Iwata Sangyo Co., Ltd. Hosts 'Nagasaki Food Fair 2026' – Integrating Expertise Across Three Sectors to Promote Regional Food Culture and Solve Industry Challenges!

Iwata Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City; President and CEO: Akimasa Iwata) held the 'Nagasaki Food Fair 2026' at Dejima Messe Nagasaki, targeting food-related businesses in Nagasaki Prefecture, including restaurants, hotels, catering facilities, medical and care institutions, Western confectioneries, and bakeries.

The food fair, themed 'You’ll Surely Find the Next Hit Product – The Anticipation of Discovering New Materials,' featured 120 exhibiting companies, 155 booths, and approximately 2,500 products. It served as a platform for discovering new ingredients, creating innovative sales spaces, and fostering new business opportunities.

In recent years, the food industry has faced significant changes in its business environment, including rising raw material and energy prices, labor shortages, and increasingly diverse consumer demands. This exhibition aimed not only to showcase products but also to provide solutions to customers’ operational challenges, striving to become an event that contributes directly to business success.

Significance of Hosting the Event in Nagasaki During a Once-in-a-Century Transformation

Nagasaki is undergoing major transformations, with large-scale developments such as the opening of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen and Nagasaki Stadium City—events described as 'once in a century.' The city is evolving rapidly, with steadily increasing visitor numbers and growing appeal to both domestic and international tourists and business travelers.

Nagasaki also boasts unique attractions unmatched by other regions: rich tourism resources including World Cultural Heritage sites and one of the world’s new three great night views, recovery of inbound demand due to the resumption of cruise ship calls, and a distinctive food culture blending Japanese, Western, and Chinese influences, cultivated through centuries of international exchange even during Japan’s period of national isolation.

Motivated by the desire to further elevate the region’s potential through the power of food, Iwata Sangyo decided to host the food fair in Nagasaki.

Dejima Messe Nagasaki, the venue, is one of Kyushu’s leading exhibition and convention centers, directly connected to the west exit of Nagasaki Station. Its excellent accessibility and state-of-the-art facilities earned high praise from both attendees and exhibitors, who recognized it as an ideal venue for exhibitions.

Specialized Proposals Leveraging Expertise in Dining, Medical, and Confectionery Sectors

For this exhibition, Iwata Sangyo Co., Ltd., Ushijima Shokuhin Sangyo Co., Ltd., and Yametoku Shokai Co., Ltd. collaborated, leveraging their respective expertise in restaurant/ready-to-eat foods, medical/catering services, and confectionery/bakery sectors.

The event introduced numerous labor-saving and high-cost-performance products that simplify cooking operations, offering solutions to labor shortages and rising costs. It also promoted regional food culture by proposing new menus utilizing local ingredients from Nagasaki and Kyushu.

Menu Proposals Featuring Local Ingredients from Nagasaki and Kyushu

Regional Collaboration Creates New Value

With the cooperation of the Nagasaki Chefs Association, a cooking demonstration was held using private brand 'TW Mark' products from Iwata Sangyo.

Menus featuring items such as 'coarsely ground Gouda cheese,' 'basil sauce,' and 'Kyushu-bred loin pork cutlet' were introduced, with practical cooking and application methods demonstrated.

Additionally, a booth by Italian vegetable producers from Shimabara City attracted significant interest from chefs seeking differentiation, leading to concrete business discussions on the same day. This created a new opportunity to connect local producers with restaurants, contributing to the enhancement of regional brand value.

Moreover, many new customers, including leading companies from across Kyushu, attended the event, fostering new business relationships and regional networking.

Booth by Italian Vegetable Producers from Shimabara City

New Proposals for the Confectionery and Bakery Industry

In a joint project with the Nagasaki Confectionery Association, a pastry workshop and candy art experience were held, featuring Chef Hideki Miura, a board member of the association, as instructor. Additionally, for the first time, Iwata Sangyo exhibited Christmas ornaments, offering seasonal proposals to confectionery shops and bakeries.

Participants from the confectionery and bakery sectors showed strong interest not only in the products but also in proposals covering store presentation and sales floor design, making the exhibition a valuable source of inspiration for new product development and promotional strategies.

Addressing Challenges in Medical and Care Facilities

The medical corner showcased cook-chill and pureed food systems to improve meal service efficiency in facilities, supporting labor shortage mitigation and cost reduction.

It also introduced nutritional supplements tailored for specific diseases and long-life shelf-stable foods suitable for daily consumption even during disasters, delivering the latest information to address challenges faced by medical and care institutions.

High Praise from Attendees and Exhibitors

Attendees expressed appreciation, stating, 'It’s a great convenience to be able to taste and compare many products in Nagasaki without having to travel to Tokyo or Fukuoka,' and 'Being able to speak directly with many manufacturers at once gave us ideas for new menu development.'

First-time exhibitors also shared positive feedback: 'We formed new connections with customers in the Nagasaki region,' and 'We’ve seen concrete business discussions emerge, raising our expectations for market expansion.' These outcomes highlight the unique advantages of a regionally focused exhibition.

Proposal Booths by Exhibiting Manufacturers

Future Plans

Iwata Sangyo Co., Ltd. continues to host food fairs across Kyushu, respecting each region’s market characteristics and food culture. In September 2026, the company plans to hold 'Food Fair 2026,' Kyushu’s largest-scale event of its kind, at Marine Messe Fukuoka. In October, another food fair will be held in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, to further promote regional food culture and new culinary values. Moving forward, Iwata Sangyo will continue to support customer success not merely as a 'food wholesaler' but as a 'customer prosperity support company,' contributing to regional economic revitalization and the development of Kyushu’s food culture.

Comment from President Akimasa Iwata

'Our mission goes beyond simply delivering products. Supporting our customers’ prosperity and, through that, contributing to regional development is the true purpose of Iwata Sangyo Co., Ltd. At this Nagasaki Food Fair, we created a space where producers, manufacturers, and customers could meet, sparking new products, new menus, and new businesses. Going forward, as a 'customer prosperity support company,' we will continue to energize Kyushu through food and grow together with our customers.'

President Akimasa Iwata delivering his speech

[Event Overview]

Name: Nagasaki Food Fair 2026

Theme: 'You’ll Surely Find the Next Hit Product – The Anticipation of Discovering New Materials'

Venue: Dejima Messe Nagasaki

Exhibiting Companies: 120

Booths: 155

Products Displayed: Approximately 2,500

Company Name: Iwata Sangyo Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 3-26-39 Morooka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Business Activities: Wholesale of foodservice products, alcoholic beverages, fresh produce, restaurant operations, and more

URL: https://www.iwatasangyo.co.jp/