The company currently uses a “TOMIN” liquid freezer for about 5 to 6 hours per day to freeze  450 kg of “Kuro Satsuma” chicken per day.

 

Initially, our group company was using an ordinary air-freezer, and we felt that it was so-so quality. However, as locals, we wanted to achieve the taste of freshly processed chilled fish, so we tried various rapid freezers, including CAS technology freezers. When we tasted the samples frozen with “TOMIN”, we were surprised by the texture. At first, we were skeptical about whether freezing would make much of a difference, but we were surprised at how different it was.

 

Based on the idea of AP Company’s “Mission to pursue what the food should be”, we have conducted tastings at the product department and processing companies. Normally, when you eat ordnance air-blast frozen food, it feels watery, however with “TOMIN”, it does feel a little inferior to chilled, but we determined that it was as close as possible to chilled. For distribution, there is the issue of the expiration date of chicken, which spoils quickly, so we believe that “TOMIN” freezing is the most suitable method. Currently, the only place we ship is Tsukada Farm, a group company, but we are considering selling to other companies in the future, and in order to set ourselves apart, we also state in our brochures that our products are “processed in a Liquid (alcohol) Freezer”.

 

The quality of our products has actually improved dramatically since we started using “TOMIN”. We had confidence in our existing products, but they dripped when thawed under running water, and even more dripped when seasoned, so the introduction of the “TOMIN” made a difference in texture and feel, which was immediately apparent to the people preparing the food in the stores. Also, the performance of the machine is amazing, but the speed of response by the sales staff and technicians is also amazing. Even though the company is located in Yokohama, they come to Kagoshima, and I appreciate the fact that they follow up on everything from product creation proposals to consultation on equipment customization, even to the point where other manufacturers do not respond. When we were eating at the store with the producer, we were very happy to hear a customer who was eating next to us say, “This is very good chicken meat.

 

Kagoshima Banz plans to add high value to its products as part of the sixth industry, such as Kagoshima’s fruits and vegetables, vegetables, and Kurobuta pork, with Kagoshima’s KuroSatsuma chicken as the main product, and is also considering the possibility of shipping Kurobuta pork from selected producers, which they buy whole, for processing and sales, with overwhelming product power and brand.