 |
 The
brief history of Tonton® Gourmet Sauces
Yoshi (President of Argo Century Inc.) started
the first authentic Japanese Restaurant called Tokyo in Charlotte,
NC in 1984. For 14 years, the restaurant was chosen as “Best
Japanese Restaurant” and “Best Sushi” and
published to numerous publications year after year. Since so
many patrons of Tokyo restaurant had requested his sauce and
dressing, Yoshi started packaging the sauce in a glass jar to
meet the demand. Finally, Yoshi decided to market his sauce
to retailers with help of Mayumi Burnham, then a loyal customer
of Tokyo (current Vice President of Argo)
Being of native Japanese, Yoshi and Mayumi
have truly believed the quality of his Sauce, using his family
recipe, to be far superior than those available in the United
States. To test the American market, Mayumi started to enter
the NASFT’s (National Association for Specialty Food Trade)
most prestigious award contest in 2000. Even though it was a
first time entry, Tonton® Ginger Dressing and Vinaigrette
received two Finalist awards from NASFT in the category of “Outstanding,
Oil, Vinegar, and Salad Dressing“. Again in 2002, Tonton®
Vinaigrette was able to capture the Finalist award. Needless
to say, these awards gave Tonton® instant recognition and
prestige, but it also provided an opportunity to exhibit at
the Fancy Food Show in NY and to expand their customer base.
Tonton is available nationally at fine retailers like Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Williams-Sonoma, Harris Teeter and Balducci as well as fine stores in Canada, Europe and Japan.
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