COMPANY PROFILE:
Teppei, LLC was incorporated in 2009 by two individuals who were committed to the concept of developing a product line of organic and natural Asian sauces. The company’s name, “Teppei” is Japanese for “flat irons” which not only reflects the iconic rock formations found in Boulder, Colorado, but also serves as a standing acknowledgement of Boulder itself as the epicenter of the organic and natural foods lifestyle.
Initially, Teppei focused its efforts on introducing raw, blue agave nectar to Japan. Soon to follow were the introduction of maple-flavored agave and honey-flavored agave. Product development continued and in 2012 Teppei began production of the Karami line of products for the U.S. market.
PARTNERS:
Kei Izawa: Founder, President and CEO
Teppei’s founder and CEO, Kei Izawa, a Japanese national, decided to move to Boulder with his wife and children to embrace Boulder’s uniquely focused healthy lifestyle. As a former international automobile executive, with substantial international trade expertise, he immediately identified the opportunity to export Boulder’s lifestyle. He undertook a transformation by immersing himself over the next decade in the city’s culture and he emerged as one of Japan’s leading advocates in healthy living. As a result, a Mexican company contacted him to lead their efforts to introduce agave nectar to Japan, and thus began the journey that would eventually lead to the formation of Teppei, LLC.
Jason Takaki: Co-Founder, VP Operations and General Counsel
Jason Takaki is a Colorado native and fourth generation Japanese-American. As an attorney, he assisted Kei in many of his endeavors and perhaps by osmosis became a proponent of eating healthy and nutritious foods rather than processed and chemically enhanced food products. When the opportunity to work with Kei as a partner in exporting agave nectar to the Japanese market, he took it and never looked back.
Teppei, LLC was incorporated in 2009 by two individuals who were committed to the concept of developing a product line of organic and natural Asian sauces. The company’s name, “Teppei” is Japanese for “flat irons” which not only reflects the iconic rock formations found in Boulder, Colorado, but also serves as a standing acknowledgement of Boulder itself as the epicenter of the organic and natural foods lifestyle.
Initially, Teppei focused its efforts on introducing raw, blue agave nectar to Japan. Soon to follow were the introduction of maple-flavored agave and honey-flavored agave. Product development continued and in 2012 Teppei began production of the Karami line of products for the U.S. market.
PARTNERS:
Kei Izawa: Founder, President and CEO
Teppei’s founder and CEO, Kei Izawa, a Japanese national, decided to move to Boulder with his wife and children to embrace Boulder’s uniquely focused healthy lifestyle. As a former international automobile executive, with substantial international trade expertise, he immediately identified the opportunity to export Boulder’s lifestyle. He undertook a transformation by immersing himself over the next decade in the city’s culture and he emerged as one of Japan’s leading advocates in healthy living. As a result, a Mexican company contacted him to lead their efforts to introduce agave nectar to Japan, and thus began the journey that would eventually lead to the formation of Teppei, LLC.
Jason Takaki: Co-Founder, VP Operations and General Counsel
Jason Takaki is a Colorado native and fourth generation Japanese-American. As an attorney, he assisted Kei in many of his endeavors and perhaps by osmosis became a proponent of eating healthy and nutritious foods rather than processed and chemically enhanced food products. When the opportunity to work with Kei as a partner in exporting agave nectar to the Japanese market, he took it and never looked back.
Teppei LLC
www.teppeiorganics.com
Boulder CO USA
Boulder CO USA
