[Exclusive Distribution] HighChem Launches Innovative Food Ingredients Made from Premium Hulless Oats in Japan

HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka; hereinafter "HighChem"), a global chemical trading and manufacturing company, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement in Japan with Shanghai Yuanshang Fengwu Food Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese food company specializing in the production and sale of oat-based products (hereinafter referred to as “Yuanshang Fengwu”).

Through this partnership, HighChem will begin marketing innovative food ingredients made primarily from Chinese-origin hulless oats, a premium oat variety. These include the Oat Flour Series, which enables 100% wheat replacement through proprietary formulation technology, and Oat Rice, a grain-based product with significant potential as an alternative to white rice. HighChem aims to introduce these products as new options for the Japanese food market.

A signing ceremony for this agreement was held at HighChem’s Tokyo headquarters on April 13, 2026. To mark the launch of these products, HighChem will also exhibit at FABEX Tokyo 2026 (The 29th FABEX 2026, Booth No. F-Y14), taking place at Tokyo Big Sight from April 15 (Wed.) to April 17 (Fri.), 2026. At the exhibition, visitors will be able to explore a range of innovative oat-based products, including bread ingredients that achieve a uniquely soft and chewy texture through proprietary processing technology.

HighChem has long focused on the exceptional health benefits of oats. Among the various oat varieties available worldwide, the company has chosen to specialize in hulless oats grown in northern China, which differ significantly from conventional hulled oat varieties commonly produced in Europe and North America.

Grown in harsh natural environments, hulless oats possess outstanding nutritional value and have long been consumed in China as staple foods, noodles, and traditional snacks. Their rich flavor and naturally satisfying taste profile are highly compatible with Japanese dietary preferences, which traditionally center around rice and wheat-based foods.

The Oat Flour Series introduced by HighChem incorporates a proprietary formulation technology that optimizes gluten addition, enabling 100% replacement of wheat flour while preserving the nutritional value of hulless oats.

Combining the characteristic roasted flavor of oats with an innovative soft and chewy texture achieved through advanced processing technology, these products offer a new food ingredient solution that successfully balances nutrition and taste.

The Oat Flour Series can be used as a 100% replacement for wheat flour across applications traditionally requiring bread flour, all-purpose flour, and cake flour.

In addition to its high dietary fiber content, the series offers excellent protein levels and can be used in a wide variety of applications, including bread, confectionery products, premixes, and dumpling wrappers.

Product Lineup:

• Oat Flour: For bread, confectionery, dim sum, Chinese noodles, and other wheat-replacement applications
• Whole Grain Oat Flour: For nutrient-rich bread, cereals, and related products
• Oat Bran Flour: For functional foods requiring enhanced dietary fiber content
• Oatmeal: For cereals, baking ingredients, and related applications

Yanmai Rice (Oat Rice) has long been enjoyed in China and can be prepared using cooking methods similar to those used for white rice. Going beyond the recent trend of using alternative grains as rice substitutes, Oat Rice offers a distinctive deep, roasted flavor that becomes more pronounced with every bite. HighChem proposes it as an ideal staple food alternative that helps supplement the dietary fiber often lacking in conventional white rice.

Hulless oats have historically been valued as a traditional grain due to their excellent satiety and were once used as a staple food for soldiers during military campaigns. In northern China, they have long been enjoyed in the form of whole-grain oat noodles known as Youmian. Today, their nutritional benefits are being rediscovered in urban China, where oat noodle restaurant chains with more than 400 locations have gained widespread popularity. The distinctive texture and high satiety offered by oat noodles create new opportunities for value-added development in health-oriented noodle and dim sum products.

Shanghai Yuanshang Fengwu Food Technology Co., Ltd. is an emerging Chinese food company that integrates oat cultivation, processing, and product development. Leveraging advanced processing technologies, the company offers an innovative portfolio of oat-based products and is recognized as a leader in China's rapidly growing health food market.

• Company Name: HighChem Company Limited
• Head Office: 11F Tokyo Toranomon Global Square, 1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka
• Business Description: Trading Business / Licensing Business / Catalyst Development, Mass Production & Contract Manufacturing / Green Chemical & Next-Generation Energy Development

For more information, please contact:

＜HighChem Company Limited Public Relations office＞

Ms. Kuroiwa (+81-90-6539-4213) TEL: +81-3-5251-8580 E-mail: koho@highchem.co.jp