Umios and Wah Kong Establish Strategic Joint Venture in Malaysia’s Pet Food Market
Tokyo & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – September 30, 2026 – Umios Corporation (formerly Maruha Nichiro) has partnered with Wah Kong Corporation to form a strategic joint venture focused on Pet World International Sdn. Bhd. (PWI), a leading pet food company in Malaysia.
Umios has invested approximately JPY 11.4 billion to acquire a 51% stake in the company through a newly formed holding entity. PWI is currently the second-largest player in Malaysia’s pet food market and the foremost among local firms, maintaining a BRC-certified manufacturing facility. The company operates with around 350 employees, has a presence in over 10,000 retail stores, and recorded sales of about JPY 12.4 billion for the year ending September 2025.
The joint venture aims to leverage Umios’s expertise in wet pet food alongside PWI’s strengths in dry food. This alignment aims to enhance product offerings and allows for comprehensive development across various pet food segments. The integration of their respective sales channels, product lines, manufacturing, and R&D is anticipated to accelerate growth throughout Asia. Umios sets an operating profit target of JPY 10 billion and a return on invested capital (ROIC) goal of 18% by March 2028.
Choy Peng Yew, CEO of PWI, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that Umios’s capabilities will complement PWI’s strengths, and together they can expand PWI’s reach beyond Malaysia.
Kimihiro Takaya from Umios highlighted PWI’s significant brand strength in Malaysia and how the partnership aligns with their strategic vision to enhance their presence in Asia’s pet food sector.
Japan Corporate Advisory Institute, Ltd. (JCAI) acted as the financial advisor for this transaction, focusing on transaction strategy and negotiations, which helped facilitate the partnership.
For further information, visit the JCAI website or their LinkedIn page.
Media Contact: pr@jcai.co.jp
