Plant-based baked confectionery company Ovgo and Ishii Foods announce capital and business alliance, and appointment of Tomoyasu Ishii, Representative Director and President of Ishii Foods, as outside director of Ovgo

ovgo Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Risa Takagi; hereinafter "the Company") is pleased to announce that, with a view to further strengthening its management structure and promoting business growth, it has entered into a capital and business alliance with Ishii Foods Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director and Executive Officer: Tomoyasu Ishii; hereinafter "Ishii Foods") and appointed Mr. Tomoyasu Ishii, the Representative Director and Executive Officer of Ishii Foods,as an outside director.

Background of the Capital and Business Alliance and Mr. Ishii's Appointment as an Outside Director

Since its founding, the American-style bakery "ovgo Baker" operated by the Company has been committed to providing food choices that are kind to the environment, animals, and all people. The Company manufactures and sells baked goods, primarily cookies, using exclusively plant-based ingredients and, whenever possible, organic, naturally grown, or domestically produced ingredients.

To deliver the Company's products to more customers, strengthening the manufacturing system and improving quality control have become important priorities. Accordingly, the Company will leverage Ishii Foods' extensive knowledge and experience to improve product quality, ensure safety, and promote food traceability. Furthermore, with the aim of further realizing sustainability, the Company will actively promote sustainable growth strategies.

In addition, by having Mr. Ishii join as an outside director, the Company will incorporate deeper management perspectives and market insights, expand its business, strengthen its management foundation, and establish a structure for future growth.

Comment from Mr. Tomoyasu Ishii, Representative Director and Executive Officer of Ishii Foods Co., Ltd.

It is a great honor and a new challenge for me to join ovgo, which aims to bring happy smiles to everyone through safe and delicious cookies, as an outside director. Leveraging my experience in business creation and transformation in the IT and food manufacturing industries, I will do my utmost to contribute to enhancing corporate value while sharing both the challenges and the excitement, and to further promote food traceability.

Profile

Joined Accenture Technology Solutions (now Accenture) in June 2006. As a software engineer, worked on building core systems for large corporations and providing digital marketing support. Since 2014, has been working as a freelancer, practicing agile contract development and focusing on development and team building for venture companies. Joined his grandfather's company, Ishii Foods Co., Ltd., in 2017. Appointed Representative Director and Executive Officer in June 2018. Currently promoting food production in collaboration with farmers, focusing on local ingredients and seasonal products. Certified Scrum Professional.

Comment from Representative Director Takagi

I am delighted to welcome Mr. Tomoyasu Ishii as an outside director of the Company. Mr. Ishii possesses extensive expertise and experience in the food industry, and I am confident that his support will greatly contribute not only to strengthening the Company's manufacturing system and quality control but also to its sustainable business growth. Leveraging Mr. Ishii's management insights and advice, we will continue to strive toward realizing a "future that is kind to everyone."

About Ishii Foods Co., Ltd.

Began manufacturing tsukudani in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, in 1946, and launched vacuum-packed products and small bags of simmered beans. In 1970, it launched "Chicken Hamburg," the industry's first pre-cooked hamburger steak. In 1974, it launched "Meatballs," best known from "Ishii's Bento Kun Meatballs." To maximize the natural flavor of its ingredients, the Company is committed to "additive-free cooking," employing cooking methods and techniques that bring out the inherent qualities of ingredients, including their flavor, color, and texture, while pursuing authentic deliciousness.

(Company Profile)
■Name: Ishii Foods Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market)
■Headquarters: 2-7-17 Honmachi, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture 273-8601
■Representative: Tomoyasu Ishii, Representative Director and Executive Officer
■Established: May 1945 (Showa 20)
■Capital: 919.6 million yen

(Related Links)
■Ishii Foods Official Website:https://www.ishiifood.co.jp/
■Ishii Foods Official X:https://twitter.com/ishii_official
■Ishii Foods Official Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ishiifood.co.jp
■Ishii Foods Official Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ishii_official/
■Ishii Foods Official note:https://note.com/directishii
■Ishii Foods Official YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/ishiifood_official
■Ishii Foods Official Additive-Free Cooking Specialty Store "Ishii Online Store":https://shop.directishii.net/

About ovgo Inc.

ovgo Inc. is a socially conscious brand that solves environmental and social issues through food. The company name was derived from the initials of "organic, vegan, gluten-free as options." It operates "ovgo Baker," a vegan bakery that manufactures and sells baked goods using exclusively plant-based ingredients and, whenever possible, organic and domestically produced ingredients. Currently, it operates four stores in Nihonbashi, Harajuku, and other areas of Tokyo. In 2022, it became the first food service company in Japan to obtain B Corp certification.
URL:https://ovgobaker.com/

Contact Information Regarding This Announcement
ovgo.tyo@ovgobaker.com