About Upper Crust Enterprises, Inc.

Upper Crust Enterprises is an innovative company providing quality products and excellent service to our customers in a clean and safe environment; ultimately creating long term success for our customers, employees and the community.

Gary Kawaguchi

Masashi Kawaguchi

A Family Business

Upper Crust Enterprises, Inc. Founder Gary Kawaguchi and his father, founder of Mrs. Friday's, Masashi Kawaguchi were the first family to introduce Authentic Japanese Panko to the United States.

ESTABLISHMENT

1955

Masashi Kawaguchi establishes Mrs. Friday's in Los Angeles

Our legacy of Upper Crust Enterprises, Inc. and Gary Kawaguchi began with Fishking Processors, Inc, better known as Mrs. Friday’s. Mrs. Friday’s began in 1955 in Los Angeles by Masashi Kawaguchi, Gary’s father. Mrs. Friday’s quickly became renowned for its innovative quality breaded seafood.

1980

First Panko manufacturer in the U.S.

To maintain the company’s high level of quality and differentiation, the Kawaguchi family introduced to the U.S. “Panko” - Japanese Bread Crumbs as a coating on its seafood. The Panko coated shrimp and fish became a hit with restaurants nationwide. Originally the Panko bread crumbs were imported; however, in the early 1980’s the family decided to build a facility and manufacture their own Japanese Panko Bread Crumb. It was the first Panko manufacturer in the U.S.

1990

Panko Bread Crumbs take the Lead

As the family business continued to expand, Gary Kawaguchi always followed his father’s vision. Through the Company’s acquisition in the mid 90’s Gary remained on the Management team, committed to the success of Mrs. Friday’s, while managing the Panko manufacturing business. Not only were our Panko bread crumbs used for the Mrs. Friday’s plant, but Japanese restaurants found out Gary’s Panko was high quality and produced using traditional Japanese methods. Many Japanese restaurants and distributors asked Gary to offer his Panko for sale. This was the start of the Panko Bread Crumb division of Mrs. Friday’s.

2006

Upper Crust Enterprises, Inc. is Born

In 2006, when the Mrs. Friday’s breaded seafood operation was merged and moved out of California, Gary purchased the Panko operation and changed the name to Upper Crust Enterprises, Inc. Gary continued the business and his family’s life-long dream of satisfying customers by providing innovative Japanese quality Panko Bread Crumbs and Tempura Batter mix.

The manufacturing plant remains where it was originally built. The operation has continuously been modernized to keep pace with the growing needs of our customers. The offices were refurbished to accommodate the administrative team. Most of our working teams were previously employed by Mrs. Friday’s; with many employees having 20-30 years of experience. Our team members are familiar with the quality of our products and the demands of our customers which enable us to understand your needs.

2015

Today

Today, our Japanese Panko Bread Crumbs are sold throughout the entire United States, Canada, Mexico, Barbados, Belize, Italy, Israel, Australia, Panama, Ecuador, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Guam and Saipan. We supply various restaurant chains in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. We added Tempura Batter mix to our product and have customers locally and internationally. All of our products are Kosher Certified, have Zero Trans Fat and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not happy with the performance of our products we will refund your purchase price.

PRESENT