David City’s Henningsen Food Helping to Further Nebraska’s Relationship with Japan

DAVID CITY - Henningsen Foods hosted Nebraska and Japanese officials to announce a partnership with the University of Nebraska on Tuesday. Governor Pete Ricketts shared comments outside of Henningsen Foods' David City location, before the official announcement. Ricketts said during their last trade mission to Japan, the University of Nebraska Vice Chancellor Michael Boehm was able to attend, and meet with Japanese officials. "That's what we want to do, is continue to expand those relationships, and we also want to remember that Japanese companies have invested tremendously in our state," noted Ricketts. "Since 2010, Japanese companies have initiated $4.4 Billion in our state." Henningsen Foods is a subsidiary of Kewpi, a company well-known in Japan for it's Mayonnaise. Ricketts also added that Kewpi is the largest Japanese consumer of soy bean oil, with 70 percent of the oil they use, coming from Nebraska. The partnership will be a collaborative effort between the Japanese company and the University, to continue growing trade relations with Nebraska's current and future ag producers. Consultant General of Japan in Chicago Mr. Naoki Ito and Henningsen Foods President Jim Harshman were also in attendance for the announcement on Tuesday, and shared their excitement about future growth and collaboration.