13 New Employees to be Assigned to Departments from July 2026; Junior Employees Plan and Manage Training, Promoting a Human Resource Development Project Where "Trainers" Also Grow

Kuriyama Rice Senbei Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, President and CEO: Taiga Kuriyama), which manufactures and sells rice crackers such as "Bakauke," "Seto Shio," and "Hoshi Tabeyo," conducted new employee training for 13 new hires in fiscal year 2026. After completing the training, these new employees will be assigned to their respective departments starting in July 2026.

A distinctive feature of our new employee training is that junior employees are responsible for planning and managing the entire process, from the entrance ceremony to the new employee training. In addition to product understanding and learning at the manufacturing site, programs such as mountain climbing training and Niigata sightseeing route training are conducted to foster relationships among employees and cultivate proactivity.

This initiative provides growth opportunities not only for the new employees receiving training but also for the junior employees who plan and manage it. Kuriyama Rice Senbei will continue to promote the creation of an organization that "values people."

(Photo left: Mountain climbing training, center: Rice cracker tasting training, right: A scene from factory training)

Entrance Ceremony Held

In April 2026, the entrance ceremony for fiscal year 2026 was held. The 13 new employees, with expressions of nervousness, took their first steps as working adults through interaction with their new colleagues.

(Photo left: Entrance ceremony group photo, right: President and CEO Toshiaki Kuriyama)

As a new initiative this time, we implemented a project where each new employee left their handprint on a banner. This project was born from the wish of junior employees to leave a lasting mark on their once-in-a-lifetime entrance ceremony and to cherish the connections with their peers and the feelings they had upon joining the company.

(Photo left: New employee applying paint to their hand, right: Completed banner)

New Employee Training Conducted in Preparation for July Assignments

The new employee training aimed to deepen understanding of products and manufacturing sites, as well as to foster teamwork and proactivity through its programs.

Another characteristic is that junior employees are in charge of planning and managing the training. By having senior employees of similar age accompany them, an environment is created where new employees can easily consult about their anxieties and questions.

Through the training, new employees deepened their understanding of the rice cracker manufacturing process and the roles of each department, while also building relationships with their peers in preparation for their assignments starting in July.

New Employee Comments

Employee T

Initially, we had bi-weekly training sessions, which allowed us to learn about precautions at the factory and how products are made beforehand, enabling us to approach the factory training with peace of mind. We also participated in mountain climbing training and Niigata sightseeing training. I feel that these not only provided us with prior knowledge but also served as an opportunity to deepen our friendships with our peers.

Next, during the factory training, we met many people at the factory and were able to build relationships. It was also a valuable opportunity to learn more about how products are made and the processes involved, deepening our understanding. I hope to utilize the connections and experiences gained through this training in my future work.

Employee S

Although the three-month training initially felt long, it passed by in the blink of an eye as we engaged in various activities. The mountain climbing and Niigata sightseeing training, in particular, were wonderful experiences that helped us deepen our bonds with our peers.

We also learned essential knowledge as working adults in communication and hygiene workshops.

Through hands-on work in the factory training, I learned about the depth and challenges of rice cracker making, and I feel it was a fulfilling three months.

Training Staff Comments

Employee N

While involved in planning and managing the training, I learned the importance of acting from the other person's perspective while considering what would make the training "enjoyable and educational" for the new employees. Seeing the new employees earnestly engage in the training was also very stimulating and a highly educational experience for me.

Employee S

Normally, I don't have many opportunities to interact with people from other departments, but through being in charge of training, I had more chances to communicate with many members, which was both enjoyable and educational. I was also happy as a staff member to witness firsthand how the distance between the new employees gradually narrowed through the training.

(Photo: Junior employees in charge of planning and managing the training)

President and CEO Taiga Kuriyama's Comment

The purpose of this project is to sincerely welcome our new employees and create an environment where they can learn and grow with peace of mind. However, as we have continued this initiative for three years, the greatest value I have personally realized is the growth of the project members themselves. Without a predetermined answer, they earnestly consider the new employees, formulate plans, and coordinate with numerous internal and external stakeholders to bring them to fruition. This is by no means an easy task for junior employees, but each year I witness their remarkable growth as working professionals after the project, as they overcome challenges by pooling their wisdom and supporting each other as a team.

Creating opportunities for employees to challenge themselves and play an active role is also an important role of the company, in my opinion. By having each employee grow and demonstrate their abilities, we aim to become a company that can deliver products and services that allow our customers to experience even more "fun, delicious, and new" sensations.

Towards Building an Organization That "Values People": Introduction of Internal Communication Measures and Training Systems

Our company is also working to vitalize communication among employees and create a comfortable working environment.

・Information Dissemination via Employee App

Internal newsletters are distributed in PDF format to promote information sharing across departments.

This leads to increased internal communication through employee and initiative introductions.

・Installation of Digital Signage in Factories

Digital signage has been installed in factories to disseminate company information and departmental initiatives.

This creates an environment where information is more easily accessible to employees working on the front lines.

・Launch of Video Content Distribution

We have also started distributing internal video content.

By utilizing YouTube's unlisted feature to share training content and internal information via video, we aim for more easily understandable information dissemination.

(Related Information)

・Kuriyama Rice Senbei Recruitment Site: https://recruit.befco.jp/

・Kuriyama Rice Senbei Recruitment Blog: https://recruit.befco.jp/blog/

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Company Overview

Company Name: Kuriyama Rice Senbei Co., Ltd.

Head Office: 2661 Shinzaki, Kita Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

Representative: Taiga Kuriyama, President and CEO

Established: February 5, 1949

Number of Employees: Approximately 750 (50% male, 50% female)

Business Activities: Manufacturing and sales of rice crackers

Main Products: "Bakauke," "Seto Shio," "Hoshi Tabeyo," etc.

What is the Corporate Brand "Befco"?

"Befco" is a brand name derived from the initial letters of Beika (Rice Cracker), Frontier, and Company. We aim to be a brand loved worldwide, creating "fun," "deliciousness," and "newness" that go beyond the realm of rice crackers.

Business Activities

A confectionery manufacturer that produces and sells rice crackers such as "Bakauke," "Seto Shio," and "Hoshi Tabeyo."

With the theme of "fun, delicious, and new," we challenge ourselves to provide new value in line with the times, in addition to our long-selling products. While cherishing tradition, we continue to propose new ways to enjoy food.

Other Company Data (Fiscal Year 2025)

Sales: 28.2 billion yen

Average Age: 37 years old

Average Length of Service: Approximately 15 years

Childcare Leave Acquisition Rate: 100% for women, 100% for men (ongoing since FY2023)

*Site "Kuriyama Rice Senbei in Numbers": https://recruit.befco.jp/data/

________________________________________

Profile of President and CEO

Taiga Kuriyama

Date of Birth: April 30, 1994 (32 years old)

Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Seikei University. After working at Heiwado Co., Ltd., joined Kuriyama Rice Senbei in 2020. Became President and CEO in April 2025. Leading the next generation of management.

<Official Website>

Top Page: https://www.befco.jp/

Befco Online Shop: https://befco-shop.jp/

Recruitment Site: https://recruit.befco.jp/

【For Media Inquiries】

Kuriyama Rice Senbei Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department

Email: [email protected]

TEL: 080-6801-7109

【For Customer Inquiries】

Kuriyama Rice Senbei Co., Ltd. Customer Service

TEL: 0120-957-893