TOKYO Japanese meat purveyors Itoham Foods and Starzen are preparing to export up to twice as much wagyu beef to counter the impact of a stagnant home market while satisfying the global appetite for the high-end product.
Itoham will increase its number of meat-processing centers to six from four. The plants will conform to U.S. sanitary standards, which are stricter than those for Japan and other Asian markets. The company plans to develop demand by producing thinner cuts of wagyu than previously.
