INODA COFFEE | Morning in Kyoto starts with INODA COFFEE’s aroma of coffee

HISTORY OF INODA COFFEE

A lucky coincidence.
Founder Shichiro Inoda was drafted into military service after he started his wholesale business of imported food items in 1940. When he returned to Kyoto after World War II was over, he discovered about 15 bags of coffee beans kept in excellent condition in the warehouse at his residence. Using the beans, he opened a coffee shop in Kyoto, and thus INODA COFFEE was born.
During the period of American Occupation, substitute coffee was consumed because it was difficult to get real coffee beans. Rumor spread that INODA’s coffee was authentic and people of culture and successful businessmen in Kyoto gathered at INODA’s coffee shop which became a “coffee Salon.”
We believe that high-quality products can be made only with high-quality raw materials. Based on this belief, we have developed six types of original blended coffee including the famous Arabian Pearl. This belief of ours is passed on, generation to generation, together with our cherished ideal of “Omotenashi” (warm hospitality) with which we always welcome our guests with our high-quality service.

COMPANY HISTORY

June 1940	The first president of the company, Shichiro Inoda, began selling coffee beans from abroad at the present location of the Main shop (140 Doyu-cho, Sakaimachi-dori, Sanjo kudaru, Nakagyo-ku).
August 1947	Our first coffee shop was opened at the original location in Kyoto by the founder, Shichiro Inoda.
May 1958	Reorganized into Limited Company by the founder’s family.
December 1964	Opened Nijo Branch at the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry building’s basement floor.
December 1965	Opened Shijo B1 branch at Kyoto Shoken Building on Basement floor 1.
September 1967	Newly opened and expanded Main shop.
March 1970	Opened Coffee Salon branch at Daimaru Kyoto Department Store, 1st floor.
December 1970	Opened Sanjo branch on Sanjo-dori.
September 1975	Opened Shijo B2 branch at Kyoto Shoken Building on Basement floor 2.
November 1978	Began selling a 400-gram version of “Arabian Pearl” coffee in a painted metal can.
November 1980	Opened Porta branch at the Kyoto Station Underground Shopping Mall
March 1987	Started a new cake factory.
June 1993	The founder, Shichiro Inoda, passed away.
July 1993	Hiroshi Inoda became the company president.
March 1994	Started a new factory for cake-making and coffee bean roasting.
September 1995	Capital increased to 30 million yen and the company reorganized into a Limited Company by Shareholders.
April 1999	Opened the Hiroshima branch at Fukuya Department Store, basement floor 1.
March 2000	Renovated Main shop at Sakaimachi-dori, Sanjo.
July 2000	Opened Kiyomizu Branch at Kiyomizu Sannen-zaka, Seiryu-en.
March 2003	Opened Sapporo Daimaru Shop at Daimaru Sapporo Department Store, 7th floor.
June 2007	Hiroshi Inoda became the Representative Chairman and Masayasu Fujiwara assumed the position of president and CEO.
November 2007	Opened Tokyo Daimaru Shop at Daimaru Tokyo Department Store, 8th floor.
November 2012	Opened Yokohama Takashimaya Shop at Takashimaya Yokohama Department Store, 6th floor.
June 2014	Masayasu Fujiwara resigned from the position of president and Shigeki Iba assumed the position of president and CEO.
August 2014	Cake factory moved and renovated to a new location.
September 2014	Opened Cake Studio Ketel.
August 2015	Opened Hachijoguchi branch at the Kyoto Station, on ASTY ROAD, 1st floor.
March 2018	Renovated Porta branch.
June 2020	Shigeki Iba resigned from the position of president and Toshitaka Maeda assumed the position of president and CEO.
September 2022	The company executed a stock transfer in connection with the business succession. Hiroshi Inoda retired from the position of Chairman and Representative Director, and A fund managed by Ant Capital Partners, Inc. was brought in as a new major shareholder.
October 2024	Newly rebuilt and opened Sanjo shop on Sanjo-dori.

History of INODA COFFEE.