Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Co., Ltd.

Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Co., Ltd. is a Japanese fresh produce (fruit and vegetable) wholesaler headquartered in Kita-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is one of the wholesale companies operating within the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market's Yodobashi Market, and it also runs branches at the Nerima local wholesale market and the Saitama Kawagoe integrated local wholesale market, plus a subsidiary at the Setagaya market. The company was established in June 2005 through a joint incorporation-type company split (共同新設分割) that combined the produce wholesale operations of Tokyo Shinjuku Seika Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Yodobashi Seika Co., Ltd., both of which had been trading at Yodobashi Market since it opened in 1939. The Yodobashi Market itself was opened in 1939 (Showa 14) next to the Yodobashi Ward office, as a supply base for fruits and vegetables for Tokyo's rapidly growing population after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Among Tokyo's central wholesale markets, its produce handling volume ranks third, after the Ota and Toyosu markets. Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru has a particular strength in fruit wholesaling, supported by demand from the prosperous Shinjuku area, including its entertainment districts. It handles produce from across Japan, with some imports, through consignment and purchase sales. The company's product range is broad, covering vegetables, fruits and processed items. Its website lists items such as winter melon, lettuce, eringi mushrooms, green peas, zucchini, corn, melons, peaches, cherries, pineapples, asparagus, okra, spinach, edamame, eggplant, watermelon, navel oranges, lemons, kiwifruit, tomatoes, cabbage, daikon radish, potatoes and strawberries, among many others. It also promotes a monthly "Shinjuku Yodobashi Market Day" on the 18th of each month, when the market and retailers work together to sell high-quality produce selected by professional buyers. In terms of corporate structure, the two predecessor companies, Tokyo Shinjuku Seika and Tokyo Yodobashi Seika, continued to exist as legal entities after the 2005 integration and function as holding companies and real-estate managers for the new operating company. Tokyo Shinjuku Seika additionally serves as the operator/developer of the Nerima local wholesale market (officially the Tokyo Metropolitan Nerima Fruit and Vegetable Local Wholesale Market, nicknamed Vegefru Center Nerima). Group companies include Vegefru Food Co., Ltd., which sells produce, foodstuffs and flowers, and Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Setagaya Co., Ltd., which handles produce wholesaling at the Setagaya market. The company remains privately held and active.

The origins of Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru lie in the Yodobashi Market, a fresh produce market opened in 1939 (Showa 14) in Tokyo. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, Tokyo's population surged, and the city integrated 13 existing private markets to create a supply base for fruits and vegetables in the surrounding wards and counties. The Yodobashi branch market opened next to the Yodobashi Ward office. Among Tokyo's central wholesale markets, its produce handling volume ranks third. The area's name, Yodobashi, has various origin theories, including that the river's flow appeared slow and stagnant ("yodomu"). Under the 1889 municipal system, villages such as Kashiwagi and Kakizawa merged to form Yodobashi Town in Minami-Toshima District. In 1932, Yodobashi Town was incorporated into Tokyo City and became Yodobashi Ward. Because the Tsukiji main market and the Kanda and Koto branch markets could not accommodate existing private food markets, Tokyo City formulated a second branch market construction plan in 1932, and based on this, the Yodobashi branch market opened in 1939. Uchida Shugoro, a young village mayor of Iogi Village (Suginami Ward), was known for pioneering land readjustment projects and worked to establish a produce market to promote agriculture. With the opening of the Yodobashi branch market, Tokyo Shinjuku Seika Co., Ltd. was newly established; Uchida later served as chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. His bronze statue stands in Zenpukuji Park, and a bust was erected within the Shinjuku Yodobashi Market. Both Tokyo Shinjuku Seika Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Yodobashi Seika Co., Ltd. began operations in September 1939 when Yodobashi Market opened. They operated as produce wholesalers within the market for decades. In June 2005, the two companies integrated their business divisions through a joint incorporation-type company split (共同新設分割) to form Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Co., Ltd., which commenced operations. This method of integration was also used by the industry peer Tokyo City Seika (Tsukiji Market to Toyosu Market). After the integration, the two predecessor companies continued to exist as legal entities, functioning as holding companies for the new company and engaging in real estate management. Tokyo Shinjuku Seika additionally serves as the operator of the Nerima local wholesale market (officially the Tokyo Metropolitan Nerima Fruit and Vegetable Local Wholesale Market, nicknamed Vegefru Center Nerima). Since its founding, the company has invested in market facilities and expanded its network. In June 2007, the first-floor low-temperature sales area of the wholesale building was completed. In May 2009, Vegefru Food Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary, and in October 2009, the Vegefru Nerima General Wholesale Center was opened. A large refrigeration facility was completed in August 2013, and the second-floor low-temperature sales area of the wholesale building was completed in July 2015. In April 2016, the Kawagoe branch was opened. This followed the 2016 suspension of business by the subsidiary Kawagoe Vegefru Co., Ltd. (later subject to special liquidation); Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru took over its operations and entered the Saitama Kawagoe Integrated Local Wholesale Market as a wholesaler. Previously, the company had also conducted wholesale operations at the Matsubara branch market, but when that market closed in 2008 and was integrated into the Setagaya market, the company formed a joint venture, Tokyo Ebara Vegefru Co., Ltd., with the former Setagaya market wholesaler Tokyo Ebara Seika Co., Ltd. (headquartered at Ota Market). In 2019, Tokyo Ebara Seika withdrew its capital, transferring all its shares to Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru, making it a wholly owned subsidiary renamed Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Setagaya Co., Ltd. In April 2019, the Setagaya market branch office was opened. In September 2019, the first-floor central refrigerator of the wholesale building was completed, and in May 2021, the first-floor north refrigerator was completed. The company continues to operate at Yodobashi Market, Nerima Market, Kawagoe Market and Setagaya Market, serving as a key intermediary in Tokyo's fresh produce distribution system.

• 2021

  First-floor north refrigerator of the wholesale building completed.

• 2019

  Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Setagaya Co., Ltd. established as a wholly owned subsidiary; Setagaya market branch office opened; first-floor central refrigerator completed.

• 2016

  Kawagoe branch opened.

• 2015

  Second-floor low-temperature sales area of the wholesale building completed.

• 2013

  Large refrigeration facility completed.

• 2009

  Vegefru Food Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary; Vegefru Nerima General Wholesale Center opens.

• 2007

  First-floor low-temperature sales area of the wholesale building completed.

• 2005

  Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Co., Ltd. established through a joint incorporation-type company split and begins operations.

• 1939

  Yodobashi Market opens; Tokyo Shinjuku Seika Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Yodobashi Seika Co., Ltd. begin operations.

A major fresh produce wholesaler at Tokyo's Yodobashi Market, with particular strength in fruit wholesaling for the Shinjuku area and a multi-market branch network.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

  Wholesale of a wide range of produce including vegetables, fruits and processed items.

• Fruit wholesaling

  Particular strength in fruit wholesaling for Shinjuku's high-end demand.

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2. 2新宿淀橋市場の歴史 | 東京新宿ベジフル株式会社vf-shinjuku.jp
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4. 4アクセスマップ | 東京新宿ベジフル株式会社vf-shinjuku.jp
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6. 6Tokyo Shinjuku Vegefru Co., Ltd. - Wikidatawikidata.org