SATO FOODS CO., LTD.
2923・Standard Market・Foods
Governance
Company with a Board of Corporate Auditors (audit & supervisory board) structure, having an accounting auditor. Comprised of 9 directors (including 2 outside directors) and 4 corporate auditors (including 2 outside corporate auditors). The company has adopted an executive officer system and has established a system for agile decision-making through the Managing Directors' Meeting, Management Strategy Meeting, and Department/Section Managers' Meeting. No nomination committee or compensation committee has been established.
Risk Management
The Sustainability Promotion Committee, established in June 2024, is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing sustainability-related risks. High-priority risks are shared at the Division Heads Liaison Meeting and the Board of Corporate Auditors, and reported to the Board of Directors at least once a year. The Internal Control Audit Office, which reports directly to the President and Representative Director, conducts periodic audits based on the "Risk Management Regulations" and "Internal Audit Regulations," and has established a system to immediately report to the Board of Directors and corporate auditors upon discovery of legal violations or similar issues.
Shareholder Returns
The year-end dividend for FY2026 (ending April 2026) is ¥75 per share (ordinary dividend of ¥75, no commemorative dividend), with total dividends of ¥378 million and a payout ratio of 13.5%. The dividend for FY2027 (ending April 2027) is undecided at this time. A small amount of share buybacks was conducted (¥207 thousand in the current period).
Dividend Policy
The company positions shareholder returns as an important management priority, with a basic policy of maintaining stable dividends on a continuing basis while enhancing internal reserves. Although the basic approach is to pay dividends twice a year, an interim dividend and a year-end dividend, because the mainstay product, packaged mochi, is a seasonal product and it is difficult to generate profit in the second quarter, the company has historically paid only a year-end dividend. For FY2026 (ending April 2026), an ordinary dividend of ¥75 was implemented (total dividends of ¥378 million, payout ratio of 13.5%). Recent results: FY2025 (ended April 2025) ¥70 (ordinary dividend of ¥65 plus a commemorative dividend of ¥5 for the 75th anniversary of founding, ¥353 million); FY2024 (ended April 2024) ¥60 (¥303 million). Regarding the dividend for FY2027 (ending April 2027), in light of an uncertain outlook due to geopolitical risk, elevated energy prices, rising labor and logistics costs, and soaring raw material prices, the dividend is undecided at this time, and the company states it will announce it promptly once a reasonable estimate becomes possible.
ESG
Under the "Sustainability Basic Policy" established in 2021, the company has identified six materiality issues: consideration for the global environment, food safety and security, promotion of diverse human resources, a supportive work environment, contribution to society and local communities, and enhanced governance. All plants have obtained FSSC22000 certification, and the company is promoting CO2 reduction measures such as LED lighting, solar power generation, and the use of biomass ink. In FY2025 (ending April 2025), results showed a female manager ratio of 1.1% (target: 15%), a male childcare leave uptake rate of 20.0% (target: 35%), and a gender pay gap of 52.6% (target: 85%), indicating large gaps versus targets; efforts toward achieving these quantitative targets remain a challenge.
Last updated: July 21, 2026