The life blood of any business is its products. Seizing the opportunity offered by a period of rapid economic growth in China, we launched into the market with a timely and relevant product: Ajisen Ramen.  By introducing a popular range of Japanese ramen and dishes, and fine-tuning them to satisfy the diverse culinary tastes of the Chinese people based on continued research and development, we have been able to turn the ramen concept into an instant success. To ensure consistent quality, the business was standardized and industrialized, which has helped us achieve economy of scale while enabling

Ajisen (China) has listed its shares on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 2007, making it the first China-based restaurant chain operator to have entered the international capital markets. That same year, we came first in the list of top 50 fast-growing enterprises in Asia as rated by the BusinessWeek magazine.

The public listing not only marked a new phase of rapid growth in the development of Ajisen (China), it has also enhanced our brand and strengthened our leadership position in the market. In the international financial community, our business proposition and our potential for growth have attracted support from investors across Asia, Europe and North America. In 2008, our market capitalization exceeded HK$14 billion.

While we have been successful in harnessing the benefits of economy of scale through putting in place a standardized and industrialized operation, we have made sure the enlarged scale did not come at the cost of product quality. At Ajisen (China), we take that pledge for quality seriously. To keep serving up classic and fresh dishes to cater to our diverse customer base, we have assembled a team of professionals dedicated to market research, and as much as 20 percent of the items on our menu are updated each year. The consistent quality of our signature cream white soup, scrumptious yet nourishing, is a testament to our pledge for maintaining high standards.

After more than a decade of rapid growth, Ajisen (China) is today a major enterprise with some 10,000 employees, and over 300 stores across more than 40 major cities. Building on our strength in areas such as brand positioning, product range, customer service and superior dining environment, we have been able to win over new customers each day.

With eyes fixed on the horizon, we are making definite steps towards becoming the enterprise we aspire to be. Working together, I have every confidence that we can write yet another glorious chapter in the rich history of Ajisen (China).