From building a plant factory to running it as a business,
InLoCo will support you with our proprietary technology and expertise
Feel free to contact us if you would like to learn more, visit a plant factory, or have a consultation on building a plant factory and running it as a business.
If you are thinking about
entering the plant factory business
InLoCo has achieved business success
through its original technology and commercial expertise!
Our plant factories enable you to offer your consumers a stable supply of fresh produce all year round regardless of the location or the surrounding climate. This area holds the promise of opportunity. Examples of successful businesses in this sector can be rare because of high start-up and running costs or because of the limitations in the variety of vegetables that are suitable for cultivation. However, these issues can be resolved with an InLoCo plant factory. Our technology and expertise will help you create value-added products.
Plant factories are a solution for the world’s food problems
Putting a vision of the future into practice
| Problem | Key features of the plant factory |
|---|---|
| Population growth |
Efficient Food Production |
| Abnormal weather |
Less dependent on weather conditions |
| Aging farm operators |
Reduction of labor Low population areas |
| Problem | Key features of the plant factory |
|---|---|
| Environmental pollution Global warming |
Reduction in food miles |
| Agricultural issues |
Pesticide-free crop management |
| Food self-sufficiency |
Stable cultivation and production |
New initiatives aimed at 2020, 2030
Olympic food vision
- Local produce
- Sustainable agriculture
- Seasonal vegetables
- Fair trade
- Organic
- Nutritionally-balanced menu
Our plant factories have significant potential; a new initiative with results that cannot be achieved
by mass-produced vegetables grown in open fields.
Market demand for safe-to-eat food
Guaranteed quality for health-conscious consumers
Focusing on food safety and peace of mind for our daily food needs. These days, consumers closely scrutinize what they eat and are more interested in knowing about the traceability of their food—whether or not pesticides have been used and where their food is produced.
InLoCo’s plant factory supplies vegetables that are safe to eat/ultra-fresh/vitamin- and mineral-rich, with comprehensive hygiene control and quality-focused production expertise.
With InLoCo’s “store production for store consumption” model, the cultivation containers are set up close to the consumer, creating an environment where customers can visit the cultivation and production site and feel comfortable about the food that they are buying.
The plant factory offers a stable supply of fresh and delicious vegetables to health-conscious consumers whenever they want.
In addition, using Aquaponics research, we have combined fish farming techniques to develop an organic production model.
We are constantly developing innovative technologies in response to consumer needs, such as our initiatives for different types of fruits and other products.
Why the InLoCo factory is unique
Proven
commercially
InLoCo achieves profitability in just 3 years after a factory begins production with InLoCo’s comprehensive efficiency solution. InLoCo offers a commercial production plan: movable frames make the best use of the available factory area, and the layout takes account of work practices.
Making profits even with a small-scale factory
For individuals considering a commercial operation, we offer the means to make business profitable on a standalone basis regardless of factory size.
*The factory needs to be of a minimum scale for it to be commercially viable.
Support until project completion
With some factory design and construction companies, the job finishes once the installation is complete, without consideration of the actual operation of the facilities. InLoCo, however, gives its customers advice on operating the equipment post-installation, as well as on how to improve efficiency.
In addition
Efficient production of a wide range of high-quality products
With the help of our accumulated technology and experience, abundant varieties of vegetables can be produced in a limited space.
InLoCo grows and sells products under the “Delight Foods” brand and handles more than 20 different vegetable varieties.
Risk factors and how to deal with them
We share our advice and suggest approaches on how to run a successful operation efficiently
at a low cost on the basis of our experience of the risks and mistakes that can be made along the way.
Vegetables can be grown right next to the store
InLoCo’s plant factories come in different formats, which makes them flexible to customer requirements.
These include a container-based format or a renovation format
according to the scale required and the form and layout of the available land.
For example, it is possible to construct a plant factory in a location near the sale and consumption area, such as in a store.
By eliminating the distribution process, you can offer fresh and high-quality vegetables.
With the container format, you can even use the container as a salad restaurant—a place to sample the products!
Services menu
Self-managed business
Run by the customer
- Training Support Service
- Business Support Service
Franchise business
Run by the customer with commercial support and input from InLoCo
- Royalty Agreement (Fixed)
(Comprehensive support, with down payment) - Royalty Agreement (Variable)
(Comprehensive support, with down payment)
Outsourced business
Run by InLoCo on the customer’s request.
- Management agreement
(InLoCo pays a fixed fee/rent) - Variable agreement
(InLoCo pays a sales- or profit-based fee)
Three formats to choose from
InLoCo provides flexible plant factory designs to cater to client requirements in terms of objective,
location of construction, and size.
Small/Medium-scale
Container format
Recommended for:
- Anyone wanting to test vegetable production for research purposes before undertaking to build a factory.
- Anyone considering setting up a vegetable garden.
- Anyone considering setting up a plant factory attached to their restaurant.
For the effective utilization of land and test cultivation
This format requires the least amount of space and is ideal for testing purposes. The container can be matched to your requirements: ISO standard containers for easy transportation overseas or JIS standard containers that meet building certification requirements. The containers come readymade as a factory; therefore, this option has the shortest operational lead time when compared with other formats.
Medium/Large-scale
New-build format
Recommended for:
- Anyone considering the most productive and effective use of their land.
- Anyone who has already decided on their vegetable production objectives and how they will sell their produce.
Medium- and large-scale plant factories constructed according to the demands and features of the land
Depending on the scale, an efficient plant factory can be constructed and flexibly designed with a view to meet future requirements. The factory is designed from a floor plan, so it can be built with its operating requirements considered.
Small/Medium/Large-scale
Renovation format
Recommended for:
- People who have unused space such as vacant rooms or a factory floor
Refurbish unused buildings to make fresh and effective use of them as plant factories
We can design an efficient plant factory for you on the basis of the shape and size of your building space.
The factories can be designed to make full use of building space. Since there is no building construction, this is relatively inexpensive and can be made operational quickly.
Key steps to start of operations
Depending on the customer's situation, it generally takes approximately 5–8 months from preliminary research to harvesting.
| Building the factory | Services | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Business plan formulation (cultivation, sales channel, operation, and so on) |
Business plan formulation (cultivation, sales channel, operation, and so on) |
 |
Designing the buildings and facilities | Planning services suitable for cultivation, production, and operation |
 |
Procurement/customization of equipment | Formulation of training plan |
 |
Construction of building/Installation of electrical equipment/Construction of cultivation facilities | Training on growing and cultivation |
 |
Start of production | Advice on production, sales, and so on |
Key steps toward the agreement
Case Study
AEON Mall
Rycom Mall, Okinawa
Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom, the largest shopping mall in Okinawa, opened in April 2015 with a plant factory attached to a retail store on the basis of the theme of “food entertainment.” Fresh vegetables and salads are grown here by InLoCo and sold under its brand Delight Foods.
Adding value by emphasizing freshness
Monitors in the sales area display the harvest schedule for each day. This ensures that the freshness of the vegetables remains a key selling point, along with the benefits of being pesticide-free. Each vegetable is labeled with its harvest date and time so that customers can choose the freshest produce at all times.
Adjusting the amount of vegetables harvested according to the level of sales
Through continuous communications between the factory and the sales area each day, the staff members monitor the progress of sales and adjust the number of items produced so that there are always fresh vegetables on the shelves with nothing being sold out. This ensures that there is no excess harvesting and that product waste is drastically reduced.
Since many different types of vegetables can be cultivated in small amounts, there is a wide range of produce on sale that is matched to customer requirements. Vegetables can also be combined and sold as salads.
Product Lineup
Delight Foods
InLoCo cultivates vegetables in its own directly managed factories and distributes these under the Delight Foods brand in Okinawa, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong.
Agricultural Products
-
Ice Plant -
Baby Leaves -
Wasabi Leaves -
Arugula (Rocket) -
Spinach -
Stick Chrysanthemum -
Kale -
Basil -
Beets -
Mini Bok Choy -
Green Oak -
Watercress
Delicatessen items
-
Veg-wrap (Ice Plant) -
Veg-wrap (Basil) -
Veg-wrap (Arugula) -
Three types of veg-wrap -
Delicious Kale Salad -
Fragrant Chrysanthemum Salad -
My Favorite Watercress Salad -
Spicy Wasabi Salad