Brand Story
During Japan’s Edo period, plums were considered a sacred offering for the gods at Lunar New Year. Back then, the Tanabe Domain appointed the southern “Ume Wholesale House” (plum wholesaler) to supply top-quality roasted plums for the nobility, each stamped with the Tanabe seal. These plums were treasured delicacies, highly prized by royalty and aristocrats.
Our brand, “Ume Wholesale House,” was founded by Cheng Song Tai Foods and is inspired by our 50-year legacy as a trusted supplier of plums to major Japanese food companies. We hope to revive the spirit of the Edo-era Tanabe Ume Wholesale House right here in Taiwan.
By combining fresh, locally grown green plums with the meticulous Japanese craft of plum making, we offer premium plums once reserved for ancient nobility. With elegant packaging and affordable prices, we bring a healthy and delicious new choice of plums to the Taiwanese market.
Company Profile
“If we don’t transform, we might have to close down!” Chairman Liao Ruei-Ching once said with concern. Faced with rising labor costs and Japanese orders shifting to Chinese manufacturers, Ume Wholesale House made the decision in 2009 to return to Chiayi and restart our factory.
We opened our factory to visitors and committed ourselves to health and flavor, avoiding unnecessary additives. Ume Wholesale House uses traditional sun-drying and salt-curing methods passed down through generations to turn fresh, local green plums into healthy, delicious products.
“I often wondered why the plums we export to Japan are free from unnecessary additives, while those made for Taiwanese consumers are full of them!” Chairman Liao decided it was time for a change. Drawing on nearly half a century of pickling expertise for the Japanese market, and taking advantage of Meishan’s unique geography and the abundant sunshine of Chiayi along the Tropic of Cancer, we use only the best local ingredients. Our production process is transparent, so every plum lover can see how our plums are made, smell their fresh aroma, and taste their natural goodness.
Recent food safety incidents have shown that our commitment to health and natural ingredients is the right path.
We insist on not using preservatives, saccharin, artificial sweeteners, colorants, bleaching agents, or flavorings to speed up production. Instead, we stick to traditional salt-curing and sun-drying, while using modern technology to strictly control moisture, acidity, and sugar levels. Although this process is more time-consuming and labor-intensive, it’s these details that create our unique and delicious flavor.
This dedication, while increasing costs and production time, has won back many customers who once avoided plums due to additives. Several major food companies in Taiwan now use our plums for their clean, healthy production process—even incorporating them into European-style breads for international competitions.
Milestones
1976
Cheng Song Tai Food Industry Co., Ltd. officially began operations, focusing on the production and processing of pickled foods, including green plums, ginger, bamboo shoots, and other fruits and vegetables.
1981
Implemented enhanced food hygiene management standards and established a comprehensive quality control system for Cheng Song Tai.
1992
As the golden decade of the plum industry came to an end, Cheng Song Tai was compelled to temporarily withdraw from Taiwan.
1993
Invested in the HCF factory (Hsu Chuan Foods Co., Ltd.) in Thailand, producing plums, ginger, eggplants, and other agricultural products for export to Japan.
1994
Established Hop Fung Foods Industrial Co., Ltd. in Puning, Guangdong, China, specializing in plum production. Entered into technical cooperation with Japanese partners, advancing to finished product manufacturing and supplying Japanese convenience stores and major supermarkets.
2006
Building on years of superior production techniques, successful overseas marketing experience, and top international quality standards, the company returned to its roots and established “Ume Wholesale House Foods Co., Ltd.” in its hometown as the new headquarters.
2012
Renovated and rebuilt the old factory, establishing the “Ume Wholesale House Plum Vitality Hall,” which began trial operations in December. Received the Executive Yuan’s Silver Award for English Service Certification.
2013
In July, received “Tourism Factory Certification” from the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
In September, the Ume Wholesale House Plum Vitality Hall officially opened.
2016
In February, began implementing ISO22000 (International Food Safety Management System) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
2017
In November, achieved SGS certification for ISO22000 and HACCP food safety management systems
