JUN KASHIMA PROFILE

Jun Kashima Profile

Jun Kashima

Founder & CEO
GRUPPO DI CASCIMA L.L.C.
Japan

Born on October 13, 1959 in Fuchu City, Tokyo, Japan.

Graduated from the School of Business Administration at Aoyama Gakuin University.

Early Career in Soccer

Jun Kashima first encountered soccer in elementary school and joined the legendary Yomiuri Club youth system in Japan.

He continued playing competitively through high school and later became a member of the Aoyama Gakuin University Soccer Team, competing in the Kanto University First Division League during his senior year.

He later studied abroad at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he played for the university varsity soccer team in the NCAA soccer league.

International Experience & Business Career

After returning to Japan, while completing his degree at Aoyama Gakuin University, he worked at Shueisha Publishing Co. in the Literary Publishing Department.

Before graduation, he traveled extensively throughout Europe as a backpacker, gaining broad international perspectives and cultural inspiration.

Upon graduation, he joined SORD Corporation, one of Japan’s pioneering personal computer venture companies, serving in the President’s Office as executive secretary.

Gelato & Espresso Business Development

Through connections made during his Santa Cruz years, he became involved with DONATELLO’S Gelato & Espresso, founded by Sean Monaghan in California.

Jun Kashima led the franchise expansion of the brand in Japan and was deeply involved in:

• Product development
• Manufacturing systems
• Franchise system construction
• Store operation development

He also co-developed Japan’s first original gelato base mix together with the National Dairy Cooperative Federation, enabling scalable multi-store expansion throughout Japan.

Through an efficient small-space production and retail model, the business expanded to 29 stores.

Italian Equipment & Coffee Business

During this period, he also became:

• Regional distributor in Eastern Japan for Carpigiani gelato freezers from Italy
• Import distributor for La Cimbali espresso machines
• Exclusive importer of Musetti Italian coffee

These businesses contributed to the development of authentic Italian espresso and gelato culture in Japan.

Current Activities

Today, Jun Kashima is the representative of GRUPPO DI CASCIMA L.L.C., focusing on:

• Specialty coffee education
• Coffee beverage development
• Gelato production
• Plant-based vegan ice cream recipe development
• OEM manufacturing
• Shared kitchen and rental production facilities
• Wellness-oriented food concepts

He is currently developing new concepts combining:

• Wellness
• Community
• Functional food
• Japanese craftsmanship
• Gelato & coffee culture
• Sustainable agricultural collaboration

with future expansion in Japan and Asia.