Jul 26, 2023

Company / Press Release

Panasonic Decides to Invest in DayBreak, a Provider of Special Freezing Solutions, through the Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund

Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Masahiro Shinada; hereinafter referred to as Panasonic) today announced that it has decided to invest in DayBreak Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Masayuki Kinoshita; hereinafter referred to as DayBreak), a solution provider focusing on special freezing technology, through a corporate venture capital fund, commonly known as the Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund, jointly managed by Panasonic and SBI Investment Co., Ltd.

With a mission to Create a Better Future from Producers to Consumers, DayBreak aims to solve labor shortages, food loss, freshness preservation, and other food-related challenges for ensuring a better future through its special freezing solutions. In addition to selling special freezing equipment developed by the company, it also operates a food laboratory that provides comprehensive support to customers entering the frozen food business by offering recipe development assistance and consulting services to improve manufacturing operations. DayBreak has also established an open innovation community known as the Frozen Business Family Association to study the next generation of frozen business with its customers. Through the sharing of knowledge, the association aims to improve the overall quality of frozen food.

Panasonic offers a wide range of products related to food infrastructure, including cooking appliances as well as B2B cold-chain-related products such as commercial freezing and refrigeration display cases mainly for the Japanese and US markets. Panasonic will strive to create a cold chain that adds value for both food producers and consumers by exploring how it can create synergies with DayBreak to transform the frozen food distribution system.

With a mission to contribute to the wellbeing of people, society, and the planet, Panasonic aims to be the best partner to support people's lives with human-centric technology and innovation. The company will continue to strengthen its open innovation initiatives based on strong partnerships by investing in promising startups both in Japan and overseas that are competitive in areas closely related to people's lives, such as energy, food infrastructure, spatial infrastructure, and lifestyle.

■Comments from Kunio Gohara, General Manager of the Corporate Venture Capital Office, Panasonic Corporation

The growing e-commerce market for food amplifies the significance of our refrigeration, freezing, and other freshness preservation technologies, taste-preserving defrosting technologies, as well as our ability to provide solutions across the food distribution supply chain. We expect this investment in DayBreak to bring new value to both producers and consumers, and to accelerate innovation in frozen food distribution, enabling customers to enjoy even more fresh and delicious frozen foods.

■Comments from Masayuki Kinoshita, Representative Director and CEO of DayBreak Co., Ltd.

Our special freezing technology has enabled us to freeze foods that were previously difficult to freeze, addressing the challenges facing the food industry, such as expanding distribution channels, food loss, and employment. We believe this investment reflects the high expectations for the growth potential of the cold chain market, our unique solutions, and our community. As a result, we have renewed our commitment to meeting those expectations.
To become a global player, we will strengthen our partnership with Panasonic and upgrade the freezing business by switching to CFC-free special freezing equipment and expanding our food platform.

■DayBreak Co., Ltd. Overview

Company name

DayBreak Co., Ltd.

Representative

Masayuki Kinoshita

Address

5th floor, Niuke Building, 2-2-33 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Establishment

July 2013

Business

Providing special freezing solutions, distributing special frozen foods

URL

https://www.d-break.co.jp/

About Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Corporation offers products and services for a variety of living environments, ranging from homes to stores to offices and cities. There are five businesses at the core of Panasonic Corporation: Living Appliances and Solutions Company, Heating & Ventilation A/C Company, Cold Chain Solutions Company, Electric Works Company and China and Northeast Asia Company. The operating company reported consolidated net sales of 3,483.3 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2023. Panasonic Corporation is committed to fulfilling the mission of Life Tech & Ideas: For the wellbeing of people, society and the planet, and embraces the vision of becoming the best partner of your life with human-centric technology and innovation. Learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global/about/

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Issued:
Panasonic Corporation

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