Ajinomoto Company, a Japan-based manufacturer of consumer foods, has formed a global R&D alliance agreement with US-based cereal maker Kellogg Company to jointly develop health and nutrition products. Ajinomoto is the sole distributor of Kellogg products in Japan.

According to the agreement, the duo initially intend to concentrate on developing products that offer benefits in the areas of weight management, sugar reduction, and sodium reduction.

Kellogg, an international producer of cereal and a leading manufacturer of convenience foods, offers various health oriented products including Kellogg's Special K and other breakfast cereals.

In addition to cereal, Kellogg also produces convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavoured snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods.

The company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, All-Bran, Mini-Wheats, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Sandies, Kashi, Bear Naked, Morningstar Farm, Gardenburger and Stretch Island. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in nearly 180 countries.

Ajinomoto boasts an extensive range of ingredients which meet these opportunities including capsiate1 and monatin2.

Masatoshi Ito Ajinomoto, president & CEO of Ajinomoto, said: "The potential for synergy between Kellogg's strong marketing and product development capabilities combined with Ajinomoto's excellence in basic and applied research is unique and exciting."