It has been 50 years since the major food manufacturer "Nissin Foods" launched "Cup Noodles".

Each manufacturer has entered the market one after another, and the taste has changed significantly according to the needs of the times.

NISSIN FOODS launched cup noodles for the first time in the world on September 18, 1971, and this month 18th marks the 50th anniversary of their launch.



Cup noodles have become popular because they can be easily eaten in about 3 minutes just by adding hot water, and many food manufacturers have entered the market.

The market has continued to expand, with domestic production increasing approximately 1000 times over the last 50 years.



We are also focusing on overseas sales in line with the overseas expansion of Japanese companies and the globalization of the economy.



Recently, in response to growing health consciousness,


▽ products with high protein and low sugar,


▽

products with low

salt content have been introduced, and


▽

products with

dietary fiber equivalent to one lettuce have been


released

one after

another. it was done.



In addition to this, as awareness of the environment is increasing, there is a growing movement among manufacturers to switch containers from plastic to paper.



Tsutomu Shirasawa, brand manager of NISSIN FOODS, said, "We would like to propose new products as lifestyles change drastically and new demand is created."

History of cup noodles

"Cup Noodle" was released 50 years ago on September 18, 1971 at a department store in Shinjuku, Tokyo.



In addition to the soy sauce flavor developed by the founder Momofuku Ando, ​​we have been developing it for many years centering on standard flavors such as seafood flavor and curry flavor, but after that, we also released flavors such as "Tom Yum Kung" and "Peperoncino".

There are about 200 flavors sold so far.



In addition, the company has expanded its sales channels overseas and is now sold in more than 100 countries including North America, Asia and Europe.

Cumulative worldwide sales of the series reached 50 billion meals this May.



Instant noodle space food was also developed in 2005, and it is said that Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who stayed at the International Space Station, also tasted it.



In light of the growing health consciousness of consumers, the company introduces products with higher protein and less sugar than regular products and products with reduced salt content.



In 2008, we switched from plastic to paper containers in response to environmental issues.

And in June, by removing the plastic seals used to cover the containers, it is possible to reduce 33 tons of plastic raw materials annually.

Product development with consideration for health

In response to the growing health consciousness, other companies are also promoting the creation of products with these in mind.



Of these, Acecook, which is headquartered in Suita City, Osaka, has been selling voluminous products.



However, recently, we have been developing health-conscious products such as the standard "wakame ramen" with dietary fiber for one lettuce added and low-sugar noodles for sale.



Junichi Morimoto of Acecook said, "We are pursuing new and valuable products by utilizing new technologies and materials, and one of them is increasing health consciousness. However, we do not just fill our stomachs, but enjoy our meals. The need to do it will continue to increase. "

Unique products that meet changing consumer needs

Ichiro Yamato, an instant noodle researcher, points out that changes in consumer needs have been reflected in cup noodles over time.



In the 1970s, immediately after the launch of cup noodles, the style of eating out and eating out from Europe and the United States became popular among young people, and cup noodles were accepted regardless of where or when they were eaten.



With the rapid expansion of convenience stores since the latter half of the 1980s, the market has expanded due to the fact that shopping has become possible even at midnight and the technology for developing cup noodles has improved.

Immediately after the burst of the bubble economy, in 1992, the "La King", which sold a texture like raw noodles, was released, and it is said that even if the price is high, the "genuine orientation" that is close to the actual ramen has become stronger.



After that, the technology improved to the point where the ramen of popular stores could be reproduced, and it is said that unique products were lined up.



Regarding the future, Mr. Yamato said, "There is a growing demand for more delicious food at home because it is difficult to go to the store due to corona. It seems that the trend of polarization will continue, that is, it will be a little expensive. "

Market is expected to grow further Fierce sales will continue or will continue

Following the development of cup-shaped instant noodles by NISSIN FOODS, the Japanese cup noodle market has expanded as other food manufacturers have followed suit.



In 1975, Sanyo Foods launched its first instant cup noodle, "CupStar." Last year (2020), 45 years after its launch, the taste and packaging were renewed in order to accelerate the acquisition of the younger generation, which is the main customer.



In addition, Toyo Suisan introduced an instant cup-shaped "Red Kitsune Udon" in 1978. After that, it grew into a brand that represents the company together with the green label soba that started selling.



As a result of these movements, the types of cup noodles expanded rapidly beyond ramen, spurring an increase in production.



According to the "Japan Instant Food Industry Association" made by food manufacturers, in 1971, when Nissin Foods launched cup noodles, the production volume was only 4 million meals, and five years later, in 1976. ) Increased to 1.2 billion meals. Then, in 1989, we overtook the production of bag noodles for the first time. The market has continued to grow since then, reaching over 3.9 billion meals last year.



According to the research company Fuji Keizai, the sales amount of domestic cup noodles last year (2020) is estimated to have reached 476.5 billion yen.



Behind the expansion of the market are products that take into consideration heightened health consciousness such as reducing calories and high-priced products that reproduce the taste of popular ramen shops in order to capture the diversifying needs of consumers. It is said that manufacturers may continue to introduce new products. On top of that, the market will continue to expand, and four years later, sales in 2025 are projected to reach 485 billion yen.



At research companies, many people buy cup noodles that can be easily eaten just by pouring hot water when they eat at home or when they are active outdoors, such as outdoors, and there is strong demand for stockpiling in the event of a disaster. It is said that it is a growing field even as the market becomes more popular, and it is expected that fierce sales competition among manufacturers will continue in the future.