Me-Kyu Co., Ltd. Acquires 51% Stake in Singapore's FCFI, Marking First Overseas Expansion

July 13, 2026 — Me-Kyu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Moriyama-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Takahiro Yamamoto; hereinafter “Me-Kyu”) announces the acquisition of a 51% stake in First Cuisine Food Industries Pte. Ltd. (Headquarters: 15 Senoko Dr, Singapore 758202; hereinafter “FCFI”), a Singapore-based food service and catering company.

Shared Challenges Facing Japan and Singapore

Japan is experiencing rapid population decline and aging, leading to a shrinking working-age population, labor shortages, and rising demand for healthcare and nursing care—fundamentally transforming its social structure. Similarly, Singapore faces one of the world’s lowest birth rates and an accelerating aging population, resulting in growing demand for medical and long-term care services. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Health, the number of nursing home beds is expected to increase from approximately 20,000 in 2025 to over 31,000 by 2030 (about 1.5 times), making meal services that support elderly living an increasingly vital social infrastructure. Me-Kyu will leverage its long-standing expertise in meal service operations, quality control, and talent development to collaborate with FCFI in delivering safe and sustainable meal services in Singapore.

The Future Vision Through Collaboration with FCFI

FCFI was established in Singapore in 2008 as a specialized food service and catering company. It has built a solid reputation and track record by providing meal services primarily to nursing homes, local hospitals, and chronic care facilities. Through this capital alliance, Me-Kyu will utilize FCFI’s management foundation and local network to develop a new service model integrating Japanese-quality meal service expertise. This partnership will generate the following synergies:

- Sharing of meal service operation know-how - Advanced digital transformation (DX) and quality control - Strengthened talent development - Talent exchange between Japan and Singapore - Business expansion across Asian countries

Through these initiatives, Me-Kyu aims to contribute to solving social challenges in both Japan and Singapore while accelerating its expansion across Asia.

From a 'Japanese Company' to an 'Asian Company'

Due to Japan’s declining population, the domestic market is expected to shrink in the medium to long term. However, many countries across Asia continue to experience economic growth. Me-Kyu intends to leverage Japan’s renowned quality and hospitality spirit to deliver locally rooted meal services while respecting the cultures and values of each Asian country. The partnership with FCFI marks the first step in this journey. In the future, Me-Kyu aims to position Singapore as a hub for its Asian operations and expand into other Asian countries, aspiring to become a leading food service company in Asia.

Comment from President Takahiro Yamamoto

“Japan possesses world-class quality, safety, talent development, and a culture of supporting people through food. Spreading this value across Asia is the new mission for Japanese food service companies. Our partnership with FCFI is a major step toward realizing this vision. We aim to become a bridge between Japan and Singapore, contributing to solving social issues through food, while empowering every employee to thrive on a global stage.”

About Me-Kyu Co., Ltd.

Me-Kyu provides meal services across a wide range of sectors—including schools, hospitals, elderly care facilities, and corporations—primarily in Aichi Prefecture, operating under the slogan “Motive! Meal Declaration.”

Moving forward, in addition to further developing its domestic business, Me-Kyu will accelerate its expansion into Asian markets from Singapore, delivering Japanese-quality meal services to the world.

Company Name: Me-Kyu Co., Ltd.

Established: 1960

Headquarters: 3-2302 Shitadami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi 463-0003, Japan

Representative: President and CEO Takahiro Yamamoto

Employees: 534 (approximately 2,600 including part-time staff)

Sales Revenue: 8.616 billion JPY

TEL: +81-52-770-2221

FAX: +81-52-770-2229

URL: https://www.me-kyu.com/

Business: Outsourced meal services for schools, corporations, hospitals, and welfare facilities, among others.

About First Cuisine Food Industries Pte. Ltd.

Company Name: First Cuisine Food Industries Pte. Ltd.

Headquarters: 15 Senoko Dr, Singapore 758202

Business: Meal and catering services for nursing homes, hospitals, and chronic care facilities.

For inquiries regarding this announcement, please contact Mr. Ishida, General Affairs Department, Me-Kyu Co., Ltd.