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Find the latest insights, innovations, and trends. From various news sources, we pick and summarize the most important insights, innovations, trends, and news from hundreds of reports each week in Japan.
Throat Lozenges Demand Soars: Sales Surge Amid Cough Medicine Shortage and Self-Care Trends
The demand for throat lazonges, candies are growing in this winter due to shortage of supply of cough medicine and the end of mask mandates. The demand for throat lozenges has rapidly expanded. According to in-store sales data (KSP-POS) from January to November 2024, sales revenue increased...
Nisshin Seifun Welna’s Global Ambition with “HAYAYUDE” Pasta: Can Time-Saving Pasta Succeed Worldwide?
Japanese biggest Pasta Brand Nisshin Seifun Welna's is looking to enter global market with "HAYAYUDE (quick-cooking)" Pasta. Building on its domestic success, Nisshin Seifun Welna is making a serious push into the European and American markets with its time-saving dried pasta brand...
Kameda Seika Creates Sanitizing Wet Tissues from Non-Standard “Happy Turn” Products
Kameda Seika Creates Sanitizing Wet Tissues from Non-Standard "Happy Turn" Products as Part of the 'Re Kameda' Upcycling Project As part of Kameda Seika's upcycling project "Re Kameda," the company has developed Sanitizing Wet Tissues Made from "Happy Turn" dough, utilizing non-standard...
Starbucks Japan Shifts to Biodegradable Biopolymer Straws, Phasing Out Paper Straws
Starbucks Coffee Japan to Introduce Biodegradable Biopolymer Straws "Green Planet®" Starting January 23, 2025, Starbucks Coffee Japan will introduce straws made from Green Planet®, a plant-based biodegradable biopolymer developed by Kaneka Corporation, at all 32 stores in Okinawa. The...
Meiji Introduces a New Way to Enjoy Cocoa: Launches Drinkable Chocolate
Meiji introduces an innovative way to experience the delicious taste and joy of cocoa with the launch of "Meiji The Cacao for DRINK." This drinkable chocolate transforms traditional chocolate into a liquid form, allowing the aroma to be more pronounced than in its solid state, while also softening...
AEON Launches “Fun Fun Smile” Baby Food Line to Meet Growing Demand for Convenience and Quality
AEON 's New 'Fun Fun Smile' Baby Food under TOP VALU private brand : Organic, Safe, and Convenient for Modern Families 18SKUs will be available. In recent years, the baby food market has seen steady growth, driven by the rise in dual-income households and increasing demand for time-saving...
FamilyMart Launches New Pasta Supervised by Renowned Chef: Two Sauces & Updated ‘Famima The Pasta’ Series
FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) will launch the third installment of pasta dishes supervised by Shinji Harada, the chef of the renowned Italian restaurant "Aromafresca Ginza," on Tuesday, December 3rd. The new product, "Two Sauces: Five Cheese Cream & Meat Sauce", along...
FamilyMart Launches Plant-Based Products under the “Blue Green Project” on December 3
FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) will release four plant-based products nationwide across approximately 16,300 stores on Tuesday, December 3, as part of the "Blue Green Project." The "Blue Green Project," initiated under the supervision of Hiroshi Ochiai, has previously...
Responding to Rising Cocoa Prices: Premium Compound Chocolate ‘CP Series’ by Fuji Oil
Fuji Oil's New "CP Series" Offers Solutions to Rising Cocoa Prices Amid escalating cocoa prices, Fuji Oil is strengthening its offerings for commercial-use chocolates with the release of its "CP Series" in June. This innovative line of compound chocolates is designed to balance premium quality...
Accelerating Brand Collaborations: Seven-Eleven Japan Launches First-Ever Chocolate Collaboration with Three Confectionery Makers
Seven-Eleven Japan has launched a collaboration with three confectionery manufacturers to release a total of five chocolate-themed sweets and bread items, starting sequentially from the 17th. This marks SEJ's first-ever partnership with these three companies. The collaborating manufacturers and...
Kirin Beverage launches ”JAPAN BLEND” tea which combines domestic ingredients with Japanese craftsmanship.
"JAPAN BLEND & CRAFT Grape Tea" to debut as the first installment on December 3, 2024, as a limited-time offering. Kirin Beverage has launched a new series under its "Afternoon Tea" brand, "JAPAN BLEND & CRAFT," which combines domestic ingredients with Japanese craftsmanship. The first...
The Future of MUJI: A Global Strategy Aiming for 880 Billion Yen in Revenue
Ryohin Keikaku, the company behind MUJI, has announced its new medium-term business plan, aiming to achieve ￥880 biilionn in revenue by 2027. The plan focuses on overseas markets as the main driver of growth, with aggressive store expansion in China and Southeast Asia. In Europe and the United...
AEON’s Black Panda” Limited Edition: 80 Items Launching on 11/22 for Black Friday
Aeon Retail Co., Ltd. will sell approximately 80 Aeon-exclusive products featuring the "Black Panda" design, such as cup noodles, toilet paper, and cushions, during the "Aeon Black Friday" event held from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, December 1 . These products will be available at around 380...
Functional coffee innovation: UCC Expands “UCC &Healthy” Series with New Product: Supporting Health with Coffee-Derived Ingredients
UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd. has expanded its "UCC &Healthy" series of functional foods made solely from coffee, launching the new "Special Blend" (4-pack drip coffee) on September 2, 2024. Features of the New Product The "Special Blend" focuses on trigonelline, a component abundant in...
Oisix Launches a New Variety of Miniature Vegetable: “Candy Ball Cabbage”
Oisix ra daichi Inc. (Tokyo, Shinagawa Ward, CEO Kohei Takashima) will launch a new mini cabbage variety, "Spepa Veg: Ready-to-Use! Candy Ball Cabbage", on November 28. The product, weighing 450g and priced at ¥356, is ideal for one-time use in dishes like hot pots and stir-fried meals. This...
Seven&I ‘s Private brand Seven Premium’s Popular Gummy “Gummy Maru” Launches New Flavors: Kyoho Grape and White Peach, Starting 11/18
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Ryuichi Isaka) announced the launch of the second installment in its "Seven Premium Gummy Maru" series under the group’s private brand, "Seven Premium." The new flavors, "Seven Premium Gummy Maru Kyoho Grape Flavor" and...
Nestlé Japan Introduces the Country’s First “Caffeine Half” Coffee, Offering a New Way to Enjoy Coffee.
Nestlé Japan Launches "Nescafé Gold Blend Caffeine Half" with 50% Less Caffeine Nestlé Japan Ltd. (Headquarters: Kobe, Hyogo; President and CEO: Tatsuhiko Fukaya) announced the release of "Nescafé Gold Blend Caffeine Half," a regular soluble coffee with 50% less caffeine compared to typical coffee...
Seiyu to Launch Taiwanese Japonica Rice “Musubi no Sato” ; 20% cheaper than Japanese rice.
Seiyu Co., Ltd. (Musashino City, Tokyo, President Tsuneo Okubo) will begin selling the Taiwanese rice "Musubi no Sato 5kg" at 138 Seiyu stores in the Kanto region starting Thursday, November 14. Additionally, the "Shoku no Sachi" food brand, known for its carefully curated products by expert...