Lotte Ventures Japan Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takashi Sawada) hereby announces that it has executed an investment in RiceWine Inc., the producer and distributor of the sake brand “HINEMOS,” through a third-party allotment of new shares.
Founded in 2018, RiceWine launched “HINEMOS” in 2019 under the brand concept of “sake that accompanies time.” This concept reflects the management team’s own experience of feeling overwhelmed by the wide variety of sake labels and their desire to make sake more accessible and straightforward. As a D2C sake business, RiceWine delivers products directly to customers through its e-commerce platform and pop-up stores, surpassing 150,000 bottles in cumulative sales to date.
By developing products and branding centered around flavor profiles tailored to specific times of day—an approach that clearly differentiates itself from conventional industry practices—the company has continued to expand sales. In addition, RiceWine carefully incorporates customer feedback to develop and launch limited-edition products tailored to specific occasions and consumption scenarios. In 2021, the company renovated a refrigerated warehouse to establish a year-round brewing system (“four-season brewing”), achieving significant operational efficiencies through fundamental revisions to raw materials and production processes. Guided by its mission to “transform everyday life around the world through sake,” RiceWine has also begun expanding sales into China and Taiwan.
RiceWine is led by CEO Yuta Sakai and a management team with extensive expertise and experience in the field, operating with strong teamwork. In light of the company’s investment in facilities enabling four-season brewing, its innovative approach to redefining sake flavors, and its pursuit of distinctive branding, we believe RiceWine has strong growth potential not only in Japan but also internationally, which led to our decision to invest.
As a company engaged in the food sector, we intend to support RiceWine’s further growth from multiple perspectives, including potential collaborations with existing businesses within the Lotte Group. We will continue to identify and support entrepreneurs who are sincerely committed to achieving bold visions and ambitious goals.
For further details regarding this funding, please refer to RiceWine’s official announcement.
[Company Overview of RiceWine Inc.]
Company Name: RiceWine Inc.
Location: 138-25 Kiyanagi, Odawara City, Kanagawa, Japan
Representative: Yuta Sakai, Representative Director & CEO
Established: August 2, 2018
Business: Production of the sake brand “HINEMOS”
URL: https://ricewine.co.jp/
