Securing a 30 percent share of the logistics market for Japanese electronics companies in the United States is a herculean task, but Mitsui-Soko accomplished the feat through its dedication to “kaizen,” the Japanese concept of always striving to achieve the best.
Starting as a representative office in 1977, Mitsui-Soko USA recognized the potential of developing its internal services on a national scale.
By 1982, it had launched a fully operational network of warehouses and inland transportation hubs across the 50 states.
Today, it provides a full spectrum of logistics solutions: freight forwarding, warehousing, local inland transportation, international air and sea transportation, and customs clearance services.
“We have been true to our clients and remain focused on forty-five years of providing logistics services to the U.S. what they need. With a business portfolio that includes many leading Japanese companies, we welcome the opportunity for companies from any nation to benefit from the strength of the services we provide, and to proceed with confidence on the basis of our reputation in the industry,” stressed President Masafumi Inoue.
Mitsui-Soko continues to expand its services to other sectors, beyond its well established client base in the aircraft, automotive, chemical, food and electronics industries.
Recently, it announced the grand opening of its new West Coast Food Distribution Center, a 50,000-square-foot, FDA- registered food warehouse near Los Angeles, dedicated exclusively to providing logistics support to the food industry.
“The trend of Japanese companies doing business in the United States is increasing, as is the diversity of our clientele. In response, we are improving our capacity and planning further expansion to offer service that remains both relevant and contemporary,” Inoue explained.
“The United States is a country of innovation. We embrace that spirit and are here to find creative solutions that support our clients and enable them to succeed,” he added.
– Originally prepared by Global Media for The Japan Times Special Report on Los Angeles 2014 (Credit: Jose Sanchez)
