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| Company name: |
G.T.JAPAN, INC. (MAEDA-EN, USA) |
| Address: |
16591 MILLIKAN AVENUE, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92606 U.S.A |
| Telephone: |
(949) 251-9601 |
| Facsimile: |
(949) 251-9602 |
| Website: |
www.maeda-en.com |
| Established: |
1984 |
| Operation: |
Import/Export & Distribution of Green Tea, Ice Cream, Mochi Ice Cream and Frozen Healthy Desserts |
| Signature products: |
- Maeda-en Grower's Selections Japanese Green Tea
- Maeda-en Blender’s Selections Japanese Green Tea
- Maeda-en Premium Green Tea Ice Cream
- Maeda-en Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream(Ice Cream coated with Rice Cake) |
| Subsidiaries: |
- LA/I.C., INC. (Manufacturing Manufacturing Green Tea Ice Cream & Frozen Healthy Desserts)
- Green Tea Terrace, Inc. (Operating Green Tea Store & Cafe) |
| C.E.O.: |
Hiroshi Maeda |
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Dear Valued Customers: Thanks to your continued patronage, we are pleased to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Maeda-en USA. During the past twenty years, I have been fortunate enough to experience the excitement of operating a retail tea store, introducing ice cream, and building a joint-venture factory. All of this was accomplished because of the tremendous support that I have received from you. With this twenty years of experience we are ready to make a fresh start and contribute to the community with our ACTIVE business method. You will notice that we have changed our Logo, slogan, product packaging, and product line to better represent this direction. Our new company logo depicts a young green tea leaf growing upwards to the sky and represents our company growth. Our new green tea packaging all carries the slogan, authentic and Traditional We will continue to bring you quality products. Thank you again for your continued support. Sincerely, Hiroshi Maeda
President & CEO
G.T. Japan Inc. |
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Authentic |
- We will continue our quest and strive to bring you the finest Green Tea with the exquisite aroma and unparalleled taste. |
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Creative |
- Not only do we convey and superb in Green Tea leaves but we also create new and exciting Green Tea products to meet the needs of today's consumers. |
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Traditional |
- As true connoisseurs, we regard and reserve the 4,000 years of history behind the Green Tea tradition. We seek out true Green Tea products which represents that tradition. |
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Impressive |
- We strive to represent the impressive beauty of the Japanese Green Tea tradition through the subtle textures of our packaging and the incomparable quality of our Green Tea products. |
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Venture |
- Our company is focused on educating and spreading the century old tradition of Green Tea in new and innovative ways. We have always taken great strides to bring Green Tea to the U.S. consumers. |
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Ethics |
- We stand behind our producs and promise to deliver only the highest quality products and services to all customers at all times. |
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Maeda-en commits to embracing the teachings of the traditional tea ceremony "Shu Ha Ri" as noted in a poem by Sen-no Rikyu (1522-1591) which states that regardless of how much growth you experience, you can never forget the basics. In following the teachings of Shu Ha Ri, one must protect traditions (Shu), then create something new from these traditions (Ha), and then take leave altogether of preconceived ideas to create a new tradition (Ri). Maeda-en's commitment to you encompasses our path to Shu Ha Ri.
Shu - bringing our customers the most authentic and highest quality traditional green tea.
Ha - Creating new and exciting products that incorporate the traditional ingredients such as green tea ice cream.
Ri - We strive to create products that will remain in the marketplace as new traditions for years to come. |
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| Our new product packaging bears the traditional Japanese design pattern called "Ajiro". This pattern dates back to the Jomon Era in Japanese history (Approximately 10,000 - 300BC) and was a representation of the woven bamboo baskets used by green tea growers to collect, dry and sort teas. Bamboo is regarded as a symbol of integrity in Japan and is often used for celebrations along with plum and pine branches. The Ajiro design is often seen on traditional items such as in Japanese tea ceremony rooms, folding screens, or on the silk used to create kimonos. Maeda-en has chosen the Ajiro design for the packaging of its new product line as it represents the company slogan of "Authentic & Traditional" |
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1984 |
Established G.T.JAPAN,INC. in Dallas, Texas |
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1987 |
Started business with Benihana, the largest Japanese chain restaurant in U.S. Market. |
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1988 |
Started business with JFC INTERNATIONAL INC, the largest Japanese wholesale company in U.S.A. |
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1989 |
Relocated to California for business expansion. |
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1989 |
Opened first Green Tea retail store in U.S.A. |
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1992 |
Expanded and opened our 2nd retail store in California, another in New Jersey. |
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1993 |
Developed and introduced "Maeda-en Premium Green Tea Ice Cream" |
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1996 |
Established Ice Cream Manufacturing Plant, "LA/I.C., Inc." |
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1998 |
Added Ginger flavor ice cream to bring the total of 9 flavors |
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1999 |
Introduced "Maeda-en Gourmet Mochi Ice Cream" |
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2001 |
Grand Opening, "GREEN TEA TERRACE, INC." Westwood store near U.C.L.A. |
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2004 |
Celebrate 20th Anniversary Green Tea product line Renewal |
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