Full-Scale Start of Instant Noodle Business in Poland Ajinomoto Completes Acquisition and Merger of SAMSMAK Foods Launched 4 kinds of SAMSMAK cup-typ

January 25 2005－Tokyo－Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto, President & CEO: Kunio Egashira, Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan) has begun full-scale instant noodle operations in Poland.
Ajinomoto established Ajinomoto Poland Sp. z o. o. (Ajinomoto Poland; President: Yuko Takahashi; Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland) in 1999 to import and sell instant noodles. In order to build an integrated consumer food business from development and production to sales and marketing, Ajinomoto purchased instant noodle manufacturer SAMSMAK Foods Sp. z o. o. in September 2003, and merged it into Ajinomoto Poland in November 2004. Moreover, in connection with these efforts, Ajinomoto launched renewals for the Polish market of five kinds of SAMSMAK brand pillow-type noodles in November 2004 and four kinds of SAMSMAK cup-type noodles in January 2005. Ajinomoto aims to expand its market share, with a short-term sales target of 1.0 billion yen.
Poland's instant noodle market has continued to expand with the introduction of products with a European taste in addition to products with an Asian taste imported from Asia. Further annual growth of 7-8 percent is projected, and Poland is considered a major market in the region. Ajinomoto Poland plans to strengthen marketing of SAMSMAK brand products in addition to the Asian-taste YumYum brand products it already sells. Profile of Ajinomoto Poland Company name: Established: Head office address: President: Type of business: Capital: Composition of capital: Number of employees: Ajinomoto Poland Sp. z o. o October 15, 1999 Ul. Sobieskiego 104, Warsaw, Poland Yuko Takahashi Production and sale of instant noodles Approximately 1 billion yen (1 zloty = 27.5 yen) Ajinomoto Co., Inc. 100% Approximately 150 (including two dispatched from Japan)