The story of Panasonic Corporation began in Osaka, Japan in 1918, when Konosuke Matsushita invented a two-socket light bulb. He started producing and selling the light bulb from his own house, with just 3 employees. The invention of a new type of bicycle lamp came in 1923, followed by the development of the first radio just 8 years later. In 1935 they launched their first television, an area of production that has since proved immensely successful. 1935 also marked a turning point in the size, production and sheer growth of Panasonic Corporation.
This particular year saw the company manufacturing 600 different kinds of product with sales extending to overseas markets for the first time. Their employee base rose to 3500. By 1942, Matsushita became the first radio manufacturer in Japan. As the swinging sixties approached, the total number of employees had risen to 28000. The company reported profits of 1.5 billion yen.
As Panasonic Corporation grew, Konosuke Matsushita never lost sight of his founding principles - putting the needs of his customers and employees first. He developed his original business Philosophy in 1929, a mission statement that still holds true today;
"Recognizing our responsibilities as industrialists, we will devote ourselves to the progress and development of society and the well-being of people through our business activities, thereby enhancing the quality of life throughout the world."
Panasonic UK was established in 1972.
Since then the company has grown substantially and become a leading supplier of consumer and business related electronics products. Its headquarters is located in Bracknell, Berkshire and this is supported by a national Logistics Centre in Northampton. The company currently employs more than 500 staff and has an annual turnover in excess of £700m.
There are also separate companies within the UK responsible for the sales of industrial products such as components and computer peripherals (Panasonic Industrial) and professional video and broadcast products (Panasonic Broadcast).
President's Message:
Aiming to become the No.1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics IndustrySince the founding of our company in 1918, we have been carrying out all our business activities following our management philosophy that commits our company to contributing to the improvement of the lives of people and progress in society, and have been providing a wide range of products in the electronics field related to our daily lives.
"Shifting to a sustainable society" has become a matter of great common global concern against a background of deteriorating environmental conditions, worries about resources depletion, rapid growth of developing countries and other issues, and a "green revolution" is taking place worldwide. For the next generation of people around the world, we want to be in the forefront of this "green revolution" in making it take hold in our daily lives. I believe that it is certainly the way of putting our management philosophy into practice in today’s world.
In order to fulfill this commitment, in January 2010, the Panasonic Group announced its aim of becoming the No.1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry. To realize this vision as we move toward 2018, the 100th anniversary of our founding, we will make the "environment" central to all our business activities and strive to integrate environmental contribution with business growth.
More precisely, we will contribute to realizing a sustainable society through two innovations: "green life innovation" for pursuing green lifestyles to enrich people’s lives through our "ideas"; and "green business innovation" for reducing the environmental impact of our business activities to the maximum extent possible and recommending such a business style widely across society. I am confident that the addition of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., which is also a key player in the fields of solar and rechargeable batteries, to our Group will provide a strong momentum toward this end.
Guided by our brand slogan, "Panasonic ideas for life," all Panasonic Group employees will join forces in continuing to present "ideas" that enrich the lives of people around the world and to take up challenges constantly to contribute to a better future for our planet and the progress of society.