Foundation (1933)

UCC traces its roots to 1933, when Tadao Ueshima founded Ueshima Tadao Shoten in Kobe. Originally dealing in imported Western foods, Ueshima became fascinated with coffee after tasting it for the first time. He believed coffee would become an everyday beverage in Japan and shifted his business toward roasting and selling coffee. [1]

During World War II, coffee imports into Japan stopped, temporarily halting the business. After the war, Ueshima quickly resumed importing coffee and expanded rapidly as coffee consumption recovered. [1]

In 1951, the company officially became Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd. [1]

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, UCC helped popularize coffee among Japanese consumers by:

• Opening coffee shops

• Selling roasted coffee to households

• Building automated roasting factories

• Promoting coffee through nationwide advertising

Its marketing slogan emphasized making coffee part of everyday life rather than a luxury product. [1]

One of UCC’s greatest achievements came in 1969, when it introduced the world’s first canned coffee beverage. [1]

The idea reportedly came after founder Tadao Ueshima noticed how inconvenient glass bottles were for commuters. He envisioned coffee packaged in cans that people could enjoy anywhere.

The launch coincided with Expo ’70 in Osaka, where canned coffee became a major success and forever changed Japan’s ready-to-drink beverage market. Today, canned coffee is a defining part of Japanese convenience store culture. [1]

UCC has consistently introduced innovations across the coffee industry, including:

• Japan’s first fully automated coffee factory

• Vacuum-packed coffee

• Specialty coffee retail stores

• Coffee education programs

• Coffee museums

• Sustainable coffee farming

• Hydrogen roasting technology (introduced commercially in 2025) [1]

Beginning in the 1980s, UCC expanded internationally by establishing operations across:

• Hong Kong

• Singapore

• Taiwan

• China

• United States

• Australia

• New Zealand

• Vietnam

• Indonesia

• Thailand

• Philippines

• Malaysia

Today, UCC supplies coffee to cafés, restaurants, hotels, offices, retailers, and consumers worldwide. [1] [2]

Unlike many coffee brands that only purchase beans, UCC owns and manages coffee farms. [1]

These include:

• Blue Mountain Estate in Jamaica (opened 1981)

• Kona Coffee Estate in Hawaii (opened 1989)

Owning farms gives UCC greater control over bean quality, traceability, and sustainable cultivation practices. [1]

UCC manufactures a broad range of coffee products, including:

Coffee Beans

• Whole beans

• Ground coffee

• Specialty coffee

• Single-origin coffee

Instant Coffee

• Freeze-dried coffee

• Stick coffee

• Instant blends

Ready-to-Drink

• Milk coffee

• Black coffee

• Latte

• Sweetened coffee

• Canned coffee

• Bottled coffee

Coffee Capsules

• Single-serve capsules

• Office coffee systems

Commercial Coffee

• Coffee for cafés

• Restaurants

• Hotels

• Offices

• Convenience stores

Besides manufacturing coffee, UCC also operates cafés under several brands, including:

• UCC Coffee Shop

• Ueshima Coffee House

• Mellow Brown Coffee

• UCC Café Mercado

• COFFEE LOVER’s PLANET

These cafés are found in Japan and several Asian markets. [2]

UCC has made sustainability a major strategic priority. [1]

Its initiatives include:

• Sustainable coffee sourcing

• Zero-deforestation commitments

• Farmer partnerships

• Climate resilience

• Coffee education

• Conservation projects

• Goal of 100% sustainably sourced UCC-branded coffee by 2030 [1]

UCC invests heavily in coffee knowledge through:

• UCC Coffee Academy

• UCC Coffee Museum

• Barista training

• Roasting education

• Brewing certification

• Research and development

The company also operates educational facilities in several countries, including the Philippines. [1]

UCC’s mission centers on enriching people’s lives through coffee, emphasizing quality, innovation, sustainability, and the belief that coffee can create meaningful moments and positive social impact. Its current corporate message is “Every coffee, every moment.” [1]

UCC is widely credited with shaping Japan’s modern coffee culture. Its introduction of canned coffee transformed how people consumed coffee on the go, while its investments in farming, roasting, education, and sustainability have made it one of the world’s leading integrated coffee companies. More than 90 years after its founding, UCC remains a major force in the global coffee industry, combining Japanese craftsmanship with a worldwide coffee network. [1]

1. History | Company information | UCC Ueshima Coffee Co.,Ltd.

2. UCC COFFEE SHOP CO., (HK) LTD.