History of the Kirin Group
William Copeland, an American, opens the Spring Valley Brewery in the Yamate area of Yokohama.
Japan Brewery Company established.
Japan Brewery Company launches sales of its German-style lager beer under the brand name Kirin Beer.
Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. established.
Sales of Kirin Lemon carbonated soft drink launched.
Sales of 350ml cans of beer launched.
Vending Machine Services Co., Ltd. (known as Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. today) is established for the purpose of selling Kirin Brewery’s soft drinks in vending machines.
Kirin-Seagram Co., Ltd. (known as Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd. today) established.
Sales of Kirin-Seagram’s first whiskey produced in Japan, Robert Brown, launched.
Business partnership formed with Nagano Tomato Co., Ltd.
KB Real Estate Co., Ltd. (known as Kirin Real Estate Co., Ltd. today) established.
Koiwai Dairy Products Co., Ltd. established.
Kirin Echo Co., Ltd. established.
Kirin makes capital investment in Tsurumi Warehouse Co., Ltd.
KW Inc. (known as CCNNE,Inc today) established.
Sales of Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha Straight Tea launched.
Kirin Business System Co., Ltd. established.
Agreement to purchase Raymond Vineyard and Cellar,Inc. reached.
Taiwan Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. (known as Taiwan Kirin Company, Ltd. today) established.
Yokohama Arena Co., Ltd. established.
Sales of Kirin Ichiban Shibori launched.
Sales of ESPO
(pharmaceutical product) launched.
Kirin Lemon Co., Ltd. takes over operations of Kirin Brewery’s soft drinks department and is renamed Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.
Sales of GRAN (pharmaceutical product) launched.
Agreement reached for Anheuser-Busch to manufacture Kirin brand products for the US market.
Kirin Brewery of America LLC established.
Zhuhai Kirin President Brewery Co., Ltd. (known as Kirin Brewery (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. today) established in China.
Sales of Kirin Tanrei Nama launched.
Kirin makes capital investment in Lion Nathan Ltd.
Yokohama Akarenga Co., Ltd. established.
Sales of Kirin Chu-hi Hyoketsu launched.
Kirin Green & Flower Co., Ltd. (known as Kirin Agribio Co., Ltd. today) established.
Kirin makes capital investment in San Miguel Corporation Inc. (Philippines).
Takeda-Kirin Foods Corporation
(known as Kirin Kyowa Foods Co., Ltd. today) established
San Miguel Corporation headquarter
Kirin introduces world’s first fuel cell using biogas.
Sales of Franzia, the world’s best-selling single brand of wine, launched.
Kirin makes capital investment in Dalian Daxue Brewery Co., Ltd. (China).
Kirin (China) Investment Co., Ltd. established in Shanghai.
Dalian Daxue Brewery Co., Ltd. headquarter
Sales of Kirin Nodogoshi Nama launched.
Sales of Fuji-Sanroku, the first Kirin brand of whisky produced in Japan, launched.
Kirin announces "Kirin Group Vision 2015 (KV2015)".
Kirin Beverage converted to a 100%-owned subsidiary of Kirin Brewery.
Strategic collaboration in alcohol business forged with Mercian Corporation; Mercian converted to a TOB subsidiary.
Kirin invests 25% capital in Hangzhou Qiandaohu Brewery Co., Ltd.
Kirin Brewery marks the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Kirin Real Estate Co., Ltd. formed.
Holding company system introduced; Kirin Brewery renamed Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.
Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. (manufactures and sells alcohol beverages) separated.
Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. established.
Kirin Business Expert Co., Ltd. established.
Kirin acquires all stock in National Foods Limited, Australia’s leading dairy product and beverage company.
Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. born in a merger of Kyowa Hakko Co., Ltd.'s Pharmaceutical division and Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd.
All Dairy Farmers stock acquired by National Foods Limited.
National Foods Limited headquarter
Message from the President
Alcohol Business
