Soy sauce boss Nagai saluted by Folsom City Council

The Folsom City Council honored outgoing Kikkoman Foods General Manager Kiotaka Nagai in a ceremony Oct. 28. After seven years running the Folsom Kikkoman plant on Glenn Drive, Nagai was called back to Japan to await assignment, said Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino. The company is the largest soy sauce producer worldwide. "Last month, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of a sister-city friendship with Piev del Grappa, Italy. There is another international friendship that we value very greatly and that is our friendship with Kikkoman Foods," said Mayor Sarah Aquino. "We've been so fortunate for the past seven years to have Mr. Nagai, a very active and engaged plant manager." The mayor read a letter of appreciation and congratulations for Nagai's distinguished leadership and contributions to Kikkoman and the Folsom community. Since assuming the role of plant manager in 2018, Nagai has guided his team to record production in shipping and volume, the highest in the facility's 25-year history in Folsom. Kikkoman was inducted into the Folsom Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame this year. Under Nagai's direction, the plant also advanced sustainability and operational excellence with wastewater improvement and new green energy sources through SMUD. "Your contributions have enriched our community beyond the plant gates," said Aquino, noting Kikkoman sponsors various Folsom events and programs like the annual City Christmas Tree Lighting, the Folsom Pro Rodeo and youth scholarships. Nagai thanked the city for the honor, saying, "Kikkoman has a policy to be a very valuable member of the local community."