History

1975	Ryozo Kuze starts a ski lodge business in Madarao Kogen.
1979	Mayumi Kuze’s homemade jams well received, production and sale of jams begins.
1980	Sales network expanded to resort areas throughout Nagano Prefecture.
1981	Sales network expanded nationwide.
1982	Madarao Kogen Farm Ltd. established in the city of Nakano.
1985	Construction project for head office, production facility, and farm begins in the village of Samizu. Formation of a long-term vision with Samizu Village
1986	Companies invited to Samizu Village to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the village government. St.Cousair receives the Design Association President’s Award at the prefectural design exhibition titled “Proposal for Village Space.”
1987	Completed acquisition of 16,000 square meters of land for site of head office, factory and office. Construction begins. Announced new, low-sugar jam (39% sugar content).
1988	April: Construction of head office completed. Relocation to the new building. October: License for wine testing and production obtained, production of first batch.
1989	May: Farm Resort Co., Ltd. established. Restaurant St. Cousair opened. August: Agricultural production corporation Samizu Wine Production Farm established, begin managing the farm.
1990	Winery, store and barbecue house built. Fruit wine production license obtained (with a fixed term), full-scale production begun.
1992	June: Increased capital to 70 million yen.
1994	March: Awarded an honorable mention at the National Tax Bureau’s Western-style Sake Tasting Competition. June: Licensed to produce fruit wine.
1996	April: Licensed to produce liqueurs.
1997	April: Obtained license for Olympic Games, Released a limited number of specially-made jams.
1999	July: Karuizawa store opened.
2000	February: All employees visit Napa Valley in the US. Begin importing and selling California wines. November: Capital increased to 32 million yen.
2003	April: Established and started operation of St. Cousair Patisserie and St. Cousair Bakery.
2005	Completion of the St. Cousair Chapel. October: Company name changed to “St. Cousair Inc.”
2006	Established “Former Karuizawa Club Holdings LLC”.
2007	July: St.Cousair Factory Outlet Mita store opened at Premium Outlet Mita as a food outlet store.
2008	June: Increased capital to 36.5 million yen.
2010	Established St. Cousair (Ningbo) Commerce and Trade Co. in Ningbo, China. November: Reduced capital to 100 million yen.
2011	July: Won the Grand Prize at the Manufacturing Awards NAGANO
2013	February: St. Cousair Apple Cidres certified Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. Began Franchising and Owner Franchising business. November: Won the 10th Japan Partnership Awards and Grand Prix for charity jam business. Acquired a 30,000 tsubo site and factory in Shinano-machi, Nagano Prefecture. December: Kuze Fuku & Co.’s first store opened at AEON MALL Makuhari Shin Toshin
2016	November: Won the Corporate and Business Brand Category Award at the Shinshu Brand Awards 2016
2017	April: St. Cousair Oregon Orchards, Inc. (SCOO) established (Oregon, USA) May: Production of Iizuna Apple Cider Brandy begins June: First shipment to Japan from St. Cousair Oregon facility. August: Reception party held in commemoration of SCOO’s entry into the U.S. market. September: Signed a partnership agreement with Nara Prefecture.
2018	June: Ryozo Kuze made Chairman of the Board. Ryota Kuze named President and CEO. August: “Iizuna Apple Cidre 2017 Cidre Fuji,” “Iizuna Apple Cidre 2017 Fuji/Takasaka Apple,” and “St. Cousair Apple Cidre” win 2 stars at JAPAN CIDER AWARDS 2018. September: SCOO begins selling products at “OYATSUPAN Bakers.” October “Iizuna Apple Brandy” released. December: SCOO company name changed to “St. Cousair, Inc” (SCI).
2019	January: Start of SCI’s E-commerce business April: Won the Bronze Award for “Iizuna Apple Brandy blanche 2018” at the Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition. Received Gold Award for “St. Cousair Chardonnay 2017”, “Ale Rouge 2014” and “Nagano Chardonnay” at the 13th Feminaires World Wine Competition 2019. May: Signed an official sponsorship agreement with the C. W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust. September: Recipient of the “Glocal” Award at the Forbes Japan SMALL GIANTS AWARDS 2019-2020.
2020	January: Iizuna Factory and Shinanomachi Factory acquire JFS-B certification. June 30: Increased capital to 126,299,000 yen St. Cousair Winery awarded “4 stars” at the Japan Winery Awards 2020. October: Launch of “Kuze Fuku e Shotengai” (Kuze Fuku-Web Shopping Arcade). “Iizuna Apple Cidre 2019 Bramley & Fuji” wins the Gold Award at Fuji Cidre Challenge, and the Trophy Award (Grand Prize) in the “Blend Cider” category. December: Certified as an Iki Iki Adovance Company, an advanced company for workplace vitality.