The Reopening of Japan's Market Clears the Way for More Than Gourmet and Other Qualified U.S. Producers to Export to Japan

AKRON, OH--(Marketwired - Jan 27, 2015) - More Than Gourmet, an Ohio-based producer of authentic, gourmet, French-style stocks, sauces, broths and concentrates, applauds Friday's agreement between the United States and the Government of Japan on implementation of a 2013 agreement to re-open the Japanese market to U.S. processed beef products. The agreement on the terms of a U.S. export protocol and export certificate represented the last step in the process of reopening Japan's market and clears the way for More Than Gourmet and other qualified U.S. producers to export to Japan. 

"It's been a long haul," said Brad Sacks, CEO and Founder of More Than Gourmet, "and we're excited that Japan has now re-opened for business and that we can resume selling our high quality stocks, sauces, and concentrates to Japanese consumers, restaurants, and food production facilities. Japan is a very promising market and we look forward to growing our exports and sales of our Ohio-based products. We'd like to thank Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) for his tremendous leadership and tireless support. I'd also like to express our appreciation to the U.S. negotiating team, including Anne Dawson at USDA, and Ambassador Darci Vetter and Ron Baumgarten at USTR." 

Background
In January 2013, Japan agreed to reopen its market to U.S. beef from cattle aged under 30 months, but this agreement did not cover processed beef products. In November 2013, the U.S. and Japan initiated further steps to reopen Japan's market to U.S. processed beef, contingent on Japanese inspections of qualified U.S. beef processing facilities and working out the terms of an export protocol and U.S. export certificate. Friday's agreement was the final step in that process. 

More than Gourmet (MTG) world headquarters and manufacturing facilities are based in Akron, Ohio. MTG's critically acclaimed products are used by consumers, professional chefs and food manufacturers and are exported to Europe, Asia, and Canada. The company was building a promising business in Japan before imports of processed U.S. beef products were prohibited. "With Friday's agreement, we are excited to resume exporting our products to the Japanese market," Mr. Sacks said.