Glico facts for kids
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Headquarters in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka
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Native name
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江崎グリコ株式会社
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Romanized name
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Ezaki Guriko Kabushiki-gaisha |
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| Traded as | TYO: 2206 |
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Founded | Nishi-ku, Osaka, Japan (11 February 1922) |
| Founder | Riichi Ezaki (江崎 利一, Ezaki Riichi) |
| Headquarters |
Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka
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Japan
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Key people
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Katsuhisa Ezaki (businessman) (chairman) Etsuro Ezaki (President and CEO) |
| Products | Confectioneries, ice cream products, processed food |
| Revenue |  ¥338,437 millionUS$3,003,531 thousand (112.68 yen/US dollar, March 2016) |
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Operating income
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¥17,110 million US$151,850 thousand (112.68 yen/US dollar, March 2016) |
 ¥14,364 millionUS$127,478 thousand (112.68 yen/US dollar, March 2016) |
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| Total assets | ¥274,974 million US$2,440,311 thousand (112.68 yen/US dollar, March 2016) |
| Total equity | ¥179,151 million US$1,589,917 thousand (112.68 yen/US dollar, March 2016) |
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Number of employees
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4,961 (consolidated, March 2016) |
| Subsidiaries | Glico Nutrition Co., Ltd. Icreo Co., Ltd. and others |
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. (江崎グリコ株式会社, Ezaki Guriko Kabushiki-gaisha), often called Glico, is a big Japanese food company. It makes many popular snacks and treats. Its main office is in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. Glico sells its products in over 30 countries around the world. These countries are in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
Contents
What Glico Makes
Glico is mostly known for its yummy confectionery products. These include things like chocolate, chips, chewing gum, and ice cream. They also make dairy products. Besides snacks, Glico produces processed foods. These are items like curry mixes and special rice pouches. They even make dietary supplements to help people stay healthy.
Glico's Main Goals
Glico has had different slogans over the years that show what they care about:
- "300 meters per piece" (from 1922 to 1996): This slogan was for their first caramel candy. It meant that one piece of Glico caramel gave you enough energy to run 300 meters!
- "Good Taste and Good Health" (from 1971 to 1992): This slogan showed their focus on both delicious food and healthy living.
- "A Wholesome Life in the Best of Taste" (from 1992 to 2022): This continued their idea of enjoying tasty food while living a healthy life.
- "Healthier Days, Well Being for life" (from 2022 onwards): This is their current message, focusing on daily health and a good life.
Glico's Story
How Glico Started in Japan
The story of Glico began in 1919. A man named Riichi Ezaki created a special caramel candy. This candy had something called glycogen from oysters. He named his new candy "Glico," which was a shorter version of glycogen. The candy's package showed a running man and said "300 Meters in a Single Piece." This highlighted the energy the candy gave.
On February 11, 1922, Riichi started selling Glico candies. He sold them at a famous department store in Osaka called Mitsukoshi. Later that year, Riichi officially started the company, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. Sadly, Glico's factories in Osaka and Tokyo were destroyed during World War II. But they were rebuilt and reopened in 1951. Some of Glico's most famous snacks, Pretz and Pocky, were first made in the 1960s. Pretz came out in 1963, and Pocky followed in 1966.
In 1984, Glico faced some serious challenges. There were criminal incidents that targeted Japanese food companies, including Ezaki Glico. A group known as "The Monster with 21 Faces" was involved. The company's president, Katsuhisa Ezaki, was briefly taken but managed to escape. Glico's office was also damaged during these events.
Glico Around the World
Glico has been growing its business outside of Japan for a long time. In 1932, they opened a factory in Dalian, China. Then, in 1970, Glico started a company in Thailand called Thai Glico Co., Ltd. Later, in 1982, they began selling their Pocky sticks in France under the name "Mikado."
Glico continued to expand into other countries. In 2003, Ezaki Glico USA Co., Ltd. was started. More recently, in 2013 and 2014, Glico created new companies in Indonesia. These steps show how Glico has become a truly global company.
Popular Glico Products
Glico makes a huge variety of products. Here are some of their most well-known ones:
Sweet Treats
- Glico Caramel: This is the original caramel product that started it all. It comes in classic and other flavors.
- Pocky: These are thin pretzel sticks covered in chocolate. They come in many different flavors. Over 10 billion packages have been sold since 1966! In Europe, they are called "Mikado."
- Pretz: These are savory pretzel sticks that also come in many flavors.
- Almond Chocolate: Delicious almonds covered in smooth chocolate.
- Caplico: These are waffle biscuits shaped like ice cream cones. They are dipped in chocolate or strawberry frosting.
- Bisco: These are wheat germ crackers with a creamy yogurt filling.
- BREO: A special candy designed to help clean your tongue and freshen your breath.
Dairy Delights
- Pucchin Pudding: This is a very popular pudding. It comes in a special package that makes it easy to slide the pudding onto a plate.
Cool Ice Cream Treats
- Giant Cone: A large ice cream cone with crunchy chocolate and nut toppings.
- Panapp: Vanilla ice cream in a long cup with fruit sauce in the middle.
- Papico: A refreshing sherbet that comes in tubes.
- Ice no Mi (アイスの実): These are small, round ice candies that you can eat in bites.
- Seventeen Ice: This brand offers over 20 different ice cream flavors. You can usually find them in special vending machines.
Easy Processed Foods
- Ni-dan Juku Curry: A Japanese-style curry mix that comes in cubes.
- Donburi-tei: Instant donburi (rice bowl) meals that come in a ready-to-heat pouch.
- Cream Stew Roux: A mix for making creamy stews.
Baby Formula
- ICREO Balance Milk: A powdered baby formula made by Glico's Icreo Co., Ltd.
Glico's Famous Ads
Glico has a very famous LED sign in Dōtonbori, Osaka. It's been a landmark since 1935. The sign shows the Glico running man on a blue track, with some of Osaka's famous places in the background. This giant sign has been updated many times. For example, it changed to celebrate the World Cup and to support Osaka's baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. Because the sign is so well-known, it's a popular spot for both tourists and locals to take photos.
Glico also sponsored the Japanese cartoon series Tetsujin 28 (which was known as Gigantor in other countries) from 1963 to 1966.
See also
In Spanish: Ezaki Glico para niños
- Pocky & Pretz Day, November 11 each year
- Glico Morinaga case
- Dōtonbori
