History of Business in Japan
For over 60 years, our company has led the domestic cold chain industry in Japan and supported the food retail industry.
* The claims "first in Japan," "a world first," "an industry first" are based on our own research at the time.
Before 1960
Rise of the cold chain business
1939
Yasuharu Nakagawa founded Nakagawa Kikai Co., Ltd.
1947
Toshio Iue founded SANYO Electric Works.
Image caption: From left in back row: Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and his brother-in-law, Toshio Iue
1950
SANYO Electric Works was incorporated as SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1953
Nakagawa Kikai Co., Ltd. was renamed Nakagawa Electric Corporation.
1959
Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. was founded.
1960
Started production of compressors for refrigerators and air conditioners.
1960
Started production of ice cream stocker (first in Japan).
1961
Started production of freezers and refrigerated display cabinets.
1962
Started production of refrigeration systems.
1963
Entered into a technical partnership with US-based Weber Case & Fixture for large freezers and refrigerated display cases.
1964
Started production of remote type display case with air curtain (first in Japan).
1964
Started production of prefabricated cold rooms.
1965
Started production of commercial microwave ovens.
1967
Started production of small ice makers and launched a business targeting the food service industry.
1968
Started production of counter top juice dispensers (first in Japan).
1968
Started production of cube ice makers (an industry first).
1968
Nakagawa Electric Corporation started production of vending machines.
1969
Started production of commercial freezers and refrigerators.
1970s
Rapid environmental changes and expansion of business opportunities
1971
Started production of commercial dishwashers.
1972
Nakagawa Electric Corporation was renamed Matsushita Refrigeration Company.
1972
Cold Chain Division was established at Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1973
Started production of air-cool remote semi-hermetic units.
1974
Started production of water-cool semi-hermetic multi units.
1980s
Business growth through the development of unique products
1983
SANYO Tokki Sales Co., Ltd. was founded.
1984
Started production of chilled displaycase (an industry first).
1986
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. merged.
1986
Developed cold roll boxes.
1989
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. transferred its Refrigeration Business Division to Matsushita Refrigeration Company.
1990s
Prompt response to emerging challenges
1990
Started production of chilled semi-multi-deck super showcases (an industry first).
1996
Cumulative compressor production exceeded 100 million units.
1996
Antibacterial handles and wire shelves introduced in the EV and UV Series commercial freezers and refrigerators (an industry first).
1997
Launched commercial kitchen equipment (ice makers and dishwashers)with an antibacterial door and hundle.
1997
Started production of vending machines for PET bottle beverages (an industry first).
1998
Launched Mini Kuradansu, a refrigerator with three temperature settings (an industry first).
1999
Started production of freezers dedicated to ice packs (an industry first).
1999
Bikkura, a large commercial freezer and refrigerator with center pillar free pass-through design (an industry first).
1999
Launched a dual-spin soft serve ice cream freezer (an industry first).
1999
Matsushita Food Service Systems Co., Ltd. (later Panasonic Food Appliances Co., Ltd.) was founded.
1999
Released a double-stage rotary compressor compatible with CO2 refrigerant (a world first).
1999
Launched a blast chiller.
2000s
Embarking on a new growth trajectory through business transformation
2000
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. made Matsushita Refrigeration Company a wholly owned subsidiary.
2000
Launched a counter top showcase (an industry first).
2002
Started production of remote monitoring controllers for refrigeration systems (an industry first).
2003
Launched Tatsujin Gama, a small high-temperature high-pressure cooker.
2004
SANYO Tokyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Appliances Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems Co., Ltd.) was founded.
2006
Started production of soft cream freezer with fruit jams (an industry first).
2008
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. was renamed Panasonic Corporation.
2009
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. became part of the Panasonic Group.
2009
SANYO Electric Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.) was founded.
2009
Developed a commercial inverter freezer using CO2 refrigerant (a world first)
2010
Started production of HFC-free condensing units using CO2 refrigerant (first in Japan).
2011
Panasonic Corporation made SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary.
2012
Panasonic Corporation merged with Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. to integrate the businesses of both companies, along with those of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
2015
Panasonic Eco Solutions Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. merged with Panasonic Food Appliances Co., Ltd. and was renamed Panasonic Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
2016
US-based Hussmann Corporation became part of the Panasonic Group.
2020
Discontinued production of vending machines.
Since 2021
Toward a new era of food infrastructure
2021
Nakagawa Electric Corporation was renamed Matsushita Refrigeration Company.
2022
Rebranded the cold chain business in Japan. Updated the symbol mark and began affixing the logo to all cold chain equipment.
2024
Launched a reach-in freezer showcase with a VIG energy-saving door (a world first).
2024
Area Cooling Solutions became part of the Panasonic Group and began operations as Panasonic Cold Chain Poland.
2025
Cumulative shipments of HFC-free condensing units using CO2 refrigerant reached 30,000 units.