Hideki Nakajima, President and CEO, Lotte Co., Ltd.

Lotte's "delicious" flavors are born from continuous effort and perseverance.

Hideki Nakashima, President and CEO, Lotte Co., Ltd.

■ Profile
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture. After graduating from Hiroshima Shudo University's Faculty of Commerce in 1987, he joined Lotte Co., Ltd. In 2006, he became an executive officer of Lotte Reika Co., Ltd. In 2008, he became the representative director (on secondment) of Ginza Cozy Corner Co., Ltd. In 2015, he became the representative director of Lotte Ice Co., Ltd. In 2018, he became a managing director of Lotte. In 2022, he became a director and senior managing executive officer of the same company. In 2024, he assumed the position of representative director and president of the same company.

President Hideki Nakajima has dedicated his career to the Lotte Group since joining the company. He says that during his long tenure at Lotte as a working professional, there were two major turning points that helped him grow. We spoke with President Nakajima, who embodies the company's DNA of "continuing to challenge," about the importance of "honesty" and "a willingness to learn" for personal growth, along with his thoughts on the company.

During my student days, I was more interested in part-time jobs than studying. This was over 40 years ago, but because I loved cars, I worked for a long time at a used car dealership, combining my hobby with practical benefits. Eventually, I was entrusted with sales responsibilities, which allowed me to get a glimpse of the excitement of business before becoming a full-fledged working adult.
When it was time to start job hunting, the president of the company where I was working part-time kindly asked me to stay and work there, and I considered taking a job there, but I was also interested in other industries.
I've always loved eating, and I have a weakness for junk food and sweets. Because of that, I was particularly interested in food-related companies, and I decided that if I were to get a job, it would be for a food company. I only applied to Lotte, a confectionery company, because when I was walking around Hiroshima Station, I happened to find Lotte's Hiroshima branch, and I called them from a public phone to ask if they were hiring new graduates.
Unfortunately, I was told that they weren't hiring at the Hiroshima branch. Nevertheless, I decided to at least hear what they had to say, and that led to me taking the selection test in Tokyo.
When I applied to Lotte, I didn't do any thorough company research or give much thought to its future prospects. I was simply drawn to the fact that sweets are such an integral part of our lives and can bring smiles to everyone's faces. That was the deciding factor in choosing Lotte.

■Two turning points in my life

There have been two major turning points since I joined Lotte. One was being transferred to various locations across Japan. I met many people and learned about business practices in different regions such as Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I feel that each transfer provided a learning opportunity and was a great chance for my personal growth. The other turning point was when I was seconded to a company other than Lotte, namely Ginza Cozy Corner Co., Ltd., which Lotte acquired in 2.
That was my first experience as president, and I think it was the biggest turning point in my life. When you're in the same culture, your way of thinking tends to become similar, but by jumping into a completely different environment, I was able to gain a different perspective than before. To be honest, before becoming president of Lotte in 2024, I didn't have a strong desire to become president. I understood the role and mission I should fulfill in this company, but I thought that this shouldn't change with my position. At that time, I accepted the position after receiving recommendations from those around me. I feel a great sense of responsibility, as it comes with many responsibilities, such as employee employment and relationships with many stakeholders, but I have a strong determination to fulfill those responsibilities.

■As a latecomer manufacturer, we continue to take on new challenges.

Since its founding in 1948, when Lotte was a latecomer compared to the major players, we have always aimed to be the best. That's why we believe our strength lies in our DNA of "continuing to challenge ourselves." Our predecessors, with a strong desire to "make our customers happy," have created unique products unlike any other.
That's why our company still possesses so many valuable assets in the form of long-selling products. These are not just products, but a history of challenges themselves. Even now, we continue to develop products with a strong desire not only to meet customer needs, but also to create trends that don't yet exist in the world.

■ The social role that companies should play

In today's business world, companies are expected to engage in not only economic activities but also social activities. At Lotte, we are not content with merely engaging in economic activities, but are also committed to fulfilling our social responsibilities by setting long-term goals in a wide range of areas, including CO2 reduction and human rights issues. We create sustainability reports that summarize our specific initiatives, aiming to become a company that contributes to society. Confectionery is something that everyone can enjoy, and we believe that this is a major strength of our business.
We expect our employees to continue growing as individuals. To achieve this, we believe "sincerity" is paramount. Those who listen attentively to others, appreciate the positive qualities in people, and learn from those around them, will grow remarkably.

■Message

It's wonderful if you have a clear vision for your future, but I think there are also people who haven't found theirs yet. If that's the case, it's incredibly important to be curious about many things, to see, hear, and experience them for yourself. By being exposed to various things in this way, you're sure to discover what you truly want to do. First, try setting a goal, even a small one, on a yearly basis. By achieving it, you'll surely feel your own growth firsthand. And having the attitude to listen to others, learn about the trends in the world, and accept and make that knowledge your own will be a great asset in the future.

Student newspaper October 2025 issue Fuuka Ota, 10th year student at Toyo University

Yoshimatsu Ayuna (3rd year, Musashino University) / Ota Fuka (4th year, Toyo University) / Abe Rurika (2nd year, Showa Women's University) / Shinoda Hinano (2nd year, Tokyo Kasei University)