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Wednesday, Governor Pete Ricketts participated in a signing ceremony at Sagami Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan on behalf of Nebraska’s pork producers. During the ceremony, representatives from Smithfield Foods International Group and Sagami Chain Co. Ltd. signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) designed to expand the business relationship between the two parties. This expansion will result in the sourcing of pork products by Sagami from Smithfield’s processing plant in Crete, Nebraska.
“Japan is Nebraska’s largest export market for pork products,” said Governor Ricketts. “Having a high-end restaurant chain such as Sagami and a well-respected pork processor such as Smithfield recommit to their business relationship is a positive sign for Nebraska’s pork producers.
The Sagami Chain has more than 170 restaurants located across Japan. They specialize in deep-fried pork cutlets. A year ago, Sagami CEO Toshiyuki Kamada visited Nebraska to tour the Smithfield facility in Crete.
“Last year’s visit from Mr. Kamada was important because it gave him the opportunity to see first-hand that Nebraska can produce high-quality pork that his restaurants require,” said Nebraska Department of Agriculture Assistant Director Mat Habrock who was a member of the Nebraska delegation. » Read more
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