. They established a cultivation technique of covering the tea trees before harvest.

From tea and indigo to tea only

　Aiya Tea Store Limited Partnership Company was established in 1922. When the appointment of the second president, Aijiro, the indigo production and sales that started since early Meiji era was discontinued and the company focused on tea production, and made efforts to improve tea production technology and to expand sales channels. During this time, Nishio Tea genuinely started to change from gyokuro to tencha.

Reinforced organization and increased production due to focusing on tea only

　Focusing on only tea, reinforced the organization in many aspects. Productivity increased by constructing a new office building and tea production factory. After the Mikawa tencha machine was invented in 1930, production increased and Nishio developed dramatically as a matcha producing area.

Tea production survived in the Greater East Asian War and the Tonankai earthquake

　At the end of the Greater East Asia War, tea fields were hit by a crises of having to convert the fields for growing potatoes and wheat which will serve as food. In addition, the Tonankai earthquake occurred in December 1944 and the Mikawa earthquake occurred in January 1945. Nishio-shi was near the epicenter and was hit by a seismic intensity of 7. The office building was completely destroyed. The war ended in August 1945. The tea producers in Nishio continued to produce good tea in spite of their suffering. Four years later, contracting tea field area exceeded 70 hectares and tencha production grew stably.

Production capacity boosted along with reconstruction

　In 1950 when Japan was in the reconstruction mode, AIYA Limited was established. The third president, Aijiro, inaugurated and boosted production capacity.

New path to food processing material found

　Challenged new market development in around 1960. A new path was found by changing the fixed idea of matcha as a drink. The company aimed for the expansion of sales channel for matcha as a food processing material.

Production of the first organic matcha begun in Japan

　The third president Aijiro cultivated tencha fields in the mountains of Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken (formerly Shimoyamamura). There, efforts were made to produce Japan's first organic matcha, which at that time was considered very difficult. The tencha fields were destroyed over and over again from pests, rain and the sun. The forth president Aijiro realized the organic matcha both human-friendly and environmental-friendly.

Overseas exports begun

　AIYA started exporting to North America in 1983 after expanding sales channels nationwide and boosting production. Japan started to disseminate matcha culture to the world in this year.

Quality Control Department established

　AIYA shifted the appraisal standards of matcha to scientific analysis from relying on human sense and established a Quality Control Department in 1985. This enabled to indicate matcha quality objectively in figures. The objective data management ahead of its time contributed largely to exports and market expansion in the field of processed foods.

Establishment of Meihoenseicha, the manager and director of tea producers

　In 1989, AIYA at the 100th anniversary established a raw material supplier, Meihoenseicha, Ltd. This year, the fourth president, Aijiro Sugishita, inaugurated and stabilized production and improved quality with the raw material producers.

有機認証の取得

　AIYA obtained an organic cultivation certification from JONA (Japan Organic and Natural Foods Association). With ceaseless trials and errors, organic cultivation of tencha succeeded, which was said to be impossible at that time.

ISO9002 Certification

　In 1999, AIYA obtained ISO 9002 (Quality Management System) certifying the "quality control system that enables production of consistent quality". This objectively proved the quality of shipped matcha.

American local subsidiary established

　In 2001, AIYA established AIYA America, a local subsidiary, (transferred to Los Angels in 2004). An European subsidiary was also established in Wien, Austria.

Various organic certifications obtained

　In 2002, AIYA obtained certifications for organic tea from OCIA (American organic certification), IMO (European organic certification), and Kosher (Jewish law for foods).

ISO 9001 obtained

　In the same year, AIYA obtained ISO 9001 assuring qualities in all stages of production (designing, development, manufacturing, installation and supplementary services). This certified that quality is assured even in the stages of designing and development as well as manufacturing and services.

European subsidiary established

　Following the American subsidiary, AIYA established an European subsidiary "AIYA Europe GmbH" in Wien, Austria in 2003 (transferred to Hamburg, Germany in 2008).

Chinese subsidiary established

　AIYA established a Chinese subsidiary "Zhejiang Aiya Tea Co., Ltd." in Zhejiang, China in 2005 (transferred to Shanghai in 2013). Thus, hubs in the American continent, European continent and Asian continent were established respectively.

New Quality Control Department established

　In 2005, AIYA established a new Quality Control Department along with the introduction of new system and realized safety improvements. AIYA provides specifications that cover requirements from customers such as analysis of general live bacteria, colon bacilli, mold, yeast, tea component, and inspection of agrochemicals residue,

"Superior" (best grade) at AIB Food Safety audit

　In 2007, AIYA achieved "Superior", the best grade both for the matcha refining factory and matcha production factory in the AIB food safety audit. AIB conducts guidance and inspection in accordance with "Consolidated Standards for Inspection" made by AIB uniquely based on various global laws and regulations. The rating results and certifications assures our worldwide customer the safety of our matcha products.

AIYA selected for the best "300 energetic SMEs in manufacturing"

　In 2007, AIYA was selected as one of the best "300 energetic SMEs in manufacturing" and was awarded the grand prize; the excellent company prize at 41th Good Company Award in November of the same year.

ISO 22000 Certification obtained

　In 2008, AIYA obtained ISO 22000 certification (Food Safety Management System). This objective certification of safety standards ensured the delivery of safe products to customers.

Birth of color preserving oil-coated matcha

　AIYA has developed matcha which preserves its color even in the secondary process. That was a longtime dream of the matcha industry. In 2009, the longtime studies generated the "Greeminal series", color preserving oil-coated matcha.

Development of Saijoen sweets brand

　In 2011, AIYA established "Saijoen", a sweets brand. Development and sales of matcha sweets began with the concept "exciting, genuine, friendly" to provide some motivation for our customers to become more familiar with matcha.

FSSC 22000 certification obtained

　AIYA obtained FSSC 22000 in 2014. With this a system for accelerating exports to developed countries was established.

Global Niche Top Companies Selection 100

　AIYA was selected one of the "Global Niche Top Companies Selection 100" in 2014. The high global share and good management performance in the "matcha" field was acknowledged.

100年企業顕彰 中部経済産業局長賞　受賞

2016年、(株)あいやは100年経営の会「第1回 100年企業顕彰 中部経済産業局長賞」を受賞しました。日本の創業１００年を超える長寿企業としての経営理念と、地域内の他企業の範となる優れた優良企業として評価されました。

タイに現地法人を設立

2017年、タイ・バンコクに現地法人AIYA Thailandを設立しました。

京都にも工場を設立

2017年、京都府・宇治田原町にあいや京都工場を設立しました。

体験型の抹茶ミュージアム、抹茶カフェをオープン

2017年、(株)あいやは抹茶の魅力を五感で存分に楽しんでいただける施設として、抹茶ミュージアム西条園「和く和く」を西尾市・あいや本店の敷地内にオープンしました。また、自社工場で碾かれた抹茶を使用したドリンクやスイーツを提供する、西条園抹茶カフェを名古屋市・笹島「グローバルゲート」にオープンしました。

「地域未来牽引企業」に認定

2018年、(株)あいやは経済産業省「地域未来牽引企業」に認定されました。地域の特性を生かして高い付加価値を創出し、地域の経済成長を力強く牽引する事業を展開する企業として認定されました。

あいちサービス大賞「特別賞」を受賞

2019年、(株)あいやはあいちサービス大賞「特別賞」を受賞しました。抹茶を五感で楽しめる「体験型の抹茶専門ミュージアム」を開設し、地域ブランド「西尾の抹茶」のPRに大きく貢献したことが評価されました。

業界トップクラスの抹茶メーカーとして

2020年、抹茶の海外売上が国内売上を上回りました。ロサンゼルス、ハンブルク、中国上海、タイバンコクにも海外法人を置き、日本国内のみならず世界各地においても抹茶・緑茶を積極的に販売したことが実を結んだ結果です。

杉田愛次郎（４代目）が、旭日小綬章を受章

2021年、春の叙勲にて杉田愛次郎（４代目）が、旭日小綬章を受章いたしました。
地元商工業の発展に貢献した功績が表彰されました。

カフェを通じて抹茶の新しい可能性を

2021年、名古屋市・中村区「大名古屋ビルヂング」に西条園抹茶カフェを、名古屋市・西区「イオンモール　ナゴヤノリタケガーデン」に西条園抹茶カフェをオープンしました。また、2023年には愛知県・豊川市の「イオンモール豊川」に西条園抹茶カフェをオープンしました。

グループの経営基盤強化を目的とした持株会社制へ

2022年、さらなる企業価値向上と持続的な成長を実現するため、海外現地法人や抹茶製造メーカーである株式会社あいやの管理を行う、「株式会社あいやホールディングス」を設立しました。