History
Initially established as a sales outlet for industrial pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies in 1911, San-Ei Gen gradually diversified and expanded its product range, becoming one of the leading food ingredient innovators and manufacturers.
| 1911 | Founding president, Genkichi Shimizu established a sales outlet for industrial pharmaceuticals and Chinese herbal remedies. |
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| 1931 | Predecessor of San-Ei Chemical Industries Co., Ltd. was established in Osaka, Japan. |
| 1938 | San-Ei Co., Ltd. was established in Osaka, Japan and production of organic acids, artificial food colors and flavors was started. |
| 1941 | The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan began regulating food colorants (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No.535). A San-Ei product is the first food colorant to be officially approved. |
| 1944 | Company name was changed to San-Ei Chemical Industries, Ltd. |
| 1953 | Production of Emulsified Flavors was started. |
| 1957 | Production of Powdered Flavors was started. |
| 1963 | Production of Beta-Carotene emulsion was started. |
| 1965 | Production of extracts from the Annatto Seed (as first natural food colorant) and Curcumin Color was started. |
| 1967 | Production of Cochineal Color and Safflower Yellow Color was started. |
| 1969 | Production of Carotene powder and Grape Skin Color was started. |
| 1972 | Production of Paprika Color emulsion was started. |
| 1973 | New gelling technology using Locust Bean Gum and Xanthan Gum was developed. |
| 1974 | Production of Purple Corn Color was started. |
| 1981 | Okayama Plant was completed and production of a new natural colorant from Red Cabbage was started. |
| 1986 | San-Ei Gen FFI (USA) Inc. was established. |
| 1989 | Shiga Plant was completed. |
| 1989 | Chinese Bayberry Extract was approved as plant sources of natural flavorings in Japan. |
| 1991 | Red Cabbage Color product won Food Processing Award in the U.S.A. |
| 1992 | Company name of headquarters was changed to San-Ei Gen FFI, Inc. |
| 1993 | San-Ei Gen FFI (UK) Ltd. was established. |
| 1995 | San-Ei Gen FFI (Asia) Pte Ltd. was established in Singapore. Production of Marigold Color emulsion was started. |
| 1996 | Production of Tomato Lycopene preparation was started. |
| 2000 | San-Ei Gen FFI (Peru) S.A. was established. |
| 2005 | Shiga Plant was accredited with ISO 14001:2004. |
| 2006 | Okayama Plant was accredited with ISO14001:2004. |
| 2007 | Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ®) was self-affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by FDA (GRAS Notice No.GRN 000220). |
| 2011 | Food Safety Management System "SEG-QMS®" combining FSSC22000 and ISO9001 was introduced. |
| 2012 | All plants in Japan were accredited with FSSC22000. |
| 2017 | San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc. signed The United Nations Global Compact. Headquarters, Tokyo Branch, Main Plant, Shiga Plant and Okayama Plant were accredited with ISO 14001：2015. |
| 2018 | All plants and branches in Japan were accredited with ISO 14001:2015. （Nagoya Branch, Fukuoka Branch, Sendai Branch and Hiroshima Branch were also newly accredited with ISO 14001:2015.） |