The story of Kagome Foods Portugal is the story of two pioneers who, separated by decades and continents, shared the same conviction: nature offers us the finest ingredients, and our job is to honour them.
In 1957, a group of visionary Portuguese entrepreneurs founded HIT in Castanheira do Ribatejo, believing that the fertile plains of the Ribatejo had the potential to produce world-class tomato. They were right.
Over six decades, HIT grew to become one of the most significant tomato processing companies on the Iberian Peninsula — known for the consistency of its products, the strength of its partnerships, and the quality its customers could rely on.
That legacy has not disappeared. It is in our DNA.
In 1899, in Japan, Ichitaro Kanie faced a problem: he had tomatoes he could not sell. Rather than give up, he transformed them. He founded Kagome — and began a journey of over 120 years of innovation, dedication to quality, and deep respect for nature.
Today, Kagome operates in Japan, the United States, Australia and Portugal. In every country, the same philosophy: working with nature’s gifts to create products that make a difference.
Kagome’s acquisition of HIT in 2024 was not merely a business transaction. It was the natural coming together of two companies with deeply aligned values: quality above all else, respect for nature, and a long-term commitment to customers.
As Kagome Foods Portugal, we retain the Iberian roots that make us unique — and gain the global reach, technology and network that allow us to go further than we ever imagined.
