Den Fujita
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Den Fujita was born in Osaka in 1926; in 1956 he incorporated the luxury goods import business he had started as a student and became president of Fujita & Co. He was the head of an import trading firm with no restaurant experience. In May 1971, McDonald's Company (Japan) was established with equal investment from Fujita & Co. and McDonald's of the U.S., with Fujita as president. The company was launched on May 1 of that year in Minato Ward, Tokyo. He started out as founding president, with Fujita & Co. holding half the capital.
Selection
As founding president he had no predecessor. McDonald's of the U.S. chose the head of an import trading firm with no restaurant experience as its partner for entering Japan. In June 1971, the month after its founding, the company opened Hamburger University to train store operations staff, and in July opened Japan's first store in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. On July 14 it signed a license agreement with McDonald's of the U.S., gaining the use of its trademarks, trade name and know-how and the right to grant franchise sublicenses in Japan. Within two months of its founding it had secured the terms for running the Japanese business single-handedly.
Initiatives
From the opening of the first Ginza store in July 1971 the company expanded through company-operated stores, opening its first franchise store in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, in February 1976 and its first drive-through in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, in October 1977. In December 1982 it became the top company in Japan's restaurant industry, with combined company-operated and franchise sales of ¥70.2 billion. In October 1994 it announced a steep price cut on its main hamburgers, turning to low prices to draw customers. In July 2001 it listed on the JASDAQ market.
Career
Career
McDonald's Japan
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| May 1971 | President |
| Mar 2002 | Representative Director, Chairman |
References 3
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 日経ビジネス 1994年10月24日号 No.762「編集長インタビュー 藤田田氏［日本マクドナルド社長］」（日経BP）
- 日経ビジネス 1978年1月号 No.205「編集長インタビュー 藤田田氏［日本マクドナルド社長］」（日経BP）
- 日本マクドナルドホールディングス 有価証券報告書【沿革】（2005年12月期）