About Us
Vision
Bring Japan Closer
N.A. Sales has been working to educate and familiarize its customers with the wonderful foods of Japan since the company was established in 1970. We will continue to support our customers through our extensive knowledge base and product
selection to Bring Japan Closer.
Greeting
Thank you for visiting our website. Our company has been serving the San Francisco Bay Area restaurant community as a source for Japanese foods, sake, tableware, kitchen supplies, and restaurant management expertise for 50 years. We hold a unique position as a Japanese food wholesaler.
As professionals in the restaurant business industry, our employees possess the knowledge, products, and sources that other companies do not. We continually strive to evolve not only with market demands but, more importantly, with our customers’ needs. Although the restaurant industry has changed over the years, our commitment to our customers remains unchanged. We make every effort to support our clients by working closely with them to anticipate and provide the products and services they need most during these challenging times.
I hope that this website will serve as a platform for communication and information exchange with our customers. We readily accept special requests from our customers and will always strive to meet each restaurant’s needs as a ‘handy’ wholesaler. I am counting on your continued guidance and support.
N.A.Sales Co., Inc.
Tetsuo Mochizuki, President
History
N.A. Sales Co., Inc. was established in 1970 by the three Inaba Brothers. They foresaw the development of the Japanese food industry around the San Francisco Bay Area and founded N.A. Sales to meet the needs and demands of the emerging Japanese restaurant industry. While the Inaba Brothers had already set up North American Trading Co., Inc. and North American Food Distributing Co., Inc. in Sacramento, focusing primarily on selling foods, sake, tableware, and kitchenware to retail stores, they recognized the necessity to cater specifically to the rapidly growing restaurant industry in the Bay Area.
At that time, there were only 80 Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area, but this number has since increased exponentially, reflecting the widespread influence of Japanese food culture in the United States. Consequently, we are intensifying our efforts in product development and expanding our operations to provide top-notch services to our customers as specialists in restaurant wholesaling.
Furthermore, the Japanese food culture has undergone significant changes, and our company has consistently adapted to these changes throughout the years.
It has always been our goal to be at the forefront of the Japanese restaurant supply industry. Initially, our product line only included basic food ingredients with simple applications, such as unagi for sushi and tsukemono (pickles) for bentos. Over time, we adapted by introducing products to meet emerging demands, such as the ‘sushi boom’ that started in the mid-1970s. As Japanese cuisine gained popularity beyond the Japanese community, we expanded our product line to include unique items, like colorful soybean papers designed specifically for those uncomfortable with eating roasted seaweed.
We proudly became the official dealer of TSUKIJI MASAMOTO knives for professional chefs. Responding promptly to the ‘sake boom’ in the 2000s, we fortified our alcohol product line, now offering over 400 different types of premium sake from all over Japan to cater to the subjective preferences of any customer. Our extensive range also includes traditional Japanese-style earthenware. Recognizing the rising popularity of Asian fusion style restaurants, we introduced a vast line of white porcelain dishware.
While we highly value our ability to adapt to the changes in the world of Japanese cuisine in the Bay Area, we are equally committed to educating those aspiring to enter this culinary realm. Since 2003, we have organized an annual restaurant show. This event attracts restaurant owners, manufacturers, brokers, and agents from both Japan and the U.S. Many participate to provide our existing and potential customers with the opportunity to learn more about the products we offer through food sampling, sake tasting, and engaging demonstrations. We see this event as a true hub for education, discovery, and mutual benefit.
Our company operates with the perspective of a restaurant manager, aiming to provide the highest quality goods at the most affordable prices. Our objective is to foster close and cooperative relationships with clients to offer the best services possible. We appreciate your ongoing support and guidance. Let’s Bring Japan Closer, together!!
